Discover Venta Micena

The Venta Micena site offers a glimpse into a paleontological history dating back around 1.5 million years. Finds include a fragment of the skull known as the “Man of Orce.” Those interested in the region’s early history will also find fossils from various animal species and traces that help reconstruct a landscape from the past.

Fossils and the landscape of Venta Micena

Excavations at Venta Micena have uncovered, among other things, the remains of elephants, rhinoceroses, deer, buffalo and bears. Saber-toothed cats, wolves, badgers and lynxes have also been identified among the animal groups found here. The range of finds can be examined in more detail through individual contexts: a large bone assemblage is attributed to short-faced hyenas of the species Pachycrocuta brevirostris. They left the remains in a cave and at a feeding site on the shore of a dried-up, vegetation-free lake.

Smaller fossil finds also help build a picture of the environment at the time. Remains of a duck, a crane and a raven have been identified at the site. These finds contribute to the reconstruction of the Pleistocene wetland in the Baza Basin. Together with the large bone assemblage, they show different aspects of the archaeological record, from individual bird remains to a site associated with hyenas.

Archaeological sites and history in Orce

The Museo Primeros Pobladores de Europa – Centro Josep Gibert draws on material and scientific information from the geological sites of Venta Micena, Barranco León-5 and Fuente Nueva-3. The museum offers guided tours for tourist groups and school groups. If you plan to join a tour, confirm the arrangements before your trip.

Since 2012, the Cuenca de Orce has been listed as an archaeological zone in the Andalusian Heritage Catalogue. The sites included in it include Venta Micena, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3. Cerro de la Virgen in Orce is also protected as an archaeological zone. The origins of this site date back to the end of the pre-Bell Beaker period around 2000 BC, in the Copper Age; settlement continued until the end of the Argaric culture. Outside the Cerro de la Virgen centre, visitors can walk along the wall that surrounded the settlement.

Another centre, housed in a cave dwelling, is dedicated to the life and work of the German archaeologist Wilhelm Schülle. The Alcazaba de Orce, also known as the Alcazaba de las Siete Torres, is a Muslim military fortress whose origins date back to the 11th century. Its Nasrid keep dates from the 14th century, so its construction history spans clearly distinct periods.

Among the guided visits offered daily in Orce by prior reservation is a visit to the 17th-century Palacio de los Segura. A reservation is required if you would like to visit this stop as part of the tour.

Event and thermal spring

Orce’s Mercado Medieval has been held every year on the first Sunday in August since 1999. Participating artisans present their crafts, and the event programme also includes traditional music, street performers, jugglers and actors in historical costumes. The specific programme may vary from year to year, so check the event details for your travel dates.

Fuencaliente is a thermal spring in the floodplain of the Río Orce. Its water emerges year-round at a constant temperature of 21°C. The spring has been developed into a public swimming pool with gardens and a lawn for sunbathing. Fuencaliente is open year-round, and admission is free. As swimming conditions may change and facilities may vary seasonally, check access before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Los Carriones, El Varadero, Fuente Vaqueros, Orgiva, Gor, Ugíjar, Lobras, Cenes De La Vega.

For the wider travel overview: Granada.