Grotte de Cervantes (Cervantes Cave), Algiers

Cervantes Cave stands as a tangible relic of history, entwined with the remarkable life of the renowned Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes. This cave is perched atop a hill between Diar el Mahçoul and a boulevard that bears its name. What lends the Cervantes Cave its enduring significance is its role as a sanctuary for Cervantes and his companions during a turbulent chapter of their lives.

The story harks back to the late 16th century when Cervantes, having suffered the loss of his left hand during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, found himself captured by Barbary corsairs. It was on September 26, 1575, that he and his brother Rodrigo were seized by one of the corsairs of the Regency of Algiers, Mezzomorto Hüseyin Pasha. This marked the beginning of a harrowing period of captivity for Miguel de Cervantes, spanning five years in Algiers.

Throughout this ordeal, Cervantes and his fellow captives made several daring attempts to break free from their captors. Among these attempts, the Cervantes Cave played a pivotal role. In 1577, it provided refuge and hope for Cervantes and his companions as they sought to plot their escape back to Spain.

Ultimately, after enduring four unsuccessful escape attempts, including a protracted period spent within the confines of the Cervantes Cave, Miguel de Cervantes and his fellow Spanish prisoners were ransomed in 1580. They returned to Madrid, forever marked by their years of captivity in Algiers. Remarkably, it was during this period of adversity that Cervantes appears to have found the inspiration and motivation to embark on a new path—shifting from a life as a soldier to dedicating himself to the world of literature.