Cuevas costeras

In the coastal cliff area, on the current Ruta dels Penya-segats that connects the coves of Moraig and Llebeig, you can find some humble caves built in dry stone and attached to the rock wall. These constructions date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They have a very basic building, where the stone wall delimits the space of the cabin to protect it from rain and sun.

The caves used to have only a small entrance and inside the space is not differentiated. These original constructions located areas to light a fire or some small enclosure for the beast of burden, around them. The occasional users of these caves were fishermen and farmers from El Poble Nou de Benitatxell, who came to cultivate the small strips of land in this area. They were also used by smugglers who hiddenly waited for the arrival of lutes or sloops loaded with tobacco, fabrics, etc. The caves still retain the name of their owners.

These constructions are still practically intact and are one of the most important attractions of the Ruta dels Penya-segats.

Cova les Morretes

This cave is located at the foot of the cliff above Cala del Moraig and was built taking advantage of the cavity produced by erosion at the foot of the rocky wall of the hill. It is built with dry stone and mortar, and has several structures: the house, an oven for baking bread and a manger for the animals.

It has a stone and mud wall that closes the cavity to the southeast, an opening to the north and another masonry wall that closes the structure to the south. Inside there are two stone benches and a blind window in which some shelves have been improvised. Outside, in front of the entrance door, there is another bench and a stone fence about 70 centimeters high that delimits a corridor about 2 meters wide with the rock wall.

The bread baking oven is round and is located at the end of the stone fence. Behind the cave there is a 1.5 meter high dry stone fence that forms with the cliff the space used as a stable for the animals.

Cova del «ti Domingo l’Abiar»

The Cova del ti Domingo l’Abiar is located a short distance from the previous one following the path towards the south and is still used as an occasional refuge by some fishermen. It has three dry stone walls that close the cavity formed by the rock face of the cliff. The door is the only opening and faces south. In front of the entrance, a rock closes a space that used to be protected from the sun and humidity with a canvas cloth. About 10 meters away there is another structure that was used as a shelter for the beast of burden. A stone on the south wall of the cave has the date 1937 engraved on it.

Cova de «Pepet del Morret»

The Pepet del Morret cave is located on the same cliff, further to the south, on the area of ​​the coastline called “els Pegats”. The structure consists of a dry stone wall that closes a very small space on the rock. The only opening is closed with a wooden door. The height of the cave is small.

Around this cave there are structures with retaining margins with steps to access from one level to another and, next to the cave, there is an open space, delimited by large rocks detached from the cliff, where a fire was lit in an improvised fireplace and where some stones serve as a table and chairs.

Also outside, there are large rocks detached from the wall, forming a small tunnel through which we will have to pass to reach the next cave.

Cova del «ti Toni el Senyalat»

The Cova del ti Toni el Senyalat is one of the largest and consists of a dry stone canvas measuring 3.5 by 2 meters, which closes a natural cavity 8 meters wide by 3.5 meters deep. The only opening is closed with a wooden door and there is no structure inside. The floor of the cave has different levels enabled with stone margins.

Cova del Morro del Bou

This cave is located at the foot of Morro del Bou, a short distance from Cala de Llebeig. It is built with dry stone and closes a natural cavity, leaving an opening to enter. In front of the cave there is a space to make a fire protected by the rock wall. The cave is still occasionally used by some fishermen.