The route of Don Quijote by car: following in the footsteps of Cervantes

Cervantes, the writer whose brilliant work of Don Quijote de La Mancha has the record for being translated into the most languages, transports us through the wonderful plains of La Mancha on a journey through valleys covered by windmills that the equestrian character confused them as giants.

El Toboso

Our route of Don Quijote by car starts in El Toboso, the town where our valiant nobleman met his beautiful Dulcinea, and where without a doubt, one of the places that inspired Cervantes the most. These streets are full of Quijote references and where we can also find the Casa de Dulcinea (House of Dulcinea), the Museo Cerantino (Cerantino Museum) and the famous Iglesia de San Antonio Abad (San Antonio Abad church), which inspired the saying ‘Con la Iglesia hemos topado’ (With the church we have come across).

Campo de Criptana

We continue along the N-420 until we reach Campo de Criptana, one of the most picturesque villages of Castilla-La Mancha and the region where there are most windmills per square metre. A must? The Molino Burleta (the Burleta windmill) where Don Quijote fought on his journey. This windmill is still one of the oldest in Spain and retains its original machinery.

Argamasilla de Alba

Is Argamasilla de Alba the famous place that Cervantes did not want to remember? We do not know for sure. What we do know is that in the Cueva de Medrano (Medrano Cave) our famous writes was imprisoned; indeed it is said that is was precisely here that he began to write the adventures of our nobleman. A place you must visit on your route of Don Quijote by car.

Montiel

The reddish lands of the fields of Montiel have an important role in Don Quijote. The immense valleys that are turned red and orange at dusk deserves a visit, as well as the nearby Cueva de Montesinos (Montesinos Cave) where one of the most enigmatic episodes of this masterpiece takes place.

Consuegra

Our final stop on our route of Don Quijote by car takes place in Consuegra and its row of twelve windmills on Cerro Calderico. Five of these windmills are still in operation and you can go inside two of them: the Bolero and the Rucio.

However, Consuegra is not only windmills. Among is patrimonial richness stands the Castillo de la Muela (Castle of the Muela), a building of the XIII century which is now being renovated. This building takes you a little more into the culture and way of life that impregnated Miguel de Cervantes.