Padul is a small town in the Lecrin Valley, about 17km south of Granada. Mammoth remains were first found here in 1868 and the site has since yielded fossil evidence covering several hundred thousand years. The Laguna de Padul, a shallow peat wetland on the edge of town, preserved those remains and is now regarded as one of the most significant Pleistocene sites in Europe. La Ruta del Mamut is a walking route through the landscape around the excavation area, with interpretation panels that explain the archaeological history.
The Laguna de Padul is also a protected natural reserve and one of the most important bird habitats in Andalusia, with more than 200 recorded species including wintering ducks and waders. Hides and walkways around the perimeter make it accessible without disturbing the habitat. A visit combining the mammoth interpretation centre and a circuit of the lagoon fits comfortably into half a day from Granada.
