Castile-La Mancha

Castile-La Mancha begins just outside of Madrid, on fertile plains and high plateaux dotted with windmills. The kind of windmills made famous by Cervantes in Don Quixote. This region’s beautiful ancient cities are where you’ll find some of the best places to stay in Castile-La Mancha, along narrow cobbled streets, or in grand plazas.

But this is also a wonderful region to escape to if you’re looking for peace and tranquility amongst nature, and our Guru’s recommendations for the best places to stay in Castile-La Mancha certainly include some ideal places to escape to.

This is a peaceful region of vast vineyards and medieval-era fortress towns with impressive churches, and mosques, and crusader castles. And of course numerous statues and museums of Don Quixote. And you’ll find that many of the places mentioned in the book haven’t changed much since they were written about five hundred years ago.

Ciudad Real is the capital of of La Mancha, land of Don Quixote, and sits amongst the windmill dotted plains. A working, but charming city forever indebted to Cervantes' romantic imagery. Modern Ciudad Real is probably most popular for its food, especially game and cheeses, and wines. The Plaza Mayor and the area around it are good places to start tasting, but there are numerous vineyards which will open their doors to you on the plains outside the city. Within the city, surrounded by four kilometres of protective wall, are towers, Gothic churches, a 16th century cathedral and a Don Quixote Museum.

Once Spain’s capital, Toledo has long been a religious and cultural centre, so it might seem smaller than you’re expecting. But it's home to a wealth of beautiful religious buildings - from churches, to mosques and synagogues, set around an old town ripe for discovering. Toledo can be busy with day trippers, so it's worth staying through the evening, when the city is even more magical - but don't worry, the best places to stay in Toledo are quite affordable.

Cuenca's wonderful casas colgadas, or 'hanging houses', built precariously onto, and into, the cliffs and gorges which surround the town, are one of the reasons this little city captures the imagination of so many travellers. These wonderful constructions, but also Cuenca's old town, with its beautiful medieval architecture and Gothic cathedral, are why UNESCO has included the whole city on its World Heritage list.

Or head for one of the smaller centres, like Atienza, Consuegra - for its windmills, Almagro - for its theatre, or sleepy, but historic Sigüenza. Castile-La Mancha also has several national parks, the Cabañeros National Park between Toledo and Ciudad Real and the Tables de Daimiel National Park, a floodplain in Ciudad Real.

Use our guide to the best places to stay in Castile-La Mancha and start to plan your adventure!

For an historic stay

• The Posada de San Jose in Cuenca has been enchantingly converted from an old monastery, with lots of the original charming features, like the uneven floors and exposed beams, retained. The modern decor sets this off beautifully too. There's also a tapas restaurant and wonderful views across the Huecar Gorge. Its location couldn't be better, right in the heart of the Historical Quarter.
• Ciudad Real’s Parador de Almagro has been carefully converted from a 16th century convent. Rooms are traditional with original features like vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and tiled floors.

To Escape

• Valdepalacios is an idyllic country house in the green fields between Madrid and Toledo. There are just 29 romantically decorated rooms, with lots of lovely communal living space and a state-of-the-art spa.
• Just outside beautiful Cuenca, La Casita de Cabrejas is a 13 room guesthouse run out of a working farm. Rooms are romantic with their pastel colours, and rustic by design, and they've a nice pool and serve excellent local cuisine. The guesthouse will also help you get the most out of the region with their own adventure company.
• Molino de Alcuneza is a charming, 17 room hotel converted from a flour mill jut outside the medieval town of Sigüenza. The atmosphere is relaxing, the rooms comfortable and there’s a lovely pool and a spa.

For a City Break

• The Palacio de la Serna in Ciudad Real is an 18th Century home turned 30 room boutique hotel, with contemporary art and design and an outdoor pool and sunny courtyard. The restaurant serves an authentic regional menu, and the rooms are both generously proportioned and reasonably priced.

The Most Romantic Places to Stay in Castile-La Mancha

• The Parador de Alarcon is easily one of the best places to stay in Cuenca and area if you're after a spot of luxury. It offers four poster beds, exposed stone walls, antique furniture, gourmet food and fabulous views.
• La Botica outside Guadalajara is a delightful, traditional country house hotel with just four romantic bedrooms. Every comfort is provided, including a library ad beautiful gardens. There’s also an excellent local restaurant.
• La Casa del Rector in Almagro fits the romance bill. The rooms are contemporary in design and several have huge jacuzzi bathtubs. There's also a plunge pool and spa and it’s great value, with rooms starting from around £60 per night.

For Families

• The Hotel Boutique Pinar, just outside Cuenca, is a collection of chic bungalows in a secluded setting. Arranged around a saltwater pool, these rooms and family suites are elegantly decorated. And this is a great spot for taking up some of the region's outdoors-y pursuits, like horse riding, cycling, canoeing or walking.

For value for money

• Casa de Cisneros is a traditional, and very reasonable, ten room hotel right by the cathedral in Toledo. Rooms are cosy, and decorated with antiques, and there's a great little restaurant specialising in classic, regional dishes.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay in Castile-La Mancha for you?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Castile-La Mancha,
• refine your search to the best places to stay in Ciudad Real,
• or the best places to stay in Cuenca,
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

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