← Maratón de Toledo·Day trip

Consuegra: Windmills on the Ridge

A line of white windmills and a castle along a ridge above the plain of La Mancha, with a road almost to the top, so the view costs the legs very little.

DurationDay trip
TransitCar, about 50 minutes south-east of Toledo
DepartsToledo

After the Maratón de Toledo: Consuegra

The Route: Toledo → Consuegra → Toledo Logistics: Hire car or taxi, about 50 minutes each way across the plain. Drive up the ridge; walk along the top. Marathon Month: November Duration: Day trip

Toledo ──(about 50 mins by car)──> Consuegra ──(about 50 mins)──> Toledo

The Maratón de Toledo finishes in the Vega after a climb through the old town. South-east of the city, the land opens into La Mancha, the flat plateau of Don Quixote, and at Consuegra a ridge rises out of it lined with windmills. The drive is an easy morning's outing, and the road climbs the ridge so the legs do not have to.

November in La Mancha is cool and clear more often than not, with afternoons in the low to mid-teens and cold mornings. The wind on the ridge makes it feel colder; take a jacket. Consuegra's saffron harvest and its festival, the Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafrán, fall around the end of October, so in most years the purple crocus fields have been picked by mid-November.

Buses between Toledo and Consuegra are infrequent, so hire a car or book a taxi for the day. The drive is about 50 minutes on straight roads through olive groves and vineyards.

The Cerro Calderico

A dozen windmills stand along the Cerro Calderico, the ridge above the town, each with a name. They are the kind Cervantes had in mind when Don Quixote charged the "giants", and they are among the most photographed in Spain. A narrow road climbs from the town to the top, with parking along the ridge. From there the walking is short and fairly level along the crest, on gravel and rough ground, with the plain spread out on both sides. Some mills open as small visitor centres or shops; one usually serves as the tourist information point.

Castillo de la Muela

At the end of the ridge stands the Castillo de la Muela, a castle rebuilt by the Knights of St John in the Middle Ages on older foundations. It is open for visits at set times, with steps and uneven floors inside; look from outside if the legs are sore. Check opening times at the tourist office before driving up.

The town and the return

Consuegra's Plaza de España, with its arcaded town hall, is the place for lunch. Manchego cheese, pisto (the local stewed vegetables) and roast lamb are on most menus. Allow 50 minutes for the drive back to Toledo.