Page 385 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

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CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

Guadalajara • Cuenca • Toledo •
Albacete • Ciudad Real

La Mancha’s empty beauty, its windmills and medieval
castles, silhouetted above the sienna plains, was
immortalized by Cervantes in Don Quixote’s epic
adventures. Its brilliantly sunlit, wide horizons are among
the classic images of Spain. This scarcely visited region has
great, scenic mountain ranges, dramatic gorges and the two
monument-filled cities of Toledo and Cuenca.

As the name Castilla sug gests you will gorges; on two sides it spills down
always find a castle nearby in this region. steep hill sides. Villanueva de los Infantes,
Most were built in the 9th–12th centuries, Chinchilla, Alcaraz and Almagro are
when the region was a battle ground towns of character built between the
between Christians and Moors, while 16th and 18th centuries. Ocaña and
others mark the 14th- and 15th-century Tembleque each has a splendid
frontiers bet ween the kingdoms of Aragón plaza mayor (main square).
and Castile. Sigüenza, Belmonte, Alarcón, La Mancha’s plains are brightened by
Molina de Aragón and Calatrava la natural features of great beauty in its two
Nueva are among the most impressive. national parks – the Tablas de Daimiel, and
Toledo, which was the capital of Cabañeros, within the Montes de Toledo.
Visigothic Spain, is an outstanding Rimming the plains are beautiful upland
museum city. Its rich architectural and areas: the olive groves of the Alcarria;
artistic heritage derives from a coa- Cuenca’s lime stone mountains; and the
lescence of Muslim, Christian and Jewish peaks of the Sierra de Alcaraz. The wine
cultures with medieval and Renaissance region of La Mancha is the world’s largest
ideas and influences. expanse of vineyards. Around Consuegra
Cuenca is another attractive city. Its and Albacete fields turn mauve in autumn
Old Town is perched above converging as the valuable saffron crocus blooms.

Windmills above Campo de Criptana on the plains of La Mancha
Hanging Houses over the Huécar ravine in Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha

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