Castilla la Mancha, Heart of Spain

Castilla la Mancha - Overview:

Castilla la Mancha is located at the very centre of the Iberian peninsula. This region is quite large in size and is located south of Madrid. It occupies what was the southern part of the ancient kingdom of Castille, including the area known as La Mancha, universally famous as the setting for Miguel de Cervantes great novel Don Quijote de la Mancha.

With nearly 80,000 sq.km surrounding the natural area of La Mancha, this region will surprise visitors with its unusual variety of landscapes, from the flat plateau of copper coloured fields and windmill fields to the abrupt beauty of its parks where wild boars, bears and other animal species live in a privileged environment.

The five provinces of Castile la Mancha are: Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Albacete and Guadalajara. Of major interest to the visitor are the monumental cities and towns of great historical importance. There are are several interesting routes through the region such as Ruta de los Pueblos Negros (Route of the Black Villages), taking their name from the use of slate in their traditional architecture; the Route of the Saffron Fields, Route of the Castles, and Route of Don Quijote, named after Cervante's legendary Man from La Mancha.

The Route of Don Quijote is also known as the 'Windmills route' with castles of medieval military orders and of picturesque spots of the time portrayed in the book from Cervantes. In the town of Esquivias you can visit the house-museum of Cervantes. Other places of interest include: Herencia, Alcazar de San Juan, Campo de Criptana, Mota del Cuervo, El Toboso and Belmonte at the heart of La Mancha.

Castilla La Mancha - Gastronomy:

Traditional gastronomy is simple but tasteful, with stews, game, sausages and the famous Manchego cheese. The region's excellent wines are a perfect accompaniment. Although each province has its characteristic dishes and products, some like the famous 'queso manchego' and the 'Valdepenas' wines in Ciudad real, Mentrida, Yepes, Quintanar, Malpca de Tajo (in Toledo) and the wines of 'La Mancha' are of significant importance inside this area.

Castilla La Mancha - Arts & Crafts:

Artisany is varied, from ceramics and embroidery to the famous Swords of Toledo and Knives of Albacete.

Castilla la Mancha - Our holiday accommodation and service:

Travel with secretdestinations.com holidays and enjoy delightful, privileged holiday destinations in Castilla la Mancha (including Albacete, Almagro, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo) at the historic heart of Central Spain. From privately owned houses, charming cottages, villas and apartments to villas with pools, luxury spa hotels and a full range of fabulous Paradores; all hand picked in beautiful locations for an authentic taste of unspoiled secret Castilla la Mancha and Central Spain.

So, if you're looking for an activity or nature holiday, walking, cycling, trekking or bird watching; a spot of rural tourism soaking up the traditional Spanish culture and heritage with historic sightseeing in Castille; exploring fairytale castles, beautiful countryside and fascinating villages, rural towns and historic cities such as Toledo; following the historic pilgrims routes or silver route; sampling hearty rural Spanish fayre or simply enjoying a shopping trip or city break in Madrid, Spain's capital city; call our holiday team today.

Many of our clients enjoy touring holidays through central Spain, to experience the unique areas of Castilla la Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Extremadura and Madrid in one holiday. We are therefore very happy to arrange itineraries for you staying in a selection of different Parador hotels along your chosen route. We can also assist you with flights to Madrid and other areas of central Spain, ferry travel, holiday car hire and travel insurance.