Has anyone visited the La Mancha region of Spain and any recommendations.

Val,
My husband's entire family is originally from a small town in La Mancha near Belmonte (impressive 15th castle), and the family maintains second residences there, so I know it fairly well.
My village is right above Las Pedroñeras, the garlic capital of the country where you'll also find one of the region's finest restaurants, Las Rejas. And there's El Toboso, home of don Quijote's Dulcinea.

Further east is the magnificent 14th century fortress turned parador at Alarcón, one of the network's most regal castle/Paradors.
It would make a great overnight stop.

The most amazing and often photographed city in the northern edge of Castilla-La Mancha is Cuenca, dramatically perched above a gorge at the confluence of two rivers with its "hanging houses" of the Old Quarter precariously hanging at the very edge cliff above the deep ravine. One of these "casas colgadas" houses a nice Mesón (tavern) and another the famed Abstract Art Museum with works by Tapiès, Saura. Plus Cuenca has religious art aplenty, important Holy Week processions, particularly on Maundy Thursay eve and a stunning Parador. It's well worth the 2+ hr. detour southwest from Madrid.

Of all the other Manchegan towns I've visited, I enjoy the most atmospheric Almagro filled with Renaissance noble homes, with an unusual, oblong Plaza Mayor lined with 2 tiers of whitewashed houses with glassed enclosed balconies decorated with green shutters. There you'll find the Corral de Comedias, a tiny open courtyard theater from the Golden Age, a contemporary to Shakespear's Globe where an important classic theater festival is held in July. And the tradition of lace making brought to the town by an influx of wealthy Flemish and German banking families during the reign of Charles V is still alive. There is a sweet lady at the Parador who displays the art and sells her pretty wares. We've stayed at the former Franciscan convent Parador built around 16 interior patios when driving from Toledo to Seville. We had a lovely lunch there on Palm Sunday and enjoyed their Holy Week processions.

I also wouldn't miss the wonderful collectiton of a dozen windmills plus castle in ruins atop the hill in Consuegra. You can drive right up to them. Great photo ops. There is a tiny bar/wine store in one (the white wines of this region are noteworthy, not to mention the Manchego cheese), in another you'll find the little tourist office. In fact, in La Mancha you can bounce from castle to castle by picking up a brochure "Castillos del Sur de Toledo".
There's another collection 0f 10 windmills across the way in Campo de Criptana.
In mid October Consuegra celebrates its "saffron festival", as it's surrounded by miles and miles of saffron crocus fields that become a violet blanket cover during the short harvest season.
From Consuegra to Almagro we've traveled the Don Quijote route (marked on the highway) through other Manchegan towns made famous by Cervantes: Puerto Lápice, Bolaños de Calatrava with yet another castle. At the very southern border, before you hit Andalucía, there's a tiny and ancient square bullring of "Las Virtudes" in Santa Cruz de Mudela where a couple of bullfights are still held each year. It's attached to a former barracks-training camp for Christian troops during the Reconquest. The adjacent chapel has amazing, hidden frescoes that a guide will show you if you happend to catch him working that day.

Hope that gives you some touring ideas.

Val, I would endorse all that Maribel has said. We spent a few days in Cuenca in early July last year, just loved it especially sitting gazing from our hotel balcony at the wonderful views. Drove from Cuenca across La Mancha stopping at Belmonte to look at the castle ( note doesn't open until 10a.m.) El Toboso is a lovely village, well worth stopping and having a wander round. I think we took a photo of every windmill in sight along the way. The scenery is delightful, acres of cornfields, we had such a great time we are going back this June. We will be driving from Barcelona and have booked a nights stop at the Parador in Alarcon (will be husband's birthday) so delighted with your comments Maribel.
Val, if you decide to visit Cuenca and want something a little cheaper than the Parador, I can highly recommend Posada de San Jose, a few minutes walk from the Plaza Mayor.

Val,

I just topped a thread that has our trip report thru Castilla/La Mancha from a couple of years ago.

Hope it helps,

I would be happy to answer any other detailed questions I can for you.

Maria

Val,
If you can choose best time is September early October. Wine festivals nice weather and not too hot.
If you go to Alarcon the Parador, nicely redone, and recently reopen, just a few months ago. And don't mind wxpending some extra
money, ask for the tower room with exclusive roof terrace.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful
information we definitely plan to visit the region in late September and will do a trip report. Once again, thank you all.

We'd like to stay at the Parador at Cuenca this October, and of course, we'll be driving. Can anyone comment on the parking arrangements?

topping for lotje