Living like a Flintstone

Do you remember The Flintstones with Fred and Wilma, Barney and Betty? Their cave home was well appointed and benefitted from all the home conveniences you could wish for. Spain is, in fact, peppered with cave homes – but what would it be like to live in one of them?

Far from being a stone age experience, living in a cave home allows you all the little luxuries that you would expect to find in the most modern new-build. You can find them in many different parts of Spain but most are located in Andalucía, particularly Granada, where you can see them sculpted in the rocks as you travel down from the Costas. More locally to Ábaco offices, you can find them in San Miguel de Salinas and Rojales.

The bedrooms are typically located in the heart of the cave with accommodation such as the kitchen, bathroom and sometimes part of the living room being built out from the cave as an extension. This enables homeowners to benefit from the cool of the cave at night but still allow for plenty of natural daylight.

Some cave homes now function with electricity, drains and the internet and legally they are treated in the same way as a conventional house with escrituras (deeds) and Land Registry registration. You can, in some cases, apply for a mortgage and insure the property just as you would with a standard home. Just be aware that there are some older cave houses that might not meet these conditions and, as with any property purchase, you should take legal advice and ensure that the one you are interested in is safe to buy.

Many people have fallen in love with and bought cave properties over the years. They have a particular charm and are reminiscent of a traditional Cornish cottage. What particularly appeals to many people is that during the winter they remain cooler than you would find most Spanish homes to be and can retain heat during the winter months – so whatever the season the cave can make for a comfortable home. Very importantly, you don’t need to worry about backing on to noisy neighbours!

One of the downsides is that plaster does sometimes come off the walls as the cave is still an evolving feature and walls can absorb moisture. Neither is it so easy to open a window for fresh air in the ‘cave’ part of your property. Many of the caves are located in areas that are a little off the beaten path so you might need to be prepared to mingle with a local rural community. This countryside setting is ideal for those people who like to walk, climb and enjoy the countryside and although they can be a little isolated, you can find those that are closer to busy settlements.

If you do want to find out a little more about how it feels to be inside one you can always book yourself a meal in a San Miguel de Salinas cave house restaurant: https://www.lascuevas.es

Alternatively, why not visit the Cuevas del Rodeo in Rojales which is a complex of little houses cut into the rock. These cave homes were dug out during the 18^th to 20^th century and are now home to a tourist information centre, exhibition halls, tea rooms and handicraft workshops. You can also see for yourself in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW2XehsOoxI

Find out more

https://www.aplaceinthesun.com/articles/2024/10/get-ready-to-rock-try-a-cave-home-in-spain