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As someone living in the Netherlands, a country thats famous the world over for its windmills, Im naturally intrigued every time I stumble across these wonderful machines anywhere in the world. During my trip to the region of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain, I visited the beautiful windmills of Consuegra (map). Located about 60km from Toledo, Consuegra is a lovely historic town set against a range of low mountains. Twelve windmills can be found atop the Cerro Calderico ridge, along with a striking 12th century castle. Fans of the Spanish writer, Cervantes, will instantly recognise these windmills, which were prominently featured as the giants in the Don Quixote novel. Standing proudly atop the ridge, with their white cylindrical towers and blue, pointed roofs, I can imagine why Cervantes felt so inspired by them! Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza, posing at the windmills. They made for terrific tour guides! Its not entirely clear when the windmills of Consuegra were built but they became famous when Don Quixote was published in the 16th century. According to local tradition, the windmills, used primarily to grind grain, were passed from father to son for many generations before being retired in the 1980s. The windmills have since been lovingly restored. One of them houses a gift shop while another is a small museum. Theres even a working mill so visitors can see how it works. Check at the tourist office for Don Quixote themed guided tours. The windmills and the castle atop the ridge. The historic windmills of Consuegra. Don Quixote, looking out to the plains of La Mancha.You can hike up to the windmills from the town or you can drive up to the ridge (theres free parking). Whichever way you choose, youll be rewarded with panoramic views of the semi-arid plains of La Mancha and the gentle hills that stretch into the horizon. Along the way to or from the windmills, be sure to stop at the La Muela or Consuegra Castle. Originally built by the Arabs (possibly in the 10th century), the castle was modified and expanded in the 12th century by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The windmills and the castle combine to create a unique medieval atmosphere, something which wont easily go unnoticed. Drop by in ConsuegraI also recommend a stroll around Consuegra. These days, the town is famous for its high-quality saffron and its annual Rose of Saffron Festival. Drop by at the beautiful town square (Plaza de España) and its 17th century Renaissance-style Town Hall. You can also find several gorgeous churches in the Mudéjar style (a blend of MoorishArab and Gothic influences). The Plaza España in Consuegra with the Town Hall.At a corner of the square, youll find Café La Antigua, which serves a terrific saffron-infused gin & tonic! Its also a great place to mingle with the locals and taste some local specialties. Yours truly enjoying a fab saffron-infused G&T at Café La Antigua.Consuegra can be visited as a day-trip from Toledo or Madrid. If youre a fan of Cervantes, check out the Windmills and Don Quixote route which winds its way around the La Mancha region.Search for hotels in Consuegra (Booking.com). Note: my trip to La Mancha was part of the #inLaMancha blogger project, a collaboration between iambassador and the Spain National Tourist Board. As always, all views expressed above are mine, and mine only.SaveSaveSave On the top of the Cerro Calderico mountain in the quaint historic town of Consuegra, 12 white tower windmills crown the hill, surrounded by the sprawling plains of Castilla-La Mancha and backdropped by a striking medieval castle. These iconic towers are believed to be the windmills described by Miguel de Cervantes in his famous 17th-century novel Don Quixote.Each of the Consuegra windmills has a unique name taken from the novel, in which Don Quixote de la Mancha mistakes the towers for giants and picks a fight with them in a particularly memorable scene that coined the term tilting at windmills.Initially built to grind grain, the mills were modeled on the Dutch windmills of the 16th and 17th centuries, with a cylindrical tower and conical deck where the shaft and its four rectangular blades are housed. The interior is divided into three floors connected by a staircase along the wall. On the lower floor is the silo, where the ground grain was stored. On the second floor, there is a sieve to separate the flour from the bran. The third floor, the largest, houses the machinery, with the most striking element being the Catalina wheel. In the upper part of the wall, eight windows were opened to help the miller determine the direction of the wind and thus the orientation of the blades.The tower mills were passed down through the generations until being retired in the 1980s. Twelve of the original 13 mills were restored and opened as a tourist attraction. In 2006, the windmills and the adjacent 12th-century Castle of La Muela were declared a cultural historic site. Consuegra is just south of Toledo, about 87 miles (140 kilometers) from Madrid. The best way to get there is by car. Take the A-4 motorway road until you reach Madridejos. Then take the CM-42, and from there the exit 59 and the road CM-400 to reach Consuegra. From there, follow the signs. There is a small museum and visitors center at the site, and two windmills are still in working order so visitors can see the inner mechanisms of the mills.fictionwindmillsgiantauthorstowersbooksliteraturemedievalhistory

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