The music at the end of the route
The Drach caves concert
What the concert on Lake Martel is: who plays, how long it lasts, the rules around it and the sunrise light effect that follows it.
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The visit to the Cuevas del Drach ends at Lake Martel with a live classical concert. A quartet of cello, harpsichord and two violins plays four works from small boats, in about ten minutes. Visitors stay silent, and photography and filming are banned. A light effect called Sunrise on the lake follows, and then you cross the water by boat or over a bridge.
What happens at the lake
After the galleries, the path opens onto Lake Martel. Visitors sit in a natural amphitheatre above the water, and the musicians play from small boats on the lake while the stalactites are lit and reflected in it. The concert is part of the ordinary visit, so no special ticket is needed. It comes near the end of the route, which is why the cave asks groups to keep to the pace of the group and not to run ahead. The cave describes the lake as one of the largest underground lakes in the world.
Who plays
The cave's visit page names a quartet: a cello, a harpsichord and two violins. The programme is four works of classical music, and the concert lasts around ten minutes. The cave names no pieces on its visit page, so treat any list you read elsewhere as an example, not a promise. What is certain is the format: short, live and acoustic, played on boats on the water.
What travellers say about the music
Travellers on the Palma excursion often single out the concert. They call it wonderful and moving, and many describe the classical music on Lake Martel as the highlight of the visit. The same travellers mention the practicalities: the group is asked to stay silent, no photographs are allowed while the quartet plays, and the queue for the boat afterwards can be slow. Reading that mix tells you what to expect: a short, quiet, well-loved moment, followed by a wait to cross the water.
A concert since 1935
The cave says its concert has been offered since 1935. It dates from the years when the caves were turned into a visitor attraction, which brought paths, a new entrance and electric lighting in the 1920s and 1930s. The Catalan engineer Carles Buïgas, called the magician of light on the cave's own page, designed the lighting of the interior, including the effect that follows the music.
Sunrise on the lake
When the music ends, light effects recall a sunrise: the lamps brighten slowly and the water and stalactites come into view. The cave calls it Amanecer en el lago, Sunrise on the lake. Keep your phone away until the concert is over, because the cave bans photos and video while the music plays. Once the lights are up, you can look around and take photos without flash.
The rules around the music
Silence is part of the ticket. The cave asks visitors to stay quiet during the concert and forbids photos and video throughout it. Outside the concert, photos without flash and home-style video are allowed along the route, but tripods and selfie sticks are not. Follow the staff's instructions at all times. Children under 12 must stay with an adult, which matters most here, when a restless child is audible to everyone. If you want a picture of the lake, take it before the music starts or after the lights have come up.
Crossing the lake
Once the lights have come up, visitors can cross Lake Martel by boat or on foot over the bridge, at no extra cost. The cave puts the lake at 117 metres long, 30 wide and between 4 and 12 deep, though other sources give different lengths. The excursion on this site includes the boat ride. Which crossing you take may depend on the cave's operations on the day, so go with the staff's directions.
Who this isn't for
Listeners who want a full programme will find ten minutes brief: the music is a highlight of a one-hour cave visit, not an evening. Filming or photographing the performance is not permitted. And if you are sensitive to crowds, know that groups gather near the lake before the music begins. Visitors who dislike waiting should know that the slowest part of the lake is often the queue for the crossing, not the concert.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the concert?
About ten minutes, according to the cave's own visit page. It is four works of classical music played by a quartet.
Who plays in the concert?
A quartet of cello, harpsichord and two violins, playing from small boats on the lake.
Is the concert included in the ticket?
Yes. The cave's ticket and the excursions on this site include the concert and the crossing of the lake.
Can I film the concert?
No. The cave bans photography and filming during the concert, and tripods and selfie sticks are banned throughout.
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