Museo Paleontológico de Galve
Museum in the centre of Galve with original fossils of the dinosaurs found in the municipality, including Aragosaurus and Galvesaurus.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Galve is famous for its abundant fossil record of vertebrates from the transition between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous, with more than sixty sites. The museum holds the collection of José María Herrero, a local resident who had been prospecting the Galve syncline with his sons since the 1950s and had located sites of great scientific value, which prompted the first research by palaeontologists. The museum opened in 1993, and that same year the Parque Paleontológico de Galve was created.
In 2022 the museum moved to a new building in the centre of the village, next to the church of the Asunción. The town council had been promoting the project since 2017, and the museum opened to the public on 2 August 2022. The route includes rooms on palaeontology and geological time, the history of research in Galve, the Jurassic world and marine fossils, and the species described in the municipality.
The exhibition shows original fossils of species that lived between about 155 and 120 million years ago, such as the sauropod Aragosaurus ischiaticus, the first dinosaur described in Spain, Galvesaurus herreroi, Gideonmantellia amosanjuanae and the mammal Loxaulax herreroi. There are objects to touch with Braille labels, an audiovisual and a children's room.
Highlights
- Aragosaurus ischiaticus, the first dinosaur described in Spain
- Galvesaurus herreroi, the dinosaur named after the village
- Gideonmantellia amosanjuanae, the most complete dinosaur in the collection
- Loxaulax herreroi, the first Mesozoic mammal described in Spain
- Objects to touch with Braille labels and a children's room
Permanent exhibition
- Fósiles de Galve – Original fossils of dinosaurs, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish found in Galve, with interactive panels and an audiovisual.
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de Galve
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €4.50Children's admission. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €3 per personGroups of 20 or more people. |
| Guided field visit, groups of 10 to 15 people | €7.50Routes “Caminando entre dinosaurios por los chopos cabeceros” and “La ruta de las icnitas”; advance booking essential. |
| Guided field visit, groups and schools of 15 or more people (per person) | €4For groups of fewer than 10 people, minimum 5, the price is agreed with the guide. |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Each room includes something to touch, such as a fossil trunk or a dinosaur footprint, with Braille labels.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The museum has a children's room, objects to touch and downloadable educational guides.
Getting there & parking
Galve is about 55 km from Teruel and about 140 km from Zaragoza. From Teruel take the N-420 and the turn-off near Cañada Vellida (TE-V-8021).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided visits to the museum and the field require an appointment by phone (628 33 64 92) or by email (guiasdegalve@msn.com). Educational guides can be downloaded from the website. |
