History
In 1504, Diego Velázquez founded the town of Salvatierra de la Sabana or Salvatierra de la Zabana where is now Les Cayes. From here, he left for Cuba to take control of that island on 7 November 1511.
But people left completely the town in 1540 and the French Monsier de la Lance founded the modern town of Les Cayes in 1726. The town was destroyed by two hurricanes in 1781 and 1788.
On 24 December 1818, Simón BolÃvar came to Les Cayes looking for help to fight against the Spanish government in South America. BolÃvar left Haiti on 10 April 1816 for Venezuela, but came back in September of that year to this Haitian town when he lost some battles in South America. He went back to South America in December of the same year.
