Ardales is a typical ‘pueblo blanco’. As you round a bend in the road it suddenly appears before you as if from nowhere, sprawling spectacular and white against the craggy mountainside. Its steep hilly streets radiate down from a rocky outcrop which is crowned at the very top by a ruined castle, the ancient Castillo de la Peña.
Leaving the main road the bus climbs the narrow winding road up into Ardales, across a bridge over the wandering river Turón, and past the ‘Museum of History and Traditions of Ardales‘. Ardales has no Tourist Information Office, but as well as the fascinating exhibits on view, the museum staff are a mine of useful information and can answer any questions you may have about the surrounding area.
Having noticed on our way up an intriguing sign pointing to the Prehistoric Caves of Ardales, we asked for further information. Apparently, the caves are situated some 2km away from he village and can only be visited in a pre-arranged group, 4 days a week. These visits have to be booked in advance from the museum. The caves are 1.65km long and contain Palaeolithic artefacts (from the early stone-age), some of them dating from as long ago as 30,000 years!!
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