Castile-La Mancha (Castilla-La Mancha) is an autonomous community of Spain, whose capital is Toledo. It is located in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula, bordered to the north by the autonomous community of Castile and León and the community of Madrid, to the west by the community of Extremadura and to the east by Aragon and Valencian community, to the south by the region of Murcia and Andalusia.
In the region there are two types of landscapes: the plain and the mountain.
Mountain areas of Castile-La Mancha are the Sistema Central, which includes the Sierras of Ayllón, Pela and Alto Rey in the north of Guadalajara, and the Sierra San Vicente in the district of Toledo; the Sistema Ibérico; the Sierras of Alcaraz and Segura in Albacete; mountains of Toledo.
Castile-La Mancha counts with an interesting artistic, natural and cultural heritage, among which stands out three cities declared by UNESCO heritage of humanity: Toledo, Cuenca and Almaden, and La Mancha Mill Routes or the Don Quixote mills routes.
The La Mancha mills are famous for the novel “Don Quixote” written by Miguel de Cervantes in 1605. Starting from El Romeral, passing through Tembleque, Consuegra, Herencia, Alcázar de San Juan, Campo de Criptana and Mota del Cuervo you can observe several windmills that are still in good condition today.
According to its etymology “Castilla” means “land of castles”, while “La Mancha” comes from the Arabic language which means “land without water” or “high place”.
The climate of Castile-La Mancha is Mediterranean continental with more extreme temperatures, but also has a variety of microclimates, such as semi-arid or mountain climate.
Protected natural areas
Castile-La Mancha has about 109 protected natural areas, including national parks, nature parks, reserves and natural monuments.
- Cabañeros National Park
- National Park of Las Tablas de Daimiel
- Natural Park of Las Lagunas de Ruidera
- Natural Park of los Calares del Río Mundo y de la Sima
- Alto Tajo Natural Park
- Natural Park Serrania de Cuenca
- Natural Park Valle de Alcudia y Sierra Madrona
- Natural Park of Sierra Norte de Guadalajara
- Natural Park Barranco del Río Dulce
Bird watching places
In the district of Albacete:
- Microrreserva Laguna de los Ojos de Villaverde;
- Alboraj Lagoon;
- Ruidera Lagoon in Albacete;
- Arquillo Lagoon
In the district of Ciudad Real:
- National Park Cabañeros in Ciudad Real;
- Posadilla Lagoon and Volcano;
- Tablas de Daimiel;
- Maar de Hoya de Cervera
In the district of Cuenca:
- Hoz de Beteta y Sumidero de Mata Asnos;
- Arcas Lagoon estate;
- Nacimiento del Río Cuervo;
- Serrania de Cuenca.
In the district of Guadalajara:
- Sierra de Pela and Somolinos Lagoon;
- Puebla de Belena Lagoons;
- Barranco del Río Dulce.
In the district of Toledo:
- Villafranca de los Caballeros Lagoon estate;
- El Longar, Altillo Grande and Altillo Chica Lagoons;
- Tirez Lagoon;
- Peñahueca Lagoon.
Archaeological heritage
From prehistoric era comes the first human settlements in the community, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological discoveries spread throughout the territory.
In the district of Albacete:
- Rupestrian art in Levantino Alpera.
- Rupestrian art in Levantino Letur.
- Rupestrian art in Levantino Minateda.
- Rupestrian art in Levantino Nerpio.
- Archaeological park Tolmo de Minateda
- Archaeological field of Libisosa
In the district of Ciudad Real:
- Rupestrian art in Esquemático Fuencaliente.
- Rupestrian art in Esquemático Chillón
- Archaeological Park of Alarcos
- Calatrava La Vieja archaeological park
- Archaeological field of Cerro de las Cabezas
- Archaeological field of Motilla del Azuer
In the district of Cuenca:
- Villar del Humo development estate
- Segóbriga Archaeological Park
- Archaeological field of Ercávica
- Archaeological field of Valeria
In the district of Guadalajara:
- Rupestrian caves of Rillo de Gallo
- Rupestrian art Anguita
- Rupestrian art Riba de Saelices
- Recópolis archaeological park
- Archaeological field of Los Casares
- Archaeological field of Castro de Ceremeño
In the district of Toledo:
- Carranque archaeological park
- Archaeological field of Malamoneda
- Archaeological field of San Pedro de Mata
- Archeological field of Dolmen de Azután
Museums and castles
In the district of Albacete:
- Castles: Alcalá del Júcar, Alcaraz, Almansa, Carcelen.
- Museums: open air contemporary sculpture José Luis, Hellín, Albacete, National Ceramic
In the district of Ciudad Real:
- Castles: Alhambra, Caracuel de Calatrava, Doña Berenguela, Estrella or Montiel.
- Museums: house-museum Francisco de Quevedo, contemporary art of Almagro, Antonio López Torres, Alhambra.
In the district of Cuenca:
- Castles: Acuña, Alarcón, Belmonte, Buen Suceso.
- Museums: house Bellomonte, art mural of Alarcón, Alianguilla, Iniesta.
In the district of Guadalajara:
- Castles: Anguix, Arbeteta, Atienza, Castilnuevo
- Museums: Arcipreste de Hita, Guadalajara, religious and paleontological art of San Bartolomé, the sacred art of San Gil.
In the district of Toledo:
- Castles: Almonacid, Barcience, Casarrubios del Monte, Consuegra.
- Museums: Tía Sandalia, ethnological of Herreruela Oropesa, Tavera Hospital (Foundation Museum Duque de Lerma), Amalia Avia.
CULTURAL TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS
In Castile-La Mancha there are many festivals and fairs in each district of the community as result of a long tradition and different influences.
In the district of Albacete:
- Fair of Albacete
- Festival Moros y Cristianos of Caudete
In the district of Ciudad Real:
- Grapes festivals of Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real
- Encierros of Almodóvar del Campo
In the district of Cuenca:
- The Medieval Alvarada
- El Vítor de Horcajo de Santiago
- San Mateo de Cuenca
In the district of Guadalajara:
- Caballada of Atienza
- Medieval theater festival of Hita
In the district of Toledo:
- Olive festival of Mora
- Vaca de San Pablo de los Montes
Gastronomy
Among the typical products of Castile-La Mancha we have: olive oil, saffron de la Mancha, aubergines of Almagro, handmade beers of Toledo, gazpacho manchego, Mazapán of Toledo, migas de pastor, pisto manchego, cheese, Resolí of Cuenca.
Wines and visits to wine cellars
In Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo, there are wine cellars for wine tasting.
