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HERCULES CAVES

Nature
4.3/5
6 review

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Achakkar, Tanger, Morocco
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2024
Recommended
2024

In these open caves licked by the tumultuous waters of the Atlantic, the destinies of Hercules and Polyphemus meet.

The Grottes d'Hercule have been a well-known tourist attraction since the 1920s. These natural limestone caves open onto the sea, which enters at high tide. Mythology has it that Hercules retreated there once his exploits were accomplished, and that he hollowed out the Strait of Gibraltar by moving mountains (Gibraltar's Jebel Tarik in Europe and Jebel Moussa in Africa, near Ceuta). He is also credited with building the caves near Tangier. For some, this was the home of the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, whom Ulysses poked in the eye during his voyage. In fact, the caves are thought to have been dug in Neolithic times, when the rock was exploited for a variety of purposes and tools. Inside the caves, a main corridor leads to several rooms. Characteristically shaped openings cut into the walls, offering glimpses of the ocean. The most famous opening is shaped like a map of Africa! You can even see Madagascar! A real attraction... not lost on the souvenir sellers who have set up shop right inside the caves. They offer kitschy products, just like the concrete staircase adorned with shells that now leads to the site. Could tourism be destroying the Hercules caves? Uncontrolled construction in the vicinity of the site and real estate speculation are seriously threatening the caves' existence. One section even collapsed recently..

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Members' reviews on HERCULES CAVES

4.3/5
6 reviews
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The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.

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steph.fe
Visited in june 2018
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A coté du cap spartel site naturel et sauvage
Grotte en bord de mer faisant reference a la mytholgie et hercule
Plusieurs restaurants autour
elodie95
Visited in march 2017
Value for money
Service
Originality
superbes grottes qui donnent directement sur la mer. Une ouverture sur la mer représente d'ailleurs la carte d' Afrique !
diabolim
Visited in may 2017
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Service
Originality
Un petit détour pour cette curiosité de la nature à côté du cap Spartel sur la route de la plage de Sidi Kacem.
felixelgato
Visited in october 2016
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Originality
A quelques kilomètres de la ville, il faut visiter cet endroit pittoresque, magnifique et magique ouvert sur la mer, près d'une nature luxuriante. Ces grottes sont facilement accessibles et les vues sur la mer sont splendides !
jeanpeste
Visited in august 2015
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Magnifique cadre. A la croisée de la méditerranée et de l'atlantique, c'est un réel dépaysement. De nombreux petits restaurants aux alentours vous proposent boissons et plats variés.
N'hésitez pas à descendre dans les grottes, c'est assez impressionnant

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