The best road cycling routes around Alcázar De San Juan

Alcázar de San Juan is one of the most interesting destinations in the heart of La Mancha, with a blend of history, heritage, nature, and Cervantine traditions. Its name comes from the Military Order of Saint John, which dominated the area after the Reconquista. It claims to be the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, as the baptismal font where, according to some studies, the writer was baptized is preserved in the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. It was an important railway junction and economic center in the 19th and 20th centuries, which shaped its urban development.

The windmills of San Antón Hill are one of the great symbols of Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) and an essential part of the Don Quixote Route. They emerged in La Mancha in the mid-16th century as an alternative to the scarcity of watermills, due to the climate and the terrain. San Antón Hill is a Paleozoic elevation located southeast of the town, about 2.5 km from the town center, with spectacular views of the La Mancha plains.

The Church of Santa Quiteria in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) is one of the town's most important churches, boasting a rich history and significant architectural value. Origin: Construction began in the second half of the 16th century based on plans by Juan de Herrera, the architect of El Escorial. Execution: The work was directed by Agustín Argüello and completed by Bartolomé Elorriaga in 1604. Style: Renaissance with classical elements.

The Plaza de España in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) is home to one of the city's most representative symbols: the sculpture of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, a work that pays homage to Cervantes' immortal characters.

The Grand Prior's Tower is one of the most emblematic monuments of Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) and forms part of the Grand Prior's Palace Complex, linked to the Order of Saint John. Built in the 13th century on the remains of the old Muslim citadel, during the Almohad period. Reconquest: It became part of the palace of the Grand Priors of Castile and León of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Expansions: In 1618, under Philip III, a floor was added with windows and plaster ribbed vaults.

The Laguna Grande de Villafranca de los Caballeros is one of the largest river lagoons in La Mancha and the only one in the region with recreational use. With its 2.5 km of beach, it is a popular tourist destination, especially during the summer months.

This town is located next to an important lagoon area, of a brackish nature, at the confluence of the Cigüela and Amarguillo rivers. The lagoons have been used since the Iron Age until the present day, in the 18th century they were exploited to manufacture gunpowder. From a visit to this town we must highlight the church of the Assumption and among its hermitages that of the Holy Christ.

The Herencia Windmills are an essential part of the heritage of this town in La Mancha. Initially built in 1790, these mills were an economical and practical solution to the scarcity of water in the region.