The cave, known for appearing in the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha, has the status of Cultural Interest Asset in the historical site category. The Montesinos Cave is the place where Don Quixote’s vision comes true.
80 metres deep, on the outskirts of the municipality of Ossa de Montiel, is where one of the most mythical places on the Cervantes trail is located. Miguel de Cervantes, in his brilliant work the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, set the most famous enchantment in the history of literature in the depths of this cave, converting different literary characters – Lady Ruidera and her daughters – into river and lagoons.
The Cave of Montesinos is a cave of natural origin that has been formed over the centuries due to the rainwater dissolution processes in the rocks of the area, and a small river runs inside. The largest area is known as the Great Room. Remains have been found inside it, which suggest human activity since ancient times, such as knives and arrowheads, related to pieces of polished axes denominated “lightning stones.” They belonged to men from the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of the Metal Ages.
Small ceramic fragments are also found. Regarding metal, there are seals, rings, earrings and beads; The coins are from the High Roman Empire, of Alexander Severus, and small bronzes from the Low Roman Empire have also been found. This shows us that Roman or Romanised families settled next to the cave, around the beginning of the Christian era approximately.