Cave houses in Spain

Cave houses are probably very different from what you imagine. Today's cave houses are not the primitive homes of times gone by. A modern cave house can be anything from a cosy country cottage to a cave house hotel.

Set in wonderful rural or village locations, the modern cave house is bright, cheerful and includes all modern conveniences, including mains electricity, water and sewerage.

Cave dwellers, far from being Neanderthals, may be the smartest beings on earth. Life protected from the elements by caves has persisted as a form of human existence for millennia, and goes on to this day in different parts of the world. In southern Spain, however, cave homes are man made, and not natural formations that humans simply moved into.

Fully refurbished cave houses have mains water, electricity and even a telephone. Each home is unique with different dimensions and they come in all formats – there are even some cave hotels.

Such Spanish properties can be bought as a permanent residence, or you can rent for a holiday with a difference, and there are many in the Granada area of Guadix.

The cool temperature inside the caves in the summer was a distinct advantage as well as the scope to expand simply by digging an extra room. Caves vary in size from the simple three room cave to the enormous containing dozens of rooms. Generally the bigger the cave the bigger the family was that owned it, sometimes with three generations living under the same roof.

Whether for vacations or living, cave houses in Spain offer a fascinating alternative to conventional homes.