The best traffic-free bike rides around La Solana

You absolutely must visit this unique and striking castle. I recommend climbing to the top to enjoy the views from its privileged elevated position and imagining the times when such thick walls were necessary.

Built between 1713 and 1729 as part of the monumental complex that includes the Church of the Most Holy Christ of the Valley. Declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1993. Originally conceived as a church atrium, it was transformed into a unique porticoed plaza in La Mancha.

The Valdepeñas Ornamental Fountain is located in the Plaza de España, the historic heart of the town. It is one of the city's most emblematic features and stands out for its design and symbolism: Design: A very beautiful ornamental fountain, considered a visual symbol of the square. Setting: Surrounded by historic buildings such as the Church of the Assumption and the neoclassical Town Hall. The square is characterized by traditional white and indigo arcades. In 2017, the flowerbeds were redesigned, and a permeable fixed aggregate was installed to preserve the design and reduce maintenance.

A magnificent example of a montane castle, meaning one whose shape adapts exactly to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful feature is the main gate, opening into a bend in the wall and built as a reentrant in its uniform circular path. The magnificent ashlar work with which it was built is worth a visit alone, as is the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Erected by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and recaptured, and Christians and Arabs alternated possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, a possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the Orders of Calatrava and Saint John, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, being mountainous, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

The beautiful main square was built by the same architect with the intention of being like an atrium to frame it and integrate it into the complex. The square is an enormous rectangle measuring almost 53 m long by 21 m wide: on one side, the Town Hall with a cantilevered balcony on wooden corbels; on the other, the Casa Grande de la Hospedería. It has a carriage yard with wooden galleries opening onto it. From its sides arise the brick arches that give way to the wide, straight radial streets of this town.

San Carlos del Valle opens from its splendid Plaza Mayor with an orthogonal projection and an almost round perimeter. Everything extends around a radiated origin, the centre of that circumference, the church of Santísimo Cristo del Valle, where the peak of the compass overwhelms us. It is a late baroque church, with certain influences of the neoclassical style. It is an immense cube with four towers superimposed at its corners and an enormous dome that emerges over the building. The temple has four facades, two of which have a main door of extraordinary beauty and well-deserved study in their centre.

A magnificent example of a mountain castle, that is, one whose shape is exactly adapted to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful element is the main gate, opening at a bend in the wall and built as a re-entrant in its homogeneous circular path. The magnificent stonework with which it was built is worth the visit alone, as well as the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Built by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and lost, and Christians and Arabs took turns in its possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the orders of Calatrava and San Juan, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, because it is a mountain castle, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

The Camino Bajo de la Solana is a hiking trail that connects La Solana to Alhambra in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. This linear trail is approximately 19 kilometers long and is considered to be of low difficulty. Along the route, you will pass by several points of interest, such as the Alhambra River, the Casa de Aguata, and the Casa Mangarela. It is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the region while getting some exercise.