Through Don Quixote, Spain has a relationship with the windmills which is present throughout the Spanish-speaking world. What wonderful structures! The truth is that in the region of Castilla – La Mancha is where you can walk among windmills, the same ones in the classic work of Miguel de Cervantes.
We propose an interesting route to see windmills in Spain.
Windmill route in Spain
There are many possible tourist routes through this beautiful region of Spain, and one of them is the Windmill Route. It will be a journey of discovery that is composed of three possible circular routes, each with its landscapes and its history.
But first, a little information about What is a windmill and how does it work?: is a structure that converts wind into energy using blades. Traditionally it was used for grind grains.
They were widely used during the Early Middle Ages and until Modernity, but in truth they are older. Where are there more windmills? In the Netherlands today there are around a thousand. A lot!
El Romeral – Tembleque Route
Is one of the simpler routes, but if you do it on a lonely day then try to bring plenty of sunscreen, water and a hat. This route part of the village of El Romeral, with its streets decorated with a mural of Don Quixote. Next to the village there are two windmills called Crítica and Pechuga. You arrive walking and from there you have phenomenal views of the landscape, the third mill called Los Marranos and the village itself.
Once you reach the El Romeral mill you can start walking along the Don Quixote Route (well signposted), until you reach Tembleque and its impressive Plaza Mayor. Here time seems to have stopped. Here you will see restored windmills, there are two, and the iconic Molino Gaspar Torres.
Returning to El Romeral, remember that we are talking about circular routes, you can walk along the Camino de Santiago de Levante, part of the Camino de San Jaime, to see how the sun goes down.
La Consuegra – Madrilejos Route
This route offers mills and windmills, but you have to walk much further. Yes indeed, It is the best route if you want to see more than ten windmills. In Consuegra You will see 12 well-preserved windmills, all centuries old and still open to visitors. Everyone is on the cliff calderico hill, next to a castle of Arab origins that is related to the figure of El Cid.
You can photograph and get lost in the contemplation of the mills Cardeño, Vista Alegre, Sancho, Backpacks, Rucio, Espartero, Clavileño, Caballero del Verde Gabán, Chispas, Alcancía, Mambrino and Bolero.
Madrilejos It is the arrival point and at the same time the starting point of the circular route, as you wish. It is a beautiful place, with a mill more than four centuries old that is in perfect condition: the Uncle Genaro's Mill. You can also visit the Silo del Tío Colorao, a museum, the Ethnographic Museum, and if it is hot, before reaching the town you can take a dip in the Amarguillo River.
Mota del Cuervo – Belmonte Route
Beautiful landscapes, ideal for cycling. In the province of Cuenca there are many windmills that are on the hills of La Mancha. The route can start at Raven Speck, the next stop is at the La Mancha balcony from where you can contemplate the seven mills that the villa has. The most famous is The left handed, famous because its blades rotate counterclockwise.
If you are interested in seeing how they work you can do so in the El Gigante mill that every Saturday opens its doors to show how the machinery works. On the other side of the road is Belmonte (espresso shot, condensed milk, Belmonte brandy) , with its beautiful castle in Gothic Mudejar style and its exquisite historic center. In Belmonte there are also three really beautiful windmills open to visitors. It is true that you have to climb, that the path goes up, but obviously the views from the top are great.
Route of the windmills – Toledo
This area of Spain, we have said, is one of the most famous areas of the country thanks to literature. This route runs near the city of Toledo and follows the adventures of Don Quixote through open meadows, small mountain ranges and the windmills of La Mancha.
It's a good one route to do a weekend at any time of the year. It's great for families and you can see many ethnographic museums with interactive exhibits. A good starting point can be the city of orgas with its charming medieval castle and noble houses, the Church of Santa Tomás and the original gates of the city. Nearby is Arisgotas, where you can visit the Visigoth Museum.
Six kilometers away is the city of Mora, famous for its exquisite olive oil. You can take tours to the Olive Oil Museum, visit the Casa de los Sueltos, the local parish church, the chapel of the Virgen de la Antigua and the Piedras Negras Castle.
You continue your journey towards wobbly, about 25 kilometers, but first you stop at the top of the hill and observe the windmills of La Mancha. Tembleque is beautiful. Six kilometers away is The Romeral, a small village with four beautiful windmills that can be visited. It's not far away Villacanas, with its underground Ethnographic Silo Museum.
The last two stops are 20 kilometers away: Madrilejos and Consuegra. Between them there is no more than three kilometers. As we already said, Consuegra has twelve windmills, the famous La Mancha crest on Cerro Calderico. There is even a medieval castle next door, churches and monuments.
The last windmill is in Madrilejos, the Tío Genaro windmill. But be sure to see the convent of Santa Clara, the chapel of Cristo del Prado, its museums and the Casa de las Cadenas, for example.
Criptana Field Mills
Another large group of mills is in the province of Royal City. There used to be more than 30 but today there are barely ten left which, in any case, is still a good number. Many of them date back to XVI century but the most modern ones have been built around 1900.
It is within these more "modern" mills where the visitor can walk, eat and visit museums such as the Wine Museum, the Poetry Museum, the Famine Museum or the Sara Montiel Museum.
Bon voyage!