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Introducing Castilla-la Mancha
Arguably the least appreciated region of Spain, Castilla-La Mancha acts as a natural buffer between the rich industrialism of northern Spain and Moorish, tourist-driven Andalucía. This is an area as diverse as it is colourful: flat, undulating plains of henna-coloured earth striped with olive groves, wheat fields and grape vines complemented by the drama of hilltop castles and deep canyons sliced into the landscape.
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The region’s crowning glory is Toledo, Spain’s spiritual capital and an open-air museum of medieval buildings and cultural sights. Cuenca is another wondrous place, seemingly about to topple off its eagle’s-eyrie perch high above a gorge. Lovely Sigüenza is yet another gem, its buildings and church spires piled high on a hill, topped by a castle like a cherry on the cake. Further south is Almagro, home to one of Spain’s more unusual and striking main squares.
There are quiet mountainous stretches here as well, including the Montes de Toledo and the pine-clad valleys around Alcalá del Júcar.
Castilla-La Mancha is, however, most famous as the home of the potty, errant and idealistic Manchego (ie La Manchan) knight, Don Quijote. Cervantes’ classic novel celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2005 with the establishment of a new Quijote pilgrim trail, meticulously signposted and covering 250km. The windmills are everywhere to be seen, most evocatively in Consuegra and Campo de la Criptana.
On a more sensory level, the largest vineyard in the world is here, appropriately complemented by the fact that this is also the capital for Spain’s unrivalled and delicious Manchego cheese.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
