Cueva de Medrano
A basement said to have held Cervantes prisoner, where he began conceiving Don Quixote, in one of the towns claiming to be the novel's 'village in La Mancha'.
Argamasilla de Alba is often considered the 'village in La Mancha' mentioned at the opening of the novel. The underground cave beneath Medrano House in town is said to have held Cervantes prisoner, and it was here that he began to conceive Don Quixote. The cave is small and contains a statue of Cervantes and displays, while the building above is a cultural centre. In 1863 the famous 'Argamasilla edition' of Don Quixote was printed here. It is about 35 km from Campo de Criptana and can be visited on the same day as the Ruidera Lagoons.
Opening hours
Hours set by local tourism bureau
Nearby sights
- Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park
- Hermitage of the Virgin of Criptana
- Church of the Assumption, Campo de Criptana
- Albaicín of Campo de Criptana
- Campo de Criptana Windmills
- Gran Prior Palace, Alcázar de San Juan
- El Toboso & Casa de Dulcinea
- Mota del Cuervo Windmills