Province of Ciudad Real

The province of Ciudad Real experienced an unrepeatable moment of historical importance due to the introduction of the Military Orders, such as the Order of Calatrava, the Order of Santiago or the Order of Saint John. The castles controlled and fought over between them and the Moorish forces remain as witnesses to their activity and to the disputes between Moors and Christians in this land. Just a few kilometres from Ciudad Real we can visit Calatrava la Vieja Castle, the headquarters of the first Spanish military order. Other important castles are spread throughout the province. Of particular note is Calatrava la Nueva Castle.

One of the most interesting Historical-Artistic Sites in the region, the town of Almagro, is located in Ciudad Real. There, we can visit its famous Corral de Comedias (Open-Air Amphitheatre). Almagro preserves with great care the historical atmosphere of its palaces and noble houses and has become a cultural reference of Castilla-La Mancha. Villanueva de los Infantes is a stunningly beautiful town that was once the seat of the Order of Santiago and where history and culture is palpable.

The province of Ciudad Real is also the homeland of another distinguished knight, The Knight of the Rueful Countenance Don Quixote. It was in the Campo de Montiel where he began his adventures, in Puerto Lápice where he named himself Knight, in Campo de Criptana where he battled against the giants that were really windmills. These and many other places are mentioned by Cervantes in his brilliant literary work.

In Ciudad Real we can enjoy nature spots of great ecological importance and gorgeous landscapes. The province is home to two National Parks, the Cabañeros National Park and Tablas de Daimiel National Park, along with a Nature Reserve, Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera (Ruidera’s Lagoons Nature Reserve), and other wild spaces protected as reserves or micro reserves. Alcudia Valley and the Madrona Mountain Range are blessed with tremendous ecological richness thanks to the outstanding preservation of their landscapes.
WineWine is one of the main protagonists of the province of Ciudad Real where we can find eminent winemaking towns. Among them, the superb Valdepeñas wine with Denomination of Origin is especially well-known. The Valdepeñas Museum of Wine offers us the possibility of discovering the fascinating world of winemaking. The visitor may visit the bodegas (wine cellars) located throughout the province and taste their exquisite wines.

Ciudad Real is also the birthplace of the famous film maker Pedro Almodóvar. On the “Ruta Cinematográfica de Pedro Almodóvar” (Pedro Almodóvar Cinematographic Route) you can discover the town where he was born and the places he grew up in which are also the scenarios he has used for scenes in many of his films, such as “Volver”.