The next wetland is the Laguna Grande de Quero, first you have to pass through the town and then the immense endorheic lake emerges surrounded by whitish mountains. The high level of salinity of the water prevents numerous species of birds from abounding, but it has always been a source of resources due to the collection of salt for canning in brine. The path passes the bed of the Cigüela River and enters the surroundings of the Villafranca lagoons, included like all in the Natura 2000 Network within La Mancha Húmeda and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The Fauna Reserve is the artificial union of the Small and Large lagoons, creating a huge swamp surface of permanent, deep waters with abundant aquatic and steppe birds prowling over the reed beds on the banks. In the lagoons it is easy to see red duck, mallard, crested pochard, common pochard, little grebe, common coot, great crested grebe and marsh harrier. The shore of the Laguna Grande is equipped with bathing areas for the summer season, recreational spaces, bird observatories and an interpretation center, maintaining a tradition of public use that dates back to the 18th century, when the inhabitants of Villafranca de los Knights took advantage of the medicinal properties of saline waters to cure rheumatic ailments and skin diseases.
The route leaves the province of Toledo and enters the lands of Ciudad Real. The Natural Reserve of the Alcázar de San Juan Lagoon Complex is made up of the trio of the Veguilla, Camino de Villafranca and Las Yeguas lagoons, it is another wetland of great environmental quality, diversity and ornithological value in the La Mancha plain. The presence of birds depends on the season of the year and the water status of the lagoons. In good environmental conditions it is one of the La Mancha wetlands with the greatest ornithological diversity. In different seasons it is possible to observe stilts, stilts, grebes, shelducks, and pochards. , ducks, teals, coots, red and shoveler ducks, egrets, purple herons, marsh harriers and flamingos. And in the steppe environment of the agricultural hills, little bustards, Iberian sandgrouses, lesser kestrels, red kites and ospreys can appear. A spectacle of ornithological nature associated with the wetlands of La Mancha, very easy and close to observe while riding a bicycle because the birds are hardly intimidated. At several points you can leave the main itinerary to get closer to the shore and see the birds up close. The passage through Alcázar de San Juan is the longest urban journey of the day, it crosses the center of the town and exits through a small railway tunnel towards Campo de Criptana. The hill of the windmills immediately attracts attention, it is one of the hallmarks of La Mancha and an icon that we all link to the adventures of the “illustrious gentleman” who mistook the windmills for giants. The Wetlands Natural Trail enters the town and before reaching the center it turns to the left to visit the Cerro de la Paz, where the famous mills are located. In the 18th century there were 34 windmills, now there are 10 standing and three are original, the rest have been rebuilt or restored over the last century, each with its own name. Now they no longer fulfill the function for which they were built, they are history, legend and evocation, and an extraordinary place to enjoy the sunset on the endless horizon of La Mancha. The route goes down the hill, passes through the hill of the Nuestra Señora de Criptana hermitage and continues along favorable terrain towards the Pedro Muñoz lagoon complex, known as “Don Quixote Wetland”, with two new lagoons frequented by groups of ornithologists to observe birds and end point of the stage.
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