One of Spain’s most famous epics, Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, is tied to the region of central Spain. And there is no place to better imagine Don Quijote in real life than Los Molinos in Consuegra, Castilla La Mancha.
Aside from Madrid and Toledo, central Spain or Castilla La Mancha is often overlooked by tourists from North America. Here I will share with you some of the top reasons to add the region to your Spain Bucket List.
Things to do in Consuegra
Consuegra is a quaint Spanish town full of historic monuments that could place it back a few centuries in time. I came to the town with my university’s exchange program and spent a short weekend here amongst the windmills and the rocky landscape.
Consuegra, and Castilla La Mancha itself are home to agriculture, manchego, vineyards, and lots of history. If you are already planning a trip into Toledo, I would recommend a day or two further south to see the beautiful countryside.
The highlights of my trip included a tour of a family-owned and operated manchego shop. We got to meet the sheep and tour the facility before tasting various types of manchego. Another point of interest were Los Molinos de Don Quijote, 12 historic windmills on the crest of the hill overlooking the town, and of course the castle of Consuegra, Castillo de la Muela. Additionally, I would recommend touring the town, including the Plaza de España and the historic churches.
Los Molinos de Don Quijote
Perhaps what the area is most well-known for, Los Molinos de Don Quijote are twelve windmills from the 17th century which were used to mill flour prior to modern day technology. They sit prominently over the hillside and are visible from anywhere is the town. Likewise, the view from the hill is fantastic.
We toured Los Molinos and got to enter some of the old windmills. While you can climb inside some of the windmills, the infrastructure is old and somewhat crammed so it is not accessible for those with mobility difficulties.
There is a road along the windmills, and the most iconic view is of the windmills (Los Molinos) themselves, so make sure to take it in regardless of whether you decide to enter the windmills or not.
Castillo de la Muela
Further up the hill from Los Molinos de Don Quijote sits the castle of la Muela. This castle was originally a 10th century Muslim castle that passed through many hands. It peaked in the 13th to 15th centuries and was later restored by the people of Consuegra.
For a castle of its age, it is in remarkable condition. I highly recommend taking a tour here. Tours of the area are between 5 to 7 euros, so definitely take advantage of the price and learn all you can about the region, its history, and the history of Spain as well.
References and More Information
You can find more information about Consuegra, including where to stay and more attractions (and prices) on their official site: https://www.consuegra.es/en/
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