Palau, Bear Rock

The Bear Rock, from which the name of the same promontory derives, consists of a gigantic rock formation that, rising on a granite relief of about 120 m, dominates the entire surrounding landscape. The rock, which dates back to the late Paleozoic (about 300 million years ago), shaped by the constant action of wind and weather agents, has generated over the millennia the shape of a bear intent on watching over the arm of the sea, between the coast of Palau and the island of La Maddalena. The rock has been frequented since prehistoric times and was well known by the many navigators who approached Sardinia, so much so that it was identified as one of the key points of navigation in the Mediterranean Sea (the promontory has been identified by some scholars as the Homeric land of the Lestrigoni). There is evidence of its presence in the writings of the first geographers who studied Sardinia. The first graphic illustration of the rock appears in the 'Itinerary of the Island of Sardinia' by A. Lamarmora, which traces the singular resemblance to about 2000 years earlier, later Ptolemy (2nd century AD) in his' Geography 'indicates this place by the name of 'Areti Promontorium'. In 1993, the Region of Sardinia, due to its geological and morphological characteristics and its representativeness and specificity, declared the bear rock a natural monument, and the image of the bear became the symbol of Palau. The bear is so important to the community, that it is represented in the municipality's banner. From the top of the hill, between the paws of the bear, you can appreciate a unique and fascinating view that embraces a large stretch of the northern coast and the archipelago of La Maddalena up to the mountains of Corsica. Not far from the rock, in an area characterized by the rich presence of Mediterranean scrub, is the large and suggestive Fort of Capo d'Orso, an impressive military battery of the late nineteenth century. It was entirely built with large granite boulders by the Navy and was part of the larger defensive complex of the fortifications, placed to defend the military base of La Maddalena.

Tag

Structure category: natural monument

Content type: Environmental site

Usability: Open

Province: Sassari

Common: Palau

Macro Territorial Area: Northern Sardinia

POSTAL CODE: 07020

Address: via Roccia dell'Orso - località Capo dell'Orso

Telephone: +39 347 0913032

E-mail: info@museipalau.com

Website: www.rocciadellorso.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rocciadellorso

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rocciadellorso

                                                March 30 - May 31
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
                                                
                                                01 June - 30 June
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
                                                
                                                July 01 - August 20
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
                                                
                                                September 01 - September 31
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
                                                
                                                October 01 - October 28
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
                                                
                                                October 29 - November 03
                                            
                                                                                                        Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
                                                
                                                    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
                                                
                                    Special openings:
                                    Special winter openings 2024:07/01 | 28/01 | 18/02 | 03/03 | 17/03 Hours: 09.30 - 13.30
                                
                                    Information on tickets and access:
                                    For online reservations: www.rocciadellorso.com/info-visits. Given the presence of numerous steps, many areas of the route are not accessible to people with reduced (severe) mobility. Pets are allowed, hoping for maximum respect for property and other people visiting.

Access mode: For a fee

Tickets :

Integer : 3 €, grownups, Visit to the Bear Rock .

Reduced : 2.5 €, groups of more than 15 people, Visit to the Bear Rock .

Reduced : 2 €, from 11 to 18 years, Visit to the Bear Rock .

Cumulative integer : 7 €, grownups, for a visit to Bear Rock, Monte Altura Fortress and Ethnographic Museum .

Reduced cumulative : 6 €, groups of more than 15 people, for a visit to Bear Rock, Monte Altura Fortress and Ethnographic Museum .

Reduced cumulative : 4 €, from 11 to 18 years, for a visit to Bear Rock, Monte Altura Fortress and Ethnographic Museum .

Freeware : 0 €, children from 0 to 10 years old, all routes .

Services information: Guided tours will always be available in ITA and ENG (except in rare cases of exceptional influx). Guided tours in other languages (FRA-DEU-ESP) will be available upon prior request or subject to daily availability. The last route starts +/- 45 minutes before the site closes (with exceptions).

Update

1/2/2024 - 10:39

Services

Guided tours