So just what is a cave house?
Cave homes have been around since mankind first appeared. To most of us, life in a cave conjures up an image of a dark, damp, cold hole in the ground with families huddled around smoky fires in fear of the beasts roaming the woods outside.
Since ancient times the people of Andalusia, in Southern Spain, have a long unbroken tradition of cave living, which continues to this day. However, contrary to popular belief, modern cave homes come with all the comforts and facilities of a conventional house and have evolved into unique homes sought after by Spanish and foreigners alike.
Nowadays cave homes are usually a combination of a number of cave rooms with a conventional building to the front. They have all the comforts, facilities and services that you would expect to find in a “normal†house and range from one bedroom holiday homes up to huge fifteen room cave houses large enough for the biggest family or even b&b.
The advantages
Cave homes tend to be found in areas of Spain that are traditionally Spanish, unlike many areas of the “Costasâ€, which are heavily Anglicised. So, when considering a cave home you must also take its location and the culture of the area into account.
1.Cave homes, compared to conventional houses of the same size and condition, are significantly cheaper. Savings of 25% or more are easily achievable on a similiar conventional house in the same area. Further savings are possible, compared to the coast, because the inland areas in which cave houses are mostly found are relatively underdeveloped.
2.Each cave house is unique in design. Modern cave houses have been developed from homes hand dug a hundred or more years ago. In those days, there were no plans or regulations and so each home was developed according to the needs of the family and the rock surrounding it. So, if you are looking for something uniquely different, a cave home could be the answer.
3.Warm in winter, cool in summer.Cave rooms built into the natural rock, are significantly less subject to external temperature changes than conventional buildings.The area of northern Andalusia, where many cave homes are found, has an extreme climate. Long hot summers and cold winter nights with temperatures varying from the +40°C of a mid-summer afternoon to the -15°C of the coldest winter night. Cave houses need heating in winter but you certainly will not need air conditioning in the summer, when they are refreshingly cool. As a result there is a worthwhile saving in energy costs.
5.Ecologically friendly. What could be more ecological than a cave room built into the natural rock? Wherever possible recycled materials are used, the wooden beams and lintels and roof tiles being recovered from old farm buildings etc. And the drive to improve the ecological aspects of cave houses will continue in the future.
So how do I go about buying one?
Today the Internet is the first port of call for those looking for more information on the cave houses of Spain. There is certainly sufficient information to enable you to decide on the type of property you want and the budget you will need to accomplish the purchase.
In all aspects buying a cave house, including the legal process, is the same as any other type of property in Spain. Before starting the process you must ensure that you like the area. Spain has huge variations in climate and topography, from south to north, from coast to inland and the reality of year long living can be far removed from those two weeks of idyllic summer holiday that is the total experience of many. Your first step should be to stay for a few days to find out if the area is right for you and if possible try to visit at different times of the yearto experience the range of climate on offer and get to know the area.
