[2025 Toledo Attraction] Travel Guide for Castillo de Consuegra (Updated May)

Dreaming back to the Middle Ages, part two, exploring the legendary castles of Toledo and Ciudad Real. Toledo Guadamur Castle The Alcazar, a typical 15th-century residence of Toledo, is magnificent and well-preserved. It consists of a castle, fortresses, barriers and moats. Today, the castle is still inhabited and we can stroll around its exterior to admire the aesthetic effects of its architecture influenced by Italian art. After restoration, it has become one of the best preserved medieval castles in Spain. Consuegra Castle This 800-year-old castle is unique not only for its location overlooking La Mancha and its mills, but also for its rich history and architectural style, closely linked to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Orden de San Juan de Jerusalén). We can stroll along the city walls and parade grounds, and even go inside to see the various weapons and furniture on display to recreate the atmosphere of the time. Oropesa Castle The castle consists of two parts: one is the old castle, a well-preserved Arab fortress, and the other is the 15th-century Palace of Counts of Oropesa, Álvarez de Toledo, condes de Oropesa, which has a stone staircase that is unique in Spain. The history of these buildings therefore belongs to two consecutive periods of the Middle Ages, the Muslim period (Old Castle) and the Christian period (New Castle). Ciudad Real Calatrava La Nueva Castle A medieval castle, we can walk along the castle's paths, courtyards, towers, etc. In addition, the 13th-century convent still retains a gate with a rose window, a chapel, a refectory and kitchen, and a cemetery. The artisans' auxiliary quarters, accommodation, stables and cellars complete this magnificent picture of medieval life. Peñarroya Castle It is one of the best preserved fortresses in the Campo de San Juan area once occupied by the Knights of La Mancha. What is very interesting about the castle is how it uses natural fortifications: the south and west sides are natural cliffs, while the north and east sides have double walls and moats. Montizón Castle A 13th century fortress built to control an important traffic route. In Roman times, this was part of the Way of Hercules or the Via Hercúlea o Augusta, which connected Cádiz to Tarraconense and eventually to Rome itself, and the builders of the castle took advantage of the natural vertical faults in the hill.

Since 1963, the last weekend of October has been the most exciting time of the year for Consuegra. This small town on the plains of La Mancha is brought to life by the small saffron flowers. 90% of the world's saffron is produced in Castilla-La Mancha, and the saffron here is known as the best in the world. The Saffron Festival (Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafrán) is a traditional festival with a history of over 60 years. The manual picking of saffron, the daily blooming of flowers, and the drying of saffron have created the unique cuisine, history, and traditional culture of this land. In the morning, the sun shines on the fields, and the purple flowers sway gently in the breeze. Locals call them "roses," but in fact, these beautiful flowers are saffron buds. Picking saffron is a delicate manual task, and this skill is usually passed down from generation to generation. During the festival, you can go into the fields and experience the sense of accomplishment of picking saffron flowers with your fingers. After the work in the fields is done, the villagers return home with baskets full of flowers and "peel" them at the table. This process seems simple, but it requires great patience and skill - extracting the tiny red filaments from each flower, which is the most precious part of saffron. The "flower peeling competition" during the festival is even more eye-catching, with skilled contestants peeling a whole pile of filaments in just a few minutes, which is amazing. Of course, the festival is more than just that. Walking through the streets of the town, you can see performers in traditional costumes everywhere, welcoming visitors from afar with the music and dance of La Mancha. There is also the old windmill "Sancho," which silently tells the history of this land with the sound of the wind. The mill inside the windmill is still working, and visitors can witness how the wheat grains are ground into fine flour, as if they were back in the past. The Saffron Festival is also a feast for the taste buds. The local cuisine and wine from La Mancha are full of local flavor. Saffron, as an important seasoning, gives the dishes a bright color and unique aroma, as if the soul of this land is infused into every delicious dish. Did you go to the Saffron Festival this year? If not, save it for next year! Pick a flower, take a touch of red, and feel the vitality of this land. The saffron here is not only a delicacy for the taste buds, but also a gift for the soul.

From Madrid to the ancient town of Toledo, take the bus to Consuegra in the evening at dusk, a place known as the "windmill village". Don Quixote once regarded these big windmills as evil giants. He fought a battle for justice and was seriously injured. Hey, you guys who are arrogant, I am coming!