Free walking tours in El Romeral and what to see

Must-sees

El Romeral is a small village in the La Mancha of Toledo, about an hour from Madrid, with just a few hundred inhabitants. In the upper part of the village several windmills stand in a row. One of them has been rebuilt and keeps its original machinery. From that hill you look out over the La Mancha plain, with cereal fields, vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can see, and you understand why the mills were built right here, where the wind blows hardest.

What has made it famous in recent years is its lavender fields, which turn the landscape purple in early summer. In the village, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the hermitage of San Sebastián, with a Mudéjar coffered ceiling, and the Esparto Museum deserve a visit.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in El Romeral. There is, however, a guided tour of the lavender fields that includes a visit to one of the windmills, where they explain how the flower is grown and how the machinery works. Outside the flowering season, the village is easy to visit on your own: the windmills, the church and the museums are close together.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the village, the windmills and the Esparto Museum. If you come at peak bloom and take the lavender tour, give it the day and stay to watch the sunset from the windmills. With more time you can combine the visit with other La Mancha villages in the area.

Where to stay

El Romeral has very little accommodation, with a rural house or two in the village, best booked ahead in lavender season. If you cannot find a room, Tembleque and Villacañas, very close, have a little more variety. For more options, Toledo or Aranjuez let you make the visit a day trip by car.