20의 카냐다 데 칼라트라바가지 명소 & 주요 장소

Hill of the Mills (also known as Sierra de los Molinos) in Campo de Criptana. In 1575, the Topographical Reports of Philip II already mentioned “many mills” in the area; in 1752, the Cadastre of the Marquis of Ensenada recorded 34 mills in Campo de Criptana. Currently, 10 mills are preserved, three of them (Infante, Burleta, and Sardinero) dating from the 16th century with their original machinery. The complex has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest and designated a “Historic Site.”

The Hermitage or Sanctuary of the Holy Christ of Villajos is one of the most emblematic places in Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real). It originated from the old village of Villajos, which was abandoned in the 14th century. The original church was dedicated to Our Lady of Villajos.

Beautiful surroundings with bird watching points and to enjoy nature

The Sierra de los Molinos is the place where the famous windmills are built. It is the top of a hill where the open space ensures the wind that would move its blades in its time. Of the more than thirty windmills that once existed, ten of them are preserved, called: Sardinero located on the Cerro de la Paz and Burleta, Infanto, Cariari, Culebro, Inca Garcilaso, Lagarto, Pilón, Poyatos and Quimera located in the Sierra de los Molinos. Their existence inspired Cervantes to narrate "The Battle of Don Quixote against the Giants", in chapter VIII of "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha", where Don Quixote mistook the windmills for giants against whom to fight.

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 during 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.

The old ones, Sardinero, Burleta and Infante; Sovereigns of time and stories, they have been standing since the 16th century, preserving their original mechanism. The moderns, the Inca Garcilaso, the Cariari, the Vicente Huidobro, the Pilón, the Lagarto, the Culebro and the Poyatos are immense young men from 1900.

Currently, the Molino Infante, the Burleta, the Culebro, which houses the Sara Montiel Museum, the Chimera, which houses the Museum on Holy Week in the town and the Poyatos Mill, currently a tourist information point, can be visited.

These incredible windmills inspired Cervantes' eighth chapter of Don Quixote. There is a small stretch of packed gravel to get near the Mills but it is well worth it.