Skip to main content
Espluga del Sabater

Espluga del Sabater

Curiosa cova penjada a la Serra de Sant Joan i que serví d'amagatall

Coll de Nargó • Alt Urgell14m7m

Curious hanging cave (cova penjada) in the Serra de Sant Joan that served as a hiding place.

Characteristics

Location

From Coll de Nargó we take the L-511 road towards Bóixols; it may be a longer route but it is in good condition. Shortly before kilometre 20 we turn right onto the track that comes from Montanissell.

We see the majestic wall known by climbers as the Planxa vermella, scored by fractures and some quite prominent subvertical faults.

On reaching a left-hand turn-off closed with a chain, we leave the vehicles parked on the verge. Then about 300 metres must be climbed from the track, up a steep slope and scree (a good hour of ascent with gear).

This one lies about 40 metres further E (to the right) of the one known as the Espluga dels Maquis, and from the foot of the cliff it can be reached after overcoming about 18 metres of wall. In May 2017 there were several ropes rigged.

Mapa

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

  1. Sabater, Espluga del

    Elevation: 1595 m

    42.197675, 1.198570
    UTM 31T (ETRS89) 351270 4673295
Download all entrances as GPX

Photos

Espluga del Sabater - Photo, Coll de Nargó, Alt UrgellView image
Click to enlarge

Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

Image 1 of 5

Description

Morphology

The initial gallery is about seven metres long, and at the end of this stretch there is a hole covered by stones on the right-hand side, and on the left a chimney climbs up. We also find a small protection wall to shelter from the wind, a bed of branches and a kind of fireplace.

We find a first hanging bunk and, on an artificial upper floor formed by a framework of branches, a new place to lie down. From this level there is a communication hole with the lower floor and an access to the infiltration chimneys in the roof that show dissolution forms, so it must be agreed that this is a true hanging cave (cova penjada) due to the evolution of the slope.

Progression

From the foot of the cliff it can be reached after overcoming about 18 metres of wall. In May 2017 there were several ropes rigged.

Other details

The cavity is a truly singular lair for its occupation of undoubted historical and ethnographic value. Everywhere there are signs of its use as a hiding place, shelter, dormitory, kitchen and workshop... without setting aside its privileged viewpoint.

Everywhere there are hanging bundles, cans, bottles for collecting drips, tools and many shoe soles made with an insole over tyre remains, some rudimentary furniture and a couple of rustic ladders made of wood and wire.

History

Together with other nearby cavities, it had been known for many years by the people of the area, who had used it as a hiding place, perhaps both the so-called emboscats and later the anti-Francoist groups (“maquis”).

These cavities were not documented until climbers began to open routes on the wall known as the Planxa vermella. Informed by Jordi Francès, members of the Espeleodijous located them in May 2017, carrying out the appropriate cataloguing and documentation work.

User Comments (0)

No comments yet.

Be the first to share your experience!

Registered Explorations (0)

No explorations registered yet.

Register your visit to this cave!

Bibliography

  • Totes les dades, topografia i fotografies han estat extretes del blog: espeleobloc.blogspot. Apunt del dia 25-5-2017.

Source: Espeleoindex (espeleoindex.com), modified. CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/