Coves de Salgar

In the same gorge, on the other bank of the river stood the Castell de Malagastre, which was conquered from the Muslims in an expedition (1015-1016) of count Ramon Borrell de Barcelona; in 1018 the count made a donation to Sant Serní de Tavèrnoles of an Espluga near the castle with the aim of building a church dedicated to Sant Salvador, although it seems that the place returned to the hands of the Muslims.

In 1054 the first reference to Salgar appears in a donation document made by Arnau Mir de Tost to Sant Miquel de Montmagastre. In 1192 the church is documented. In the year 1263 a small hospital of Sant Jordi was built at the site. In 1530 the Renaissance cloister is built and the boat service is established from the cave to the other side of the Segre river. In 1608 it is built under the rock shelter. In the 18th century a bridge was built (now disappeared) that crossed the Segre at this point; it is to be supposed that the bridge did not last long, since it is recorded that in 1783 there was a boat service. With the Mendizábal disentailment in 1835 the whole sanctuary complex is sold, passing into private hands. During the war of 1936-39 it is quite badly damaged, with a subsequent state of abandonment. In 1972 a group from Artesa de Segre proceeded to its restoration.

The cavities are already mentioned in works of a general nature (P. Madoz, 1845-50; C. del Prado, 1864) and later included in the old speleological catalogues. The first detailed description is made by Josep Maluquer as a result of a visit he made to the area in the summer of 1902.

Toponymy: The name of Salgar comes from Arabic: al-gâr, which means cave.