Free walking tours in Campo de Criptana and what to see

Must-sees

Campo de Criptana is the windmill town of La Mancha. On the Sierra de los Molinos about ten white windmills line the hilltop, and three of them, Burleta, Infanto and Sardinero, keep 16th-century machinery. Some work as small museums and are occasionally set in motion so you can see how they ground grain.

At the foot of the ridge is the Albaicín quarter, with whitewashed houses, blue skirting and narrow streets climbing towards the windmills. In the town centre you can see the church of La Asunción, the old Pósito Real granary and the Plaza Mayor. Outside the centre, the hermitage of the Virgen de Criptana has good views over the plain.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours are uncommon here. The norm is guided visits to the Sierra de los Molinos and El Albaicín, often organised by the tourist office, which is inside one of the windmills. They explain how the windmills worked and their link to the giants episode in Don Quixote.

Among paid visits, the most interesting is the guided tour inside the windmills with original machinery. There are also Don Quixote route excursions combining Campo de Criptana with El Toboso, Consuegra or Alcázar de San Juan, and wine tours of local bodegas.

How long to spend

Half a day gives you time to climb the Sierra de los Molinos, go inside one and walk down through El Albaicín. If you add the centre, the hermitage and a relaxed lunch, allow a day. Sunset light over the windmills is best for photos, so save that time for the ridge. With a second day you can visit nearby towns on the route.

Where to stay

To see Campo de Criptana at a relaxed pace, the best option is to stay in the centre or near El Albaicín, from where you can walk up to the windmills in a few minutes. There are small hotels, rural houses and holiday apartments. If you want more choice and rail links, Alcázar de San Juan is a few kilometres away and a practical base for exploring the area.