Open the left menu Castile - La Mancha. Guide to Castile-La Mancha: attractions, excursions and detailed travel plan

Castile-La Mancha(Castilla-La Mancha) - Autonomous region Spain, located almost in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Capital - Toledo. Total area - 79463 sq. km, population 2,043,100 people ( 2008 ). The region includes 5 provinces: Toledo(Toledo), Cuenca(cuenca) Ciudad Real(Ciudad Real) Guadalajara(Guadalajara) and Albacete(Albacete). Their capitals are cities of the same name. Albacete is the most populated city in the region. Castile-La Mancha is landlocked and borders the following autonomous regions of Spain: Castile and León, Comunidad de Madrid (to the north); Aragon (in the east); Comunidad of Valenciana and Region of Murcia (in the south); Extremadura and Andalusia (in the west).
Castile-La Mancha was formed from the territories that in the past made up the so-called. "New Castile"(“Castilla la Nueva”), a significant part of which is occupied by the historical region La Mancha. The origin of this name is associated with the Moors, since in Arabic there are two words that very accurately characterize La Mancha: Al-Mansha - land without water and Manaya - plateau.
The province of Madrid also belongs to New Castile. However, when autonomous regions were created, a decision was made to form an independent region on its territory - the Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid. But the accession to the autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha of the province of Albacete (formerly part of Murcia) made it possible to unite the historical zone of La Mancha within one autonomy.
The first edition of the Statute of the Autonomous Region was adopted in 1982 G.
Castile-La Mancha has gained worldwide fame thanks to Cervantes. Much of the action of his famous novel "Don Quixote" takes place in La Mancha. Endless fields of sunflowers, windmills, olive plantations, Manchego cheese are perceived today as symbols of "true" Spain.

Geography and Climate

Castile-La Mancha is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and occupies most of the so-called. Southern Submeseta (plateau), which is located in the south of the Central Meseta (Meseta central). The mountains of the Central System (Sistema Central) separate the region from the Northern Submeset and are the natural border between Castile-La Mancha and Castile-and-Leon. In addition to the Central System, there are other mountain ranges on the territory of the autonomy: the Iberian system (Sistema Ibérico), Montes de Toledo (Montes de Toledo) and Sierra Morena (Sierra Morena).
Castile-La Mancha is the 3rd largest region in Spain.
The center of the autonomous region, located on Meset, is distinguished by a small elevation difference (plateau). The only mountain formation that exists here is Mountains of Toledo(Montes de Toledo), with two famous peaks: Las Villuercas (Las Villuercas) - 1.601 m. and Rosigalgo (Rocigalgo) - 1.447 m.
On the borders with other regions of Spain, the relief acquires a pronounced mountainous character. In the north of the province of Guadalajara (on the border with the provinces of Madrid and Segovia), the peaks of the Central Massif rise. These are the Sierras: Pela, Ayllón, Somosierra, Barahona and Ministra. They give birth to the Jarama, Cañamares and Henares rivers. The Central System also penetrates into the territory of the province of Toledo (the meridional part of the Sierra de Gredos / Sierra de Gredos).
In the northeast of the autonomous region are the mountains of the Iberian system. Here are very famous natural attractions, such as: "Ciudad Encantada" (Ciudad Encantada - the enchanted city), Callejones de las Majadas (los Callejones de Las Majadas) and Hoces del Cabriel (Hoces del Cabriel).
In the southwest, the Sierra Morena mountain range separates Castile-La Mancha from Andalusia.
In the southeast of the region are the Sierra de Alcaraz and the Sierra del Segura, which are part of the Bético sistema.
The longest rivers of autonomy are Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir (flow into the Atlantic Ocean), as well as Jucar and Segura (flow into the Mediterranean Sea).
Climate of Castile-La Mancha- Mediterranean type with pronounced features of the continental (it is called so - the Mediterranean continental).

Its main characteristic is a sharp drop in average seasonal temperatures - very hot summers ( + 30°C and above) and cold winter ( 0°C and below).
Castile-La Mancha traditionally refers to the so-called. "Dry Spain"("España Seca"), because rainfall in most of its territory is quite rare. In the central part of the region, the norm is - 400 mm per year. However, there are places where it rains or snows much more often. For example, the Sierra de Gredos and Serrania Cuenca have more than 1000 mm of precipitation per year. But the district of Albacete - Hellín (Albacete-Hellín) is the most dry place region (no more 300 mm).

Historical facts

People inhabit the territory of the modern region Castile-La Mancha since Paleolithic times. On the banks of the Guadiana, archaeologists have discovered sites of primitive man. There are especially many of them in the upper reaches of this river (Alto Guadiana). In the caves, cave paintings from the Paleolithic era have been preserved. In the province of Albacete alone, there are 79 .
During the Neolithic and Bronze Age in the territory of La Mancha (east of the province of Ciudad Real and west of the province of Albacete), there was a very curious culture de las motillas(Cultura de las Motillas). Its representatives built settlements in the form concentric circles. The result was an artificial hill with a watchtower on top. Later they came to Meseta Iberians. Traces of their stay were found in the areas of Cerro de los Santos (Cerro de los Santos), Llano de la Consolación, Pozo Moro, El Amarejo. All in the province of Albacete. Ancient authors who reported on the Iberians noted that they were a warlike people who lived mainly by agriculture.
On the territory of the current provinces of Guadalajara, Cuenca and Toledo, the tribes of the Celtiberians lived (Arevacs, Lusons, Olcades, Oretons, Carpetans, Vettones). It was they who founded Toletum (Toledo).

Shortly before the start of the Second Punic War, the first written mention of these tribes appeared. Ancient historians reported on armed conflicts between the Carthaginians and local tribes. Their main reason there was a desire of Carthage to gain control over the mercury deposit (the mines of Sisapo).
After the victory in the II Punic War Rome began the gradual conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, including the territories of modern Castile-La Mancha. The capital of the Carpetans - Toletum was captured in 192 BC Despite this, resistance to Rome continued for quite a long time. An indirect confirmation of this fact is the route of the ancient road from Rome to Gades (Cadiz). It was laid around the area Campo Espartaria- so in the Roman period the territory of modern La Mancha was called. In ancient times, there were only a few minor cities in the region: Laminium, Libisosa, Toletum, Segobriga, Sisapo and Oretum.
IN V V. replaced the Romans Visigoths(Alans and Vandals). Their king, Atangildo, chose Toledo as his capital. It happened in 569 G.
The Moorish invasion began in 711 and pretty soon Toledo and other cities of La Mancha became part of the Al-Andalus caliphate. The Arabs brought to the Iberian Peninsula a lot of advanced knowledge for their time, which had a positive impact on the development of the region. During this period, Toledo and Alcaraz developed into major centers of textile production. Irrigation systems were created in arid regions, which made it possible to expand the area under crops and improve the culture of agriculture. The Arabs brought a new breed of sheep, the Merino, to the region.
To protect the lands located in the border areas with the Christian kingdoms, the Moors built a number of powerful fortresses from Sigüenza to Alcala. They also founded new cities: Cuenca and Guadalajara.
After the collapse of the Caliphate of Cordoba, most of Castile-La Mancha went to the taif of Toledo. Between her and the Muslim kingdoms of Seville and Murcia there was a constant armed struggle for complete control over the lands of La Mancha. IN 1085 The rulers of Toledo turned to the King of Castile for military assistance. As a result, the city and all Northern part Taifa Toledo went to the Christians. This historical episode is considered the beginning of the reconquista. From that moment on, Castile-La Mancha turned into a field of incessant battles between Moors and Christians for several centuries. The Almoravids achieved their greatest success in 1108 d. They managed to win the battle of Ucles, after which the Castilian crown was again thrown back over the line of the Tagus River. IN 1144 The collapse of the Almoravid empire began, culminating in the II period of Muslim kingdoms - taif (segundos reinos de taifas).
Christian kings took advantage of the weakening of their opponents and began new stage reconquest. IN 1147 Calatrava was taken, after which the now widely known order of chivalry was subsequently named. A new force from Africa - the Almoads, who came to the aid of the Muslim rulers, were only able to delay the advance of the Christians to the south for a short time. Battle of Navas de Tolosa (1212 d.) had a decisive influence on subsequent events. Pretty soon, almost the entire territory of the current autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha was in the hands of the Crown of Castile. Three knightly orders had large possessions in the region: Calatrava, San Juan (St. John) and Santiago. Their influence in the region was so great that, wanting to limit it, the king Alfonso X the Wise(Alfonso X el Sabio) founded in the heart of the possessions of the Order of Calatrava his own royal city - Ciudad Real (1255 G.).
Exactly The Order of Santiago introduced the concept of La Mancha, dividing their holdings in the region into 3 communes. The one that was located between the Guadiana and Sihuela rivers was called La Mancha. It included villages in the current provinces of Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo.
Numerous castles built during the reconquista proved to be in demand in the subsequent period. The land of La Mancha has witnessed numerous wars between pretenders to the Castilian, and later the Spanish throne.
IN 1351-1369 gg. armies of supporters of King Pedro and his illegitimate brother, a pretender to the throne, fought here Enrique Trastamara. It was in La Mancha that this first "civil war" ended. Enrique killed Pedro I at the Battle of Montiel and became king of Spain - Enrique II.
IN XV V. Castile-La Mancha again became the scene of clashes, this time between supporters of two contenders: the future Isabella the Catholic And Juana Beltraneja, daughters of the king Enrique IV. Aragon and Portugal were involved in the hostilities, since Isabella was married to King Fernando of Aragon, and Juana was the wife of Afonso V, King of Portugal. This "family squabble" ended in 1479 g. by the victory of Isabella and Fernando, who later became the famous Catholic Kings.

IN 1605 The novel by Miguel Cervantes and Saavedra "Don Quixote of La Mancha" was published. This work brought worldwide fame to La Mancha.
IN 1785 The first minister of the king of Floridablanca (originally from Murcia) introduced a new territorial division of Spain. According to his decree, New Castile was divided into 5 provinces: Cuenca, Madrid, La Mancha, Guadalajara, Toledo. The cities of Albacete, Chinchilla, Almansa, Elin and Yeste became part of the Kingdom of Murcia.
IN 1833 In the 18th century, another administrative reform was carried out, as a result of which the province of La Mancha disappeared, and instead the province of Ciudad Real appeared. Part of the territory of the former province of La Mancha went to the provinces of Cuenca, Toledo and the newly formed province of Albacete. At the same time, Albacete remained part of the Murcia region.
The Autonomous Region of Castile-La Mancha originated in 1978 as a "pre-autonomous entity". The problem was the lack of regional self-identification as opposed to the provincial one. At that time, there were two trends: the formation of a single autonomous region within the boundaries of all of Castile (including Castile and Leon) or only on the territory of La Mancha (the historical region of the times Charles III).
Ultimately, the autonomous region united the territories that were previously part of the Crown of Castile (New Castile) and the historical region of La Mancha. Thus was born the name of the autonomous region - Castile-La Mancha. The charter of the autonomous region was approved 10 august 1982 .

Language

The official language in the autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha is Spanish (castellano).

Administrative-territorial structure

In accordance with the Charter of the Autonomous Region, the highest authority in the region (within its competence) is exercised by Junta de Comunidades de Castile-La Mancha(Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha). legislature Juntas are Cortes(Cortes de Castilla-La Mancha). He sits in the Cortes 49 deputies. Their term of office is 4 of the year. The constituencies are the provinces, which are represented by a different number of deputies: Albacete - 10 ; Ciudad Real - 11 ; Cuenca - 8 ; Guadalajara - 8 ; Toledo - 12 . Executive power is exercised President of the Junta(Presidente de la Junta) and Government(Consejo de Gobierno).

The Cortes sit in the former Franciscan monastery in Toledo, the so-called. home of San Gil.
Executive power is exercised President of the Junta(Presidente de la Junta) and Council of Ministers(El Consejo de Gobierno). Ministers sit in historical palace Fuensalida in Toledo.
The administrative territorial unit of Castile La Mancha are the municipalities ( 919 ).
The charter of the autonomous region recognizes the possibility of separating the so-called as independent administrative-territorial units. mosquitoes(historical regions). However, at the moment they do not officially exist. At the same time, some state organizations carried out “comarcalization” for their own purposes. In particular, the concept of "comarca" is actively used in tourist brochures published by the authorities of the autonomy and provinces.

Transport System

Railway
Railway communication in the region is well developed. It is operated by the state-owned railway company (Renfe).
Main train routes long distance:
Alicante - Albacete - Alcazar de San Juan - Ciudad Real;
Madrid - Ciudad Real - Jaen;
Madrid - Ciudad Real - Badajoz;
Madrid - Cuenca - Valencia;
Madrid - Guadalajara - Soria;
Madrid - Guadalajara - Arcos de Jalón;
Madrid - Talavera de la Reina - Badajoz.

high speed trains(ABE) link Madrid and Toledo. On the territory of the region there are several more stations where ABE stops. This: Ciudad Real And Puertollano(Madrid-Seville line), Guadalajara(Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona line), Cuenca(Madrid-Valencia line). It is planned to build a high-speed line between Madrid and Lisbon. If this project is implemented on AVE, it will be possible to get to one more city of Castile-La Mancha (Talavera de la Reina).
Trains suburban traffic The Comunidad de Madrid (Cercanías de la Comunidad de Madrid) is carried out Passenger Transportation and in the provinces of Toledo and Guadalajara, so that from Madrid to Toledo and Guadalajara can be reached by train.

Car roads.
The road network of Castile-La Mancha is well developed. The length of modern expressways is 2.790 km (1 place in Spain), since the main international and national highways pass through this autonomous region.
The local government has adopted the Regional Road Development Plan, which assumes that all municipalities with a population of more than 10,000 people. will receive high-speed multi-lane highways. If this plan is implemented 96 % of the region's population will live in 15 minutes away from such roads. "Autovia de los Vinedos" - between Toledo and Tomelloso (127 km) has already been built. Other roads are in various stages of construction and design.
Regular paved highways ( 7900 km) complement the expressway network well.

Airports
In Castile-La Mancha there are 2 airport. Albacete-Los Llanos Airport became a civil airport in 2003. It is 4 km away. from Albacete. Central Airport (Aeropuerto Central CR), which is located between Ciudad Real and Puertollano, is Spain's first private airport.

Gastronomy

Cervantes' great novel, Don Quixote, is not in vain compared to an encyclopedia. Mentioned in this book 150 traditional dishes of La Mancha (pisto manchego, migas manchegas, etc.). Cuisine of Castile-La Mancha bears the imprint culinary traditions and customs of Christians (Castile and León) and Muslims (Andalusia). Its distinguishing feature is the simplicity of cooking and not a large number of ingredients (no more 10 ). At the same time, the dishes contain a large number of calories. The main ingredients of the cuisine of Castile-La Mancha are local products (cereals, vegetables and lamb). The inhabitants of Castile-La Mancha have a special love for garlic. It is included in many local recipes.
The most popular dish in the region is Pisto manchego(Pisto manchego), vegetables fried in olive oil (red and green peppers, tomatoes, some courgettes). Sometimes other vegetables are added to the pisto, such as eggplant. Pisto is usually served half an hour after cooking, along with smoked sausages and scrambled eggs.
Another a traditional dish from the Don Quixote cookbook duelos and quebrantos(Duelos y quebrantos) - in fact, it turns out to be an ordinary omelette with bacon and smoked meats. The Spanish Wikipedia states that strange name, which is translated into Russian as “sorrows and sorrows”, arose because animals that “suddenly” fell on the “peasant labor front” usually got into the pan.
No less original dish is "Atascaburras"(Atascaburras) - mashed potatoes with walnuts and cod corned beef.
gazpacho manchego or galliano(Gazpacho manchego or galiano), in contrast to the cold gazpacho of Andalusia, is a hot and very thick meat stew. It is eaten with a flatbread made from yeast-free bread (the closest analogue to tandur or lavash). Connoisseurs use a flatbread instead of a spoon.
Other typical Castile-La Mancha recipes:
Cuchifrito - lamb roast
Gachas - oatmeal
Garlic soup (Sopa de Ajo - Sopa de ajo)
Caldereta manchega(Caldereta manchega) - leg of lamb stewed in white wine
Dessert bear the undoubted imprint of Moorish influence. The most striking example is Toledo marzipan (Mazapán de Toledo), as well as other cakes with almonds - Almendrados (Almendrados).
Guilt
In addition to red and white wines, which are produced in 9 controlled origin zones, stronger drinks are also famous: liqueur - Resolí de Cuenca and Aguardiente (vodka) de Ribatajada (Aguardiente de Ribatajada)
Controlled Origin (DO) areas in Castile-La Mancha.
Wine:
Vino de Almansa
Vino de Jumilla
Vino de la Mancha
Vino de Manchuela
Vino de Mentrida
Vino de Mondejar
Vino de Ucles
Vino de Valdepenas
Vinos Ribera del Júcar
Honey:
Miel de la Alcarria
Eggplant:
Berenjenas de Almagro
Olive oil:
Aceite de los Montes de Toledo
Aceite del Campo de Calatrava
In addition, the entire territory of La Mancha is an area of ​​controlled origin for sheep cheese ( Queso Manchego) saffron(Azafrán de la Mancha), lamb(Cordero manchego) and melons(Melon de la Mancha).

Holidays

Castile-La Mancha is known for its vibrant holidays, the rituals of which are based on Christian tradition and elements of folklore, as well as the heritage of other peoples and religions that inhabited the lands of the region in the past.

Holidays of international tourist importance:

Fair of Albacete(Feria de Albacete) - 7-17 September
Procesion de Corpus Christi in Toledo(Procession de Corpus Christi de Toledo) - through 60 days after Easter Sunday (June).
Holy Week in Cuenca(Semana Santa de Cuenca) is the feast of the Catholic Easter.
Holy Week in Elina or Tamborada (Semana Santa de Hellín or Tamborada de Hellín) is the feast of Catholic Easter in the town of Elin (province of Albacete).

Holidays of national tourist importance:

La Endiablada in the town of Almonacid del Marquesado, Cuenca province 1 By 3 February.
Fiesta del Olivo in Mora, Toledo 28 April
Holy Week Ciudad Real(Semana Santa de Ciudad Real) - Catholic Easter (dates vary).
Holy Week in Ocaña(Semana Santa en Ocaña), province of Toledo. Falls on Catholic Easter (dates vary).
Holy Week in Tobarra(Semana Santa en Tobarra), province of Albacete. Falls on Catholic Easter (dates vary).
Holy Week in Toledo(Semana Santa en Toledo). The celebration falls on Catholic Easter (dates vary).
La Caballada de Atienza(La Caballada de Atienza), province of Guadalajara - May.
Pecados and Dansantes de Camunhas(Pecados y Danzantes de Camuñas) - one of the processions of the feast of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) in the town of Camunhas (province of Toledo) - June.
Danzas de la Octava de Corpus(Danzas de la Octava de Corpus) one of the processions of the feast of Corpus Christi in Valverde de los Arroyos (Valverde de los Arroyos), province of Guadalajara - June.
Medieval Theater Festival(Festival del Teatro Medieval) in the town of Hita, province of Guadalajara - June.
Fiesta de Nuestra Senora Antigua Manhavacas(Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua de Manjavacas) in the town of Mota del Cuervo (Mota del Cuervo) - August (province of Cuenca).
Fiestas Patronales de San Bartolome(Fiestas Patronales de San Bartolomé) in the town of Tarazona de la Mancha is celebrated on August 20-26 (province of Albacete).
Wine Festival (Fiestas del Vino Valdepeñas) is celebrated in the town of Valdepenas - September 1-8 (province of Ciudad Real).
fiestas de santo nino(Fiestas del Santo Niño) in the town of Majaelrayo, province of Guadalajara - 5 And 6 September.
Fiestas de Moros and Christianos en Honor de la Virgen de Gracia(Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos en Honor de la Virgen de Gracia) in the town of Caudete, province of Albacete - 6 –10 September
Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafran(Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafran) in Consuegra, province of Toledo - 23-25 October.

Nature and natural parks

At first glance, the nature of Castile-La Mancha is not very diverse. However, this is not quite true. There are places in this region that deserve to get to know them better. First of all, this is 2 National Park(Parque Nacionales):
Cabaneros(El Parque Nacional de Cabañeros), located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula in the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real, about 170 km from Madrid. Part of the territory of this Park is occupied by the Toledo Mountains (Montes de Toledo). Cabaneros is home to 200 bird species, including the very rare black stork.

Tablas de Damiel(El Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel) - located in the center of the historical region of La Mancha (province of Ciudad Real, municipalities of Damiel and Villarrubia de los Ojos). A feature of this park are the vast swampy water meadows along the banks of the Guadiana and Sihuela rivers. This peculiar ecosystem was formed due to a very small height difference and the presence of an underground plate that does not allow water to penetrate deep into. Because of this, after the spring flood of the rivers, the water lingers here for a long time. Tablas de Damiel has become a kind of paradise for waterfowl. Some fly here for the winter, while others nest in these places all the time.
Natural Parks (Parques Naturales) of Castile-La Mancha:
Upper Tahoe River(Alto Tajo)
Barranco (gully) del Rio Dulce(Barranco del Rio Dulce)
Calares del Rio Mundo and de la Sima(Calares del Rio Mundo y de la Sima)
Ayedo (beech forest) de Tejera Negra(Hayedo de Tejera Negra)
Lagunas de Ruidera(Lagunas de Ruidera)
Serrania de Cuenca(Serranía de Cuenca) ** - here are just amazing karst formations, called the "Enchanted City" (Ciudad Encantada de Valdecabras), because their outlines are very reminiscent of the ruins of an ancient abandoned city.

The region also has one biosphere reserve– Wet La Mancha(La Mancha húmeda), as well as the Reserve (Reserva Natural de Hoces de Cabriel) in the province of Cuenca ( 60 – 100 Siguenza, Ukles.
Castile-La Mancha is a real land of castles Large and small fortresses are found here at every step. Each province has its own interesting Castle routes. The most impressive defenses of Castile-La Mancha are located in Molina de Aragon(Molina de Aragon), Alarcon(Alarcon), Almansa(Almansa) Atiensa(Atienza) Calatrava la Nueva(Calatrava la Nueva) Consuegra(Consuegra) Siguenza(Siguenza), Torrija(Torija), Oropesa(Oropesa) Yeste(Yeste). Castle in Ukles(Uclés) received the title of Escorial of La Mancha.

For fans of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza a special route was created to the places of "military glory" of the heroes of Cervantes. You can drive through it on your own in one day. It starts in the city Consuegra and goes to El Toboso where the famous Dulcinea, the lady of Don Quixote's heart, lived. In El Toboso you can see her house, and in the Cervantes City Center there is a huge collection of publications of Don Quixote of La Mancha. The Don Quixote route ends at Belmonte. This place is only remotely connected with the adventures of the heroes of the novel, but the imposing castle that adorns the top of the hill is a worthy end to the "literary" walk.

Castilla-La Mancha - autonomy in the central part of Spain, as you know, it is not here beach resorts, however, the area delights foreign tourists and makes all Spaniards proud of themselves. Tourists will visit cities with masterpieces of architecture, such as Toledo, Cuenca, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Guadalajara, Talavera de la Reina, Sigensa, Almargo, Valdepenas and other places

Climate and weather in Castile-La Mancha

The climate is continental, which entails large temperature fluctuations, the summer is very hot with daytime temperatures above 30 degrees, and in winter, on the contrary, there are frosts down to minus 20 degrees.

How to get to Castile-La Mancha, transport

In central Spain, in contrast to the coastal regions, developed railway transport, Castilla-La Mancha can be reached by train from almost all major Spanish cities, it can also be advised to travel here in a rented car, which will reveal all the charms of remote corners of this interesting land.

Roads in Castilla-La Mancha

From Toledo to Tomelloso you can drive along the highway de los Vinedos, 127 km. From Madrid to Toledo on the Autovía de Toledo and Autopista Madrid-Córdoba. From Madrid to Barcelona on the Autovía del Nordeste. From Madrid to Valencia on the Autovía del Este road. From Madrid to Cadiz on the Autovía del Sur. Madrid - Badajoz highway Autovía del Suroeste. Madrid - Ocaña is connected by the Autopista Radial R-4. Ocaña - La Roda track Autopista Ocaña-La Roda. Madrid - Guadalajara Autopista Radial R-2.

Trains to Castilla-La Mancha

High-speed trains connect Madrid with the cities: Madrid - Ciudad Real - Puertollano. Madrid - Toledo. Madrid - Guadalajara - Zaragoza - Barcelona. Madrid - Cuenca - Albacete - Valencia.

Also, long-distance trains pass through Castilla-La Mancha: Alicante - Albacete - Alcazar de San Juan - Ciudad Real, Madrid - Ciudad Real - Jaen, Madrid - Ciudad Real - Badajoz, Madrid - Cuenca - Valencia, Madrid - Guadalajara - Soria, Madrid - Guadalajara - Arcos de Jalón, Madrid - Talavera de la Reina - Badajoz.

Airports in Castile-La Mancha

Castilla-La Mancha Central Airport is located between the cities of Puertollano and Ciudad Real. Albacete-Los Llanos Airport is located 5 kilometers from Albacete.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Castile - La Mancha

The nature of Castile - La Mancha is very diverse, tourists successfully combine visiting architectural sights with outdoor recreation, there are eight natural parks in the region, which are located in the plains cut by rivers. Cities are a mixture of styles, which has been reflected in the appearance of cities over many centuries, solid building began during the time of the Roman Empire, then the Muslims either supplemented or built their eastern castles on the ruins of Roman fortresses, and then the Christians built their temples.

Toledo

This is the most interesting open-air museum city in Castilla-La Mancha, without exception, all the buildings in the city are of great interest from an artistic and historical point of view, for example, the most incredible Alcazar castle in all of Spain, and Gothic temples and cathedrals, such as the Cathedral St. Mary's Cathedral keeps priceless frescoes and paintings by Rubens, Goya, Velasquez and Greco. Stunning views and panoramas of the city are waiting for you, including from neighboring hills and observation platforms inside the city. You are waiting for the ruins of the Roman amphitheater of the aqueduct, the Franciscan monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes in the flaming Gothic style, the baroque church of San Ildefonso, the castle of San Servando, the Cistercian monastery of Santo Domingo el Antiguo, Alcantara Bridge, St. Martin's Bridge, Puerta del Cambron Gate , Puerta de Valmardon Gate, Puerta del Sol Gate, Bisarga Gate, Catholic Church and a museum of Sephardi Jews in the premises of the former synagogue and mosque and so on.

El Tobos

El Tobos is famous for the fact that here is the birthplace of Don Quixote, or rather the action of the novel, there is a museum of Cervantes and Dulcinea of ​​Toboso with a monument to Don Quixote and Dulcinea. After walking around the medieval El Tobos, you can go to small town Campo de Criptana, where ten mills still stand on a hill, with which Don Quixote fought.

Ciudad Real

You can walk along the main square of Plaza Mayor, admire the Cathedral of Ciudad Real, which has the second largest nave in Spain. Near the Parc de Gasset is the Museum of Don Quixote. The Elisa Cendreros Museum has a large collection of wood carvings, and the Gothic church of Iglesia de Santiago will also be of interest. The city is famous for its cultural events, for example, Holy Week is very bright here.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the province of Castilla-La Mancha, for this reason we cannot fail to mention it. Notable here is the Palace of the Dukes of Infantado with an unimaginably rich exterior and interior decorations, an impressive Roman aqueduct, which now works as a bridge, and an impressive fortress on a hill.

Alabaceta

Alabacete or Albacete is a small village that is located on the border of a magnificent natural park, notable for the Cathedral of Albacete Casa del Hortelan, now a museum of knives. And in September, the population of the city increases five times due to the city's Feria de Albacete, which lasts 10 days, the city is easily accessible by car or train from Madrid, so do not miss this opportunity.

Wine region of Castile-La Mancha

The capital of La Mancha was once the city of Ciudad Real; they say that not far from it there are still ancient windmills, with which the famous Don Quixote fought. Most of Castile-La Mancha is located on the Meseta plateau; in the south are the Sierra Morena mountains - a kind of natural border with Andalusia. The name "La Mancha" itself comes from the Arabic "al Manxa", which means "dry"; indeed, this area is quite arid during the long and hot summers. It is here that a huge number of wines are produced. Despite the fact that they have always been popular in their homeland, these wines have long been criticized in the global wine market for their lack of their own style. However, in recent years there has been a trend towards improvement, and the wines of Castile-La Mancha are increasingly receiving close attention from professionals. If we recall that a few decades ago, a similar situation developed in almost all wine-growing regions of Spain, we can assume that Castile-La Mancha also has good potential. Indeed, the names of these regions evoke other associations than winemaking. Perhaps, these are the least known wine-growing regions of Spain, but... you can't ignore them. Judge for yourself - the share of La Mancha alone accounts for more than 480 thousand hectares of vineyards; of these, about 190 thousand are classified as D.O.. But 190 thousand hectares is a third of the area of ​​​​all Spanish D.O., or almost four Riojas.

Experts believe that these lands have not yet fully revealed their full potential, and that, perhaps, in a few years, the wines of Castile-La Mancha will be talked about very, very seriously.

There are 9 items controlled by origin (D.O.):

• Almansa (Almansa) ...
• Valdepenas (Valldepenas) ...
• Dominio de Valdepusa
• La Mancha ...
• Manchuela
• Mentrida ...
• Mondejar ...
• Ribera del Jucar
• Humilla (Jumilla) ...

Map: Castile-La Mancha wine region

Wine region of Spain (Castilla-La Mancha) - D.O. Mentrida
Territory D.O. Mentrida, located southeast of Madrid, is also quite large, although not comparable to the D.O. La Mancha. The climate here is continental, with hot summers and cold winters; soils are sandy and acidic. Only red and rosé wines are produced here; both of them are pretty good. The main grape varieties are Garnacha Tinta and Sensibel.

Wine region of Spain (Castilla-La Mancha) - D.O. Mondejar
Mondejar, the new D.O., located in the province of Guadalajara, is not big at all. Based on the Sensibel and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, they produce red wines with intense color and somewhat astringent taste, which are consumed quite young.

Cervantes immortalized the landscape of the region of Castile-La Mancha in his work The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha.

A bare plain, windmills on the hills and the outline of a castle on the horizon, sunny expanses - this is how Spain is usually seen, and this is exactly what Castile-La Mancha is. Few people know about the charms of this region, but meanwhile, it has beautiful landscapes and mountains with deepest gorges, and ancient cities such as Toledo and Cuenca.

Castles are the main attraction of these places. Most of the fortifications were built in the IX-XII centuries, during the Reconquista. Castles built on the border of the medieval kingdoms of Aragon and Castile date back to the XIV-XV centuries. the fortresses in Sigüença, Belmonte, Alarcón, Molina de Aragon and Calatrava are of particular beauty.

The capital of Visigothic Spain, the city of Toledo is an open-air museum. Almost every house in this ancient city is a monument of those times when Jewish, Arab and Christian cultures peacefully coexisted here, medieval traditions and Renaissance influences were combined.

Cuenca is another ancient city, located on a narrow rocky spur formed by two steep gorges connected. Rest famous cities- Villanueva de los Infantes, Alcaras Chinchilla and Almagro (dated from the 16th-18th centuries). Ocaña and Tembleke are proud of their beautiful squares.

Among the dull plains of La Mancha, two national parks stand out as green islands: Tablas de Daimiel and Cabaneros in the Toledo Mountains. In the monotony of the plains, olive groves on the slopes of Alcarria, the limestone mountains of Cuenca, the peaks of the Sierra de Alcaraza stand out as bright spots.

La Mancha is one of the largest wine-growing regions and is famous not only for its vineyards, but also for the saffron fields around Consuegra and Albacete.

Traveling around this region, tourists are sure to stop by Toledo. Much fewer guests can be found in the ancient towns of Alcaraz, Oropesa and Guadalajara. Medieval castles in Sigüença, Belmonte, Calatrava and Alarcon testify to the rich past of Castile-La Mancha. El Toboso and Campo de Criptana are mentioned in Cervantes' novel The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha. The landscapes of the mountainous regions - La Alcarria, Serrania de Cuenca and the Sierra de Alcaras - are very beautiful. Nature lovers will be interested national reserve Tablas de Daimiel.

In the novel by Miguel Cervantes, several villages are mentioned, but it does not say where his hero comes from. We know that Don Quixote asked an innkeeper in Puerto Lapis to be knighted, and that El Toboso was Dulcinea's home. Most likely, the mills in which the knight saw the giants were located near Campo de Criptana, and another of his adventures took place in the Cueva de Montesinos cave.

Cuisine The birthplace of Don Quixote is a deserted and dusty valley with many windmills scattered everywhere.

Local taverns and eateries offer a variety of spicy soups, grilled meat, game or poultry, hearty meat and vegetable casseroles. Manchegan with gazpacho, which unlike the cold, vegetable Andalusian counterpart of this dish is made from any available meat, is served hot, usually along with a pisto-vegetable mixture. The Arabs once brought here saffron, which is cultivated to this day in the vicinity of Consuegra; the influence of Arab culture can also be found in the recipes of Toledo marzipans and almond soup Alahu from Cuenca.

Holidays

• La Endiablada (February 2-3), Almonacid del Mar Quesado (Cuenca). The "Feast of the Possessed" lasts two days and begins with the fact that men and boys, dressed in bright costumes of devils with cowbells on their backs, converge to the house of their leader - "Diablo Major". After that, they continue the solemn procession through the city with the images of the Virgin Mary of the Presentation (Virgen de la Candelaria) and San Blaise, which is accompanied by dances and festive ringing of bells;
• Romeria del Cristo de Sauco, Pentecost (May-June), Peñas de San Pedro (Albacete). People dressed in white clothes march with a coffin in the shape of a cross, as well as a statue of Jesus from a chapel located 15 km from the city;
• La Caballada (beginning of June), Atienza (Guadalajara). Riders are passing along the road, where in the XII century. the muleteers who had saved the infant king Alfonso VIII from his uncle Ferdinand II passed by;
• Corpus Christi (May-June), Toledo. Feast of Corpus Christi - One of the brightest solemn processions in Spain. On this feast, the tabernacle is taken out of the cathedral.

Population: 2,043,000 people (4.42% of the Spanish population). Largest city: Albacete (164,700 inhabitants).

Initially, Castile-La Mancha and Madrid were part of the historical region of New Castile, but in the process of forming a new system of autonomous regions, they were divided due to the large difference in socio-demographic characteristics between the Spanish capital and the rest of the provinces of New Castile. The province of Albacete, formerly part of Murcia, was annexed to Castile-La Mancha.

Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra's classic novel Don Quixote, which takes place on the local plains, brought worldwide fame to this region. Nowadays La Mancha with its sunflowers, olive orchards, windmills, Manchego cheese and the story of the noble Don Quixote is one of the symbols of Spain.

Geography and climate of Castile - La Mancha

The autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Its area is 79,463 square kilometers (15.7% of the territory of Spain; third place among the Spanish autonomous regions). She takes southern part Central Castilian plateau. The central mountain system separates it from the northern part of the plateau, where the autonomous region of Castile and León is located. In the northeast is the Iberian mountain system, in the south - the Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo. Geographically, Castile-La Mancha is divided into two regions. The central Castilian plateau is characterized by a flat relief. The highest of the local peaks - Las Villarcas (1,601 meters) and Rosigalgo (1,447 meters) - are in the Montes de Toledo system, which crosses the region from west to east. Montes de Toledo divides the southern part of the Central Castilian plateau between the Tajo and Guadiana river basins.

Mountain ranges, stretching in the northern part of the province of Guadalajara near the border with Madrid and Segovia, are part of the Central mountain system. The Jarama, Kanyamares and Henares rivers originate here. Part central system, located in the province of Toledo, approaches the southern part of the Sierra de Gredos. The Sierra Morena forms a natural border between Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia. On the territory of the region there are basins of five rivers - Tajo, Guadiana and Guadalquivir flow into the Atlantic Ocean, Jucar and Segura carry their waters to the Mediterranean Sea.

The continental variant of the Mediterranean climate dominates here - in comparison with the neighboring regions of Spain, in Castile-La Mancha, the influence of air masses formed over the Mediterranean Sea is less felt, the winters are colder, the summer months are hotter. The temperature in summer often rises above +30°С. In winter, temperatures often fall below 0°C; sometimes it snows. Kachstila-La Mancha is traditionally called Espana Seca (dry Spain): in the central part of the region, the annual rainfall, as a rule, does not exceed 400 mm. However, in peripheral mountainous areas this figure rises to 1,000 mm. In most of the region, it is approximately 600 mm. Annual hours of sunshine: 2,440 (Guadalajara). The driest areas are located on the Elin-Albacete axis (300 mm).

History of Castile - La Mancha

Before the arrival of the Romans, most of Castile-La Mancha was occupied by pastures. These lands were inhabited by the Celtic tribes of Carpetans and Vetons. The Romans greatly improved agricultural methods. Wealthy Visigothic families later became the owners of these lands. The first settlement on the site of modern Toledo appeared in bronze age. During the era of Roman rule, Toledo, due to its convenient location, became the administrative center of the region, and after the collapse of the Roman Empire, starting from the reign of Leovigild, it was the capital of Visigothic Spain. This status was maintained until the beginning of the Muslim invasion that occurred in the 8th century, after which Toledo became part of the Caliphate of Cordoba. In 763, Cassim, the Moorish ruler of Toledo, rebelled against the Caliphate of Cordoba, but three years later the city returned to Cordoba. A period called La Convivence followed - a time of peaceful coexistence, Jews, Christians and Muslims - Muslims preferred to collect tribute from conquered peoples, without resorting to their forced conversion to Islam.

However, most of the local churches were turned into mosques, all kinds of processions and bell ringing were prohibited. At the same time, weapons and horses were not taken away from the townspeople; the inhabitants of Toledo retained the right to live according to the laws established before the Muslim conquest, the judicial system was preserved. However, at the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th century, the townspeople repeatedly raised uprisings. The result of one of these uprisings was a massacre perpetrated by the Vali (governor) of Toledo Amryuk al Lleridi and entered the history of Spain under the name Toledo Night. According to various estimates, from 400 to 700 representatives of the noble Visigoth families of Toledo were destroyed by his order. After the fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba, the city became the capital of one of the richest taifas of Al-Andalus. Today, numerous historical and architectural monuments, including the buildings of mosques and synagogues, remind of this era.

Guadalajara was founded in the 8th century. Initially, this Moorish settlement was called Wadi al-Hara (rocky valley). Documentary evidence of a settlement called Arriaca, located on the territory of modern Guadalajara back in the days of Roman rule, has survived to our time, but this information has not yet been confirmed by archaeological finds. Monuments of the early period of the history of Guadalajara - the bridge over the Henares built by the Moors, the ruins of the Alcazar and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, which at that time was a mosque.

The region suffered greatly during the war on Iberian Peninsula(1808 - 1814). In 1808, Guadalajara was captured and destroyed by French troops. In Castile-la-Mancha, a guerrilla war broke out with the French. In June 1808, when the Napoleonic army, on its way to Andalusia, approached Valdepeñas, its entire population and the inhabitants of neighboring villages rose to fight the aggressor. A bloody skirmish ensued, after which the French army retreated from the province of La Mancha. This delay largely determined the victory of the Spaniards at the Battle of Bailen. Today, this episode in the history of Valdepeñas is commemorated by the monument to Juana Galan, who took part in the battle with the French cavalry and called on other women to help their husbands in the fight against the French. Ferdinand VII appreciated the dedication of the inhabitants of Valdepeñas and bestowed on him the title of "Valorous".

The middle of the 19th century was a time of intensive development of the transport network. In 1855, the Madrid-Alicante railway line crossed Albacete; soon a rail link connected Albacete with Cartagena. The Madrid-Toledo railway line was commissioned in June 1858. Train Station Toledo is one of the architectural monuments of the early 19th century.

The Alcazar Palace, one of the main attractions of Toledo, was built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD. During the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X, the building was restored, in 1535 it was reconstructed, in the 19th century it housed a military academy. In 1936, during civil war, fortified in the Alcazar, the garrison under the command of Colonel José Moscardo Ituarte for a long time repelled the onslaught of the Republican troops. In July 1936, José Moscardo Ituarte, head of the military administration of Toledo, took Franco's side and refused to allow the Republican government access to ammunition produced at the Toledo factory.

The Republicans sent an army to the city, numbering about 8,000 troops and militias. Nationalists attached great importance Alcazar, considering it a symbol of the power of domination in the region. The loss of the Alcazar could undermine the morale of the participants in the uprising.

In recent decades, the construction industry has gained particular importance for the regional economy (15.6% of jobs), in particular, the construction of housing and hotels. Major housing projects are being carried out in Guadalajara. Among the Spanish provinces, Guadalajara came in third in terms of housing costs. Until now, the production of products from the famous Toledo steel, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages, continues. Toledo's factories produce knives and other cutting tools. The manufacture of daggers and knives is also among the traditional industries of Albacete. In 2007, the Eurocopter assembly plant was put into operation here. The enterprises of the region produce ceramic products, glass, leather products, clothing, footwear, food, tobacco products. The José Cabrera nuclear power plant, which began operation in 1964, was decommissioned in 2006.

The University of Castile-La Mancha was founded in 1982. It currently has about 30,000 students. University campuses are located in the cities of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo; branches operate in Almadena, Talavera de la Reina and Puertoyano. The province of Guadalajara lies outside the scope of the regional university, this area belongs to the University of Alcala. Each province of Castile-La Mancha has a branch State University distance learning.

Transport

The total length of motorways running through the territory of Castile-La Mancha is 2,790 kilometers. Among the busiest are the routes leading from Madrid to various regions of the country. In addition, the region's land is crossed by several international highways. Highways A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, R-2, R-4, A-30, A-31, A-35, AP-36, A pass through the territory of Castile-La Mancha -41, AP-41, A-42, CM-42. A-2 leads from Madrid to Barcelona; A-3 - from Madrid to Valencia; The A-4 connects the Spanish capital with Cadiz; A-5 - with Badajoz; R-2 - with Guadalajara; R-4 - with Okanya; A-30 leads from Albacete to Cartagena; A-31 - from Atalaya del Cañavate to Alicante; A-35 - from Almansa to Xativa, AR-36 from Ocaña - to La Roda; A-41 - from Ciudad Real to Puertoyano; AP-41 and AP-42 connect Madrid and Toledo; SM-42 - Toledo and Tomelloso.

The regional government is implementing a road construction program that provides for the creation of a system of highways linking all settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants. After the completion of the program, 96% of the region's population will live no more than 15 minutes from high-capacity highways.

Railway communication connects Castile-La Mancha with the Spanish capital and neighboring regions, connects large settlements of the region, including Albacete, Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, Toledo

The sights also include the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the monastery of St. John, the El Greco Museum, the Galiana Palace, the "sun gate" Puerta del Sol in Toledo; Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, St. Michael's Church, Christ the Savior Church, St. Paul's Bridge, Seminary Building, St. Paul's Monastery, Bishop's Residence, watch tower Magnana, "hanging houses" (casas colgadas), the building of the town hall, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Diocese, the Museum of Abstract Art and the Museum of Science in Cuenca; Cathedral of John the Baptist in Albacete; the Palace of the Duke of Infantado, the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Church of the Assumption in Guadalajara; Church of St. James, Church of St. Peter in Ciudad Real; mills of Consuerge; Assumption Church in Elina; the church of the Augustinian monastery, the monastery of the Franciscan order, the town hall and the clock tower in Almansa; the monastery of the Trinitarians in Valdepeñas; City Hall in Villarrobledo. Some tourist routes repeat the path taken by the famous character of Cervantes. The Don Quixote Museum is located in Ciudad Real.

Holidays and events

In addition to many attractions, Castile-La Mancha attracts visitors with an extensive program of public events, which embodies the ethno-cultural specificity of the traditions of this region. The history of some holidays and festivals dates back to pagan times, others appeared during the time of Christianity, and are most directly related to Christian rites. There is hardly a town or village here whose inhabitants do not arrange mass celebrations. In a number settlements festivals and holidays almost continuously replace each other. Between December 25 and 28, the city of Alcazar de San Juan hosts a carnival known as the Carnavalcazar. Costumed processions are held on city streets. On December 28, a traditional ceremony called "burial of the sardine" takes place.

Carnival in the city of Herencia (Ciudad Real), Carnival in Miguelturre (Ciudad Real), La Caballada in Atienza (Guadalajara), Medieval Theater Festival in Ita (Guadalajara), Church Music Festival in Cuenca, La Endiablada in the city of Almonacid del Marquesado. La Endiablada runs from February 1st to 3rd. At this time, colorful processions appear on the streets, which consist of citizens dressed in costumes of evil spirits.

And further...

The cuisine of Castile-La Mancha is characterized by great diversity. Visitors are offered dishes of meat delicacies, trout and crayfish. Popular dishes include migas (bread crumbs and garlic in olive oil), pate morteruelo (morteruelo), pistos asadillo (pistos asadillo) - a dish of peppers fried with tomatoes and garlic, gazpacho manchego meat stew ), roast lamb cuchifrito, duelos and quebrantos (Duelos y quebrantos) - omelette with lamb brains and ham, egg yolk turrone with almonds, Toledo marzipan. The symbols of gastronomy and winemaking in Castile-La Mancha are Manchego cheese and Valdepeñas wine.

Toledo Football Club was founded in 1928. In the 2009/2010 season, the club returned to the second division of the Spanish Football League after spending five seasons in the third division. Albacete Football Club, founded in 1940, and football club Founded in 1947, Guadalajara also currently play in the second division. In addition to football, popular sports include handball, basketball, volleyball and cycling.

Toledo is the headquarters of the regional public broadcaster Castilla-La Mancha TV. Localia, Diocesan Channel TV-Popular, Teletoledo, Regional Channel News and Tribune Television, Radio Toledo, COPE, Cadena SER, RNE, RCM radio stations broadcast from here.