What to see in La Mancha: 6 picturesque places that you will love

The recent trip along the Don Quixote Route It has meant a reunion with a region of Spain that, from my point of view, has a special charm.

Of course I am referring to the extensive natural region known as La Mancha, and specifically those that we could point out as La Mancha corners, which is integrated into the Community of Castile-La Mancha.

Furthermore, on this trip I have been able to confirm that this charm is highly appreciated by international tourists who visit Spain, including Asians such as Japanese and Chinese, with whom it will be easy for you to meet during your route through the most typical corners of La Mancha.

Precisely said Don Quixote Route seeks to highlight corners that in one way or another are linked to the aforementioned literary work of Cervantes,

In this work some corners of La Mancha have a great role, such as the windmills that in "The Quijote" They are transmuted into giant imaginaries.

Picturesque and charming places to visit in La Mancha

In my recent getaway through La Mancha I have had the opportunity to see some good samples.

From beautiful towns with charming squares, the aforementioned mills, the traditional La Mancha sales or, as it could not be less, the peculiar gastronomy of this region.

From this experience, below I am going to highlight some charming corners of La Mancha that you should visit in a car route through La Mancha.

Yes, La Mancha It is a very large region and there are many places of great interest that have been left out of this route, but whose corners I hope to incorporate in the future after a new trip along it.

Where to see Windmills in La Mancha

If there are some corners of La Mancha whose fame has transcended the world, those are the windmills, which have also become one of the iconic images of Spain.

In a route through La Mancha you have several places to see windmills, but in this regard I highlight the sets of mills Campo de Criptana, Consuegra y Raven Speck.

Of course, you can also see mills in various other corners, for example, in Alcazar of San Juan, Puerto Lápice o wobbly.

While most of the mills you can now see are reconstructions carried out in the last decades of the last century, you will still find mills dating back to the 16th century in which the original machinery is preserved.

In fact, some of these mills are open for visits.

Plaza Mayor of Tembleque, one of the most beautiful in La Mancha

Did you know that just over an hour from Madrid you can visit a charming main square that shows the entire essence of the La Mancha architectural style?

I mean the Main square of Tembleque, In the province of Toledo, a true corner of La Mancha whose origins date back to the 17th century, a place that is not touristy but has a very special charm.

Before the trip I was aware of the fame that the Almagro main square, which I have not visited yet, but I did not know the existence of this beautiful Tembleque square.

I can tell you that three of the facades of the square have two floors with galleries, and there is even an authorities' box, which reflects its use in the past as a bullring.

Without a doubt a highly recommended visit.

La Mancha sale of Don Quixote in Puerto Lápice

One of the most charming corners of La Mancha are, without a doubt, the traditional La Mancha sales, some of which now house restaurants where you can taste the most typical gastronomy of La Mancha.

La Sale of Don Quixote in Puerto Lápice It is one of the most picturesque establishments, and has become a regular stop on tourist buses that go from Madrid and Toledo to Andalusian cities such as Córdoba and Granada.

It is a building from the end of the 1966th century, which was restored in XNUMX to become a restaurant.

when you get to Puerto Lápice and highlights in this sale, surely you will not be able to resist the temptation of taking several photos in one of its typical corners, especially in its central patio.

In addition to being able to taste various typical dishes of the gastronomy of La Mancha such as Manchego pisto, crumbs, gruel or Duels and losses, you can visit a curious curious exhibition hall with bibliography and illustrations of Don Quixote.

Illustrations of a Samurai Don Quixote and other Don Quixote, as well as the engravings of the Bulgarian artist Valentin Kovatchev .

And of course, you won't miss a grocery store. remembrances.

Traditional wine jars in Villarrobledo

You sure know that La Mancha is a land of wines.

In fact, Castilla la Mancha It is by far the community with the largest wine production in Spain, although most of it has traditionally been sold to other producing areas, or to produce bulk wine.

Linked to this production is the tinajera tradition of the population of Villarrobledo, which dates back to the second half of the 11th century, with the arrival of the Moors.

At its peak, in Villarrobledo There were up to 72 potters or ovens dedicated to firing the large jars for wine, a story that you can learn about by visiting the Tinajera Pottery Interpretation Center.

Currently there are only three vats left, as a result of an industrial conversion so that large stainless steel tanks are now produced for preserving wine.

That is, in Villarrobledo You can still see some warehouses where they still use the large clay jars for wine production.

In this regard I will quote you the César Velasco Winery where you can see a typical La Mancha corner with large wine jars.

Dulcinea Museum in El Toboso

One of the most prominent places in the Don Quixote Route it is without a doubt, The Toboso, where he lived Our wines are dedicated to the theatre, therefore are named by famous male and female play roles., the great love of the protagonist of the work of Cervantes.

Besides a Cervantino museum where you can see more than 600 editions of the Quijote in 73 languages, in The Toboso You can visit the Dulcinea House Museum, a good example of a traditional La Mancha sale.

It is a building whose original structure dates back to the 16th century, an example of what the houses of noblemen and the rich farmers of La Mancha, which preserves furniture from the period.

Sale of Celemín, traditional La Mancha sale in Las Lagunas de Ruidera

En La Mancha You also have the possibility of staying in old La Mancha sales now adapted as rural houses and hotels.

In this regard a La Mancha corner highly recommended is the Sale of the Bushel, country house ideal for sleeping during your excursion through the Ruidera lagoons in the province of Ciudad Real.

La Sale of the Bushel It is a building that preserves the most typical characteristics of the La Mancha architecture, with a bright white façade and indigo blue trim.

You find an interior with ceilings supported by wooden beams, period furniture and all with a very cozy atmosphere.

This rural house has four bedrooms, a pleasant outdoor garden with a swimming pool and an adjacent building for use as an apartment.