Canchal de las Cabras Pintadas

The Canchal de las Cabras Pintadas is a rocky shelter with prehistoric rock art located in the surroundings of Las Batuecas, within the municipality of La Alberca (Salamanca). It is a place associated with a quartzite projection on the left bank of the Batuecas river, in a landscape of strong relief and great natural and cultural value. The Castilla y León heritage file describes it as a shelter oriented to the S-SW, with seven panels and approximate dimensions of 9 x 3 meters. The most outstanding features are its cave paintings and engravings, with several dozens of semi-naturalistic goats and figures of schematic type, linked to prehistoric chronologies of the III and II millennium B.C. Scenes with human figures and other schematic motifs have also been documented in the cave paintings and engravings in the surroundings of La Alberca. The site is of interest because it unites archaeological heritage and mountain landscape: the shelter dominates the valley from about 25 meters high and is integrated in an environment of remarkable beauty, next to the course of the Batuecas. In addition, it is protected by the Spanish Historical Heritage Law and is part of the group of rock shelters of La Alberca recognized by the Junta de Castilla y León. Its visit allows to understand the relationship between the prehistoric groups and this mountain space, today one of the best known cave enclaves in the south of Salamanca. Access is by trail from Las Batuecas, and the visit is free, without the current guide service.