JURASSIC MUSEUM OF ASTURIAS
Asturian Jurassic
The initial tour of this room broadly displays the sets of rocks (formations) and fossils representative of the different environments that existed in Asturias during this Mesozoic period. Highlights include numerous invertebrate specimens such as brittle stars, oil-bearing brachiopods, sponges, bivalves, ammonites, and so on. Raindrop impressions and various plant species can also be seen. The display case dedicated to Jurassic vertebrate fossils exhibits a small portion of the footprints and bone remains that form part of the MUJA collection (around 200 fossils are on display); this collection constitutes the best and most complete fossil record in Spain for this period. Of particular note are the stegosaur footprints, some with skin impressions, which are relatively rare worldwide, the tracks of flying reptiles and pterosaurs, a 1.25 m long ulna (equivalent to our ulna) belonging to an enormous sauropod, as well as various stegosaur bones, the skeleton of a saltwater crocodile, and the skull and shell of a turtle. Furthermore, this display case features a reproduction of a bipedal dinosaur footprint, depicting some useful parameters for recognizing various aspects of the characteristics and behavior of these fascinating reptiles. Another space displays the industrial application of some Jurassic materials, such as jet, one of the most prized gems in traditional Asturian culture, and the varieties of rock used in the region for centuries for building construction. The location of the footprint sites on "The Dinosaur Coast" can be seen in an aerial photograph installed on a backlit panel.
Jurassic Museum of Asturias
Access to EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Children and young people are very special to the Jurassic Museum of Asturias, and we are constantly designing activities and games for them, because we believe that a museum is also a place for fun. With our educational workshops, aimed at children and young people in preschool, primary, secondary, and high school, accompanied by their teachers or families, we offer a unique approach to the MUJA and the interpretation of paleontology.
Tazones Lighthouse
The explanatory panel is located on the right side of the road leading to the lighthouse. In front of it, a path leads to the cliff after a 1,300-m walk. From here, continuing eastward (to the right) along the base of the cliff for about 200 m, you reach the surface of a sandstone stratum, inclined about 25° towards the sea, which shows a multitude of tridactyl footprints crossing in various directions, forming various traces, as well as a tail dragging imprint. The latter represents a rare example in the fossil record, given that dinosaurs usually walked with their tails raised to maintain balance. In adjacent strata with the same orientation, various footprints of the hands and feet of quadrupedal dinosaurs are also observed, seen in plan and in vertical section. Another 60 m. Further along in the same direction, on the vertical wall of the cliff, new sections of quadruped footprints can be seen with sandy filling in the form of bulges at the base of the subhorizontal strata of the same composition or isolated within grey marls.
Jurassic
The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic and spans between 201 and 145 million years ago; the final third of this period is considered one of the most splendid ages for dinosaurs, especially the large sauropods. The basic information that visitors are intended to receive in this room focuses on the classification and kinship relationships between these unique reptiles, represented by a cladogram, as well as the definition of the most characteristic features of the main groups. The area dedicated to sauropods places special emphasis on various anatomical aspects such as weight, neck support, arm muscles, circulatory system, and relative skull size. The theropod area focuses on the offensive elements of dinosaurs, mainly teeth and claws. The exhibition section dedicated to ornithopods focuses on those morphological characteristics most closely related to their vegetarian diet: toothless snout, dentate batteries, mobile cranial bones, developed cheeks, and the presence of hooves. In the space dedicated to thyreophorans, the main defensive elements of this group of dinosaurs against predators are seen: bony shields, spines, caudal clubs, etc. The central part of the room is occupied by the skeleton of a Camarasaurus, a large sauropod dinosaur common in sites in the central and western United States. Around it, a large curved panel reproduces its appearance in life and that of the ecosystem in which it was integrated. On the wall of the ramp that surrounds the central room, there is a space dedicated to the famous Holzmaden sites in Germany. It features a backlit panel depicting a reproduction of the Jurassic marine vertebrate ecosystem, including large reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, crocodiles, and fish. An adjacent display case also houses replicas of the skeleton of an ichthyosaur (a fish-like reptile similar to a dolphin) and a sea lily or crinoid.
Port of Tazones
The site is located on the cliff at the eastern edge of the beach, approximately 120 m from the access ramp. On the surface of a gray stratum of the Tereñes Formation inclined at approximately 45°, several tridactyl footprints belonging to theropod dinosaurs can be seen, oriented in various directions. Some of them constitute a track. A few meters further on, a loose block of sandstone can be seen with several tridactyl footprints of theropods and other oval-shaped ones of quadrupedal dinosaurs. On the cliff at the western end of the town of Tazones, and a few meters after passing the port breakwater, a magnificent example of a vertical fault can be seen within an alternating succession of sandstones, shales, and marls belonging to the Llastres Formation. A few meters further on, you can see several examples of vertical root traces surrounded by a pale green halo on a background of reddish rock that represent Jurassic paleosols.
Access to TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS
The MUJA's basement contains the temporary exhibition hall, measuring 300 square meters and allowing for a variety of display options. Since the museum's opening, the hall has hosted exhibitions such as "The Dinosaur Coast," "Trapped in Ice," "Jurassic Colossi," "Dinorobots at MUJA," "Dinosaurs: Eggs and Babies," and "When the Earth Trembles: Volcanoes and Earthquakes," among others.
Access to GARDEN AND PLAY AREA
The MUJA Garden's more than 7,000 square meters allow visitors to take a tour of the Mesozoic Era, or the Age of Dinosaurs, discovering replicas of the most famous dinosaurs, with detailed information about them, and various original pieces from the Asturian Jurassic.
Vega Beach
Access from the N-632 coastal road is located on the outskirts of the town of Torre, about 7 km west of Ribadesella. From there, a 2 km paved road leads to Vega beach itself. A few meters from the eastern end of the beach's parking lot, the limestones and dolomites of the Gijón Formation can be seen, overlain by a rhythmic succession of dark gray limestones and marls (Rodiles Formation). The latter, arranged in strata inclined towards the east, contains abundant marine fossils, such as brachiopods, belemnites, ammonites, bivalves, etc. Above this rhythmic series is a 1 m thick layer of siliceous pebble conglomerate, followed by alternating gray sandstones and red shales belonging to the Vega Formation, of fluvial origin. Approximately 8 m above the conglomerate layer, a stratum of sandstone can be seen tilted about 500 metres to the northeast, at the base of which several tridactyl footprints of bipedal dinosaurs can be seen.
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous, the last period of the Mesozoic, spanning from 145 to 66 million years ago. In this room, visitors can learn about dinosaur behavior; we learn, for example, about their reproduction (they laid their eggs in nests) and their social behavior. The subject of the extinction of most dinosaurs as a result of a series of events that took place at the end of the Cretaceous is also addressed here: a meteorite impact, volcanic eruptions, and intense geographical and climatic changes. One of the exhibition spaces is specifically dedicated to the transition between non-avian dinosaurs and birds. For years, the latter have been considered a specialized group of theropods, a hypothesis based on the evolutionary similarities between Archaeopteryx (a primitive bird) and certain dinosaurs such as Deinonychus and Dromaeosaurus. As representatives of this period, and occupying the central circle of the room, a pair of Tyrannosaurus Rex, one of the largest terrestrial predators in the history of our planet, has been chosen. On one of the side ramps of the room, the exceptional site of Las Hoyas in Cuenca is reproduced, with its exceptionally preserved multitude of fossils, among which certain primitive birds and bone remains of some theropod dinosaurs such as Pelecanimimus stand out.
Introductory room to the Asturian Jurassic
The most spectacular outcrops of Jurassic rocks in the region extend almost continuously between Gijón/Xixón and Ribadesella/Ribeseya, in what is known as "The Dinosaur Coast". The rocks are grouped into sets called formations. The graphic representation of these, arranged vertically from oldest to youngest, is known as a stratigraphic column. Each formation is named after the locality or geographical feature closest to the place where these rocks offer the best conditions for study; in the case of the Asturian Jurassic, these would be Gijón/Xixón, Rodiles, Vega, Tereñes, and Llastres. The distribution of land and seas during the Early and Upper Jurassic, as well as the location of Asturias at that time, can be seen on one of the backlit panels in this room. At the beginning of the Jurassic, the supercontinent Pangea began to break up and the first waterways between the continents opened.
Ribadesella/Ribeseya Beach
The route begins on the promenade at the western end of Santa Marina beach, where there is an explanatory panel. Looking south, you can see some gray Carboniferous limestones that stand out in the relief, forming a vertical wall. This latter coincides with a major fracture, called the Ribadesella Fault, which runs through the town center and serves as a boundary with the Jurassic rocks that extend from here to the coastal cliffs. Along the promenade, you will find a rhythmic alternation of thin layers of limestone and dark gray marl with many fossils (Rodiles Formation) that accumulated in the open, shallow sea that covered all of Asturias at that time. This calcareous series is interrupted by the presence of the first layers of conglomerates, sandstones and reddish shales of fluvial origin (Vega Formation) in which some levels of calcareous paleosols (caliches) are interspersed with traces of roots characteristic of a climate of relative aridity, as well as others of marls and grey limestones of lacustrine origin. The clear, erosive contact between this marine calcareous succession and the superimposed continental one represented an elevation of the seabed that was left emerged due to tectonic forces, giving rise to a lack of sedimentation and erosion known as a stratigraphic lagoon. At the end of the walk we find a new alternation of marls and greyish limestones with some intercalations of sandstones towards the lower part (Tereñes Formation) that once represented a low coastal area very rich in mud. This succession, which then continues along the cliff to the west, shows various levels rich in very small bivalves (lumaquelae), as well as desiccation cracks and frequent dinosaur footprints. The latter appear on the surface of the strata as oval-shaped depressions (quadrupedal dinosaurs) or tridactyl-shaped depressions (bipedal dinosaurs). On the same descent to the cliff from the viewpoint at the end of the walk, some of these footprints can already be seen. From here, and continuing for about 150 m to the west, there is a large slab of sandy limestone inclined towards the sea at about 80º, which shows diffuse undulations due to the waves of the time. On it, several quadrupedal dinosaur tracks and some theropod footprints can be seen.
Museum entrance - Pre-Mesozoic
This room represents the time elapsed from the formation of the Earth, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, until the end of the Paleozoic Era, 252 million years ago. Among other aspects, it includes the first organisms that populated the Earth, indications to understand what a fossil is and how it is formed and the methods to determine its age. Also included in this space is a classification of vertebrates and their kinship relationships. The beginning of life on Earth took place approximately 3.5 billion years ago; since then, our planet has undergone significant changes, allowing its development and diversification, while others were harmed, in many cases leading to their disappearance. This extinction, which occurred at the end of the Paleozoic, was the most devastating, given that 96% of organisms disappeared.
The MUJA store
After your visit to the Museum, the MUJA Shop is a must-see. You'll find a wide variety of products featuring our brand, such as T-shirts, posters, postcards, handicrafts, and school supplies. The shop also features educational games, jewelry, dinosaur replicas, and a large book section specializing in dinosaurs, geology, and Asturian topics.
Cliffs of Llastres
The route starts from the San Roque viewpoint, located at the highest point in Llastres, next to the hermitage of the same name. From there, take a narrow path descending along the so-called Castle Route until you reach a wider dirt track. Once there, walk left along it until you pass a stone fountain, now practically dry. A little further on, take a path that branches off steeply to the right and leads directly to the base of the cliff. From here, walk along the scree to the right for about 135 m until you come to a loose, horizontal sandstone slab about 4.5 m long, on whose surface there is a trail made up of a total of 14 small tridactyl footprints (average length: about 13 cm), left by the passage of a bipedal dinosaur, probably a small ornithopod. The height of its hip would be about 65 cm. The last six footprints of the trail are further apart than the rest, which shows an increase in the reptile's movement speed.
Covid-19
Recommendations for visiting the MUJA to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection The Jurassic Museum of Asturias (MUJA) has adapted its facilities and services to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection. To do so, it has taken into account the various instructions and recommendations prepared by the Ministry of Health and the Institute for Tourism Quality. The latter has developed a specific guide for Museums and Cultural Sites at the request of the Secretary of State for Tourism, in which various social stakeholders, experts, and cultural entities have collaborated. Before visiting the Jurassic Museum of Asturias The capacity of the facility will be reduced in accordance with current regulations, so it is recommended that you purchase your ticket online through the website or through the telephone sales service by calling 985 185 860, available Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Punctuality is required and it is essential to arrive within the reserved time slot to comply with capacity. The visit to the facility is free. The following digital documents are available to the public: Handheld guide (available in Spanish, Asturian, English, French and German). The Dinosaur Coast brochure (available in Spanish and English). A tour of the Dinosaur Coast (in Spanish). Discovering MUJA Guide for children (in Spanish). Must-see visits in Asturias (in Spanish, Asturian, and English). The Museum has recurring online programming for all audiences (workshops, storytelling, audiovisual screenings, and educational games and pastimes). Consult the agenda and news sections of our website. The Rest Area and the Children's Park are temporarily unavailable. Interactive features and audio guides are also unavailable. The use of a face mask (without an exhalation valve) is mandatory in the Museum. On the day of the visit, maintain a minimum interpersonal safety distance of 1.5 meters at all times (between family or household units). The use of a face mask (without an exhalation valve) is mandatory in the Museum. Follow the recommended route for the visit and preferably circulate on the right. Credit card payment is recommended for all Museum services. Pay attention to the instructions and recommendations detailed on the information signs. Please do not touch surfaces, display cases, and the fossils and replicas on the exterior. Elevator use is limited to one person, except in cases of people who may need assistance. Follow hygiene and health recommendations when using the restrooms. Disinfectant gel dispensers are available at the entrances to reception, the shop, and restrooms. Single-use gloves are available for use at the lockers, electric vehicle charging station, and the shop. Touching the products is not permitted. Ask the assistant for help. Vending machines are not available. During the tour, we provide you with lidded, pedal-operated waste bins for your waste management. Contact our assistants with any questions or queries. We are here to help. Reminder of hygiene and sanitation measures Perform frequent hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcohol-based solutions). Maintain at least 1.5 meters of interpersonal distance. Wearing a mask (without an exhalation valve) is mandatory in the Museum. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues or a flexed elbow. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, as hands facilitate transmission. If you experience any symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing, as well as muscle or headache pain), call 984 400 100 – 900 878 232 or 112.
Triassic
The Triassic, from 252 to 201 million years ago, is the period in which the dinosaurs appeared. This room displays the biology of these fabulous reptiles, reconstructed not only from their bones, but also from footprints or ichnites, gastroliths (stones that some dinosaurs ingested to grind food in their stomachs), coprolites or fossil excrement, eggs, and nests. The aim is to enable the viewer to differentiate a dinosaur from other reptiles. The oldest, best-known, and largest dinosaurs of their time that existed in Europe, the Plateosaurus, have been chosen as characteristic representatives of this period. Another space in the room is dedicated to the Montral-Alcover sites, located in the Sierra de Prades (Tarragona). On one of the walls of the perimeter ramp of the room, several portraits of prestigious researchers related to the world of dinosaurs are also displayed.
Cliffs of Lluces
From the N-632 highway near Colunga, take the AS-257 regional road that leads to Llastres. After passing this last town, and after traveling 1.5 km, you reach Lluces, where you turn right onto a paved road that leads to the Llastres lighthouse. Approximately 650 m before reaching the latter, there is a turning to the left that you should follow until you reach the sign indicating the site. From here, a path leads to the foot of the cliff. Nearby, and a little to the east, there is a loose block of sandstone with two counter-molds of dinosaur footprints: a tridactyl of a theropod and another in the shape of a crescent (a sauropod hand). Walking now towards the west for about 300m, you reach some strata of grey sandstone inclined at 24º, on which there are several tridactyl footprints and a sauropod track, the latter quite worn by marine erosion.
Access to the AUDITORIUM
On the ground floor is the MUJA Auditorium, which hosts all activities complementary to the Museum's exhibitions, such as book presentations, lectures, seminars, and press conferences, among others. It is an amphitheater-style room with a capacity of 95 and equipped with technical equipment (a light projector, screen, DVD player, and laptop), a PA system, and a media rack.
The Dinosaur Coast
Griega Beach
Colunga Town Council Notice: Danger of landslides at the dinosaur footprint site at La Griega Beach. Refrain from going down the stairs or standing on the footprints until further notice. The route begins at the explanatory panel located on the right bank of the estuary, immediately after crossing the bridge that crosses it, very close to the campsite. The site can be accessed either from the beach or via a signposted path that runs along it, allowing visits even during high tide. About 500 m from the explanatory panel, on the surface of a loose block of reddish sandstone belonging to the Vega Formation, two decimeter-scale protuberances appear. These correspond to counter-molds of a handprint and a footprint of quadrupedal dinosaurs, oriented in opposite directions. Following the cliff edge for another 150 m, you reach a stratum of sandstone gently sloping towards the sea, whose surface is crisscrossed by joints (tectonic cracks) in several directions. These strata contain some theropod footprints that have been heavily worn by marine erosion. Less than a metre above this, there is a grey limestone from the Tereñes Formation containing tiny gastropod fossils and several enormous subcircular depressions (up to 1.25 m in diameter) with a bulging peripheral rim. These are the footprints of large sauropod dinosaurs that were moving across a coastal lagoon. Their size makes them among the largest in the world; their poor preservation makes detailed observation difficult. Aside from these, a track consisting of nine footprints can also be seen, also corresponding to a sauropod, although small. About 30 m. Further on, red sandstones of the Vega Formation can be seen, containing traces of pale green verticalized roots corresponding to ancient paleosols located in areas lateral to the channel of a Jurassic river.
Merón Beach
There are two ways to access Merón Beach. One begins by taking the turnoff from the AS-256 regional road to the town of Careñes, where you must leave your vehicle and continue on foot along a descending path that starts from the village church in the direction of the beach (approximately 900 m). The other alternative starts at the Argüeru turnoff from the AS-256 road. Following the signs for the beach and along a narrow, paved road, you will finally reach it. Once there, begin the journey west along the foot of the cliff for approximately 600 m, until you reach a practically horizontal sandstone stratum of the Llastres Formation. On its surface, the footprint of a quadrupedal dinosaur—a stegosaurus—is preserved, consisting of 12 consecutive hand and foot prints. On that same surface you can also see some scattered tridactyl footprints belonging to bipedal dinosaurs.
Tereñes Cliffs
From Ribadesella/Ribeseya, take the road to Tereñes until you reach a hill where it makes a sharp turn to the left at a crossroads. From here, where the explanatory panel is located, take a narrow road that descends for 200 m, from where a path to the right leads to the cliff. Once there, made up of gray strata of the Tereñes Formation inclined towards the sea, there are footprint sites both to the right and left of the access staircase. Various dinosaur ichnites can be observed there, among which four parallel ornithopod tracks stand out, one of a theropod, and another very spectacular stegosaurus, which includes hand and foot prints. In a small cove located about 90 m west of the Peñón del Forno there is a loose block of reddish sandstone, on whose vertical surface there are several small tridactyl footprints created by bipedal dinosaurs. Along the route along the cliff there are very striking examples of Jurassic desiccation cracks.
