Property Castilla and La Mancha Spain

Spain’s central region of Castile and La Mancha (Castilla La Mancha) is an area rich in history and scenery. The mostly flat region is convenient for those who want to live near Madrid yet be in the beautiful Spanish countryside. Its proximity to the capital makes it a favorite area for foreigners looking for a place of their own, and its many attractions and sights gives visitors and travelers something to do when exploring the region.

The central plateau of Spain, or Meseta, is mostly flat with some mountains at the edges. It has a more continental climate than the coastal regions, and as you move towards Madrid the elevation increases as well. The summers are warm and dry, while the spring and autumn are wetter and the temperature is reasonable. Winters are a bit colder here than on the coast, but still aren’t too bad. Once in a while you might see some snow, but that is the rare exception.

Toledo is a provincial capital as well as for all of Castilla La Mancha. It is a fascinating city, known for its heritage and culture. It is also only about 70 kilometers south of Madrid, making it an ideal place to live or just visit. The old city center rises above the Tagus River and in the heart of it is the cathedral, constructed in the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries. Toledo has seen many cultures within it over the centuries, and the cathedral’s location is one reminder of that. It is built on the site of an old Visigoth cathedral and a mosque and is one of the largest cathedrals in the world.

A few of the many places to visit in Toledo include the Alcazar, Museo de Santa Cruz, Museo del Greco and the old Jewish synagogues.  The Alcazar is an old fortified palace that is being transformed into the Museo del Ejercito. The city was once home to a large Jewish population, and several of the old synagogues have been restored and turned into fascinating museums. There is regional rail operated by RENFE that can get you from Madrid to Toledo and back on a regular basis.

Other cities within Castilla La Mancha include Guadalajara, Cuenca and Albacete. Guadalajara has ancient roots but today is a mostly modern city that is close to Madrid. Cuenca is a picturesque old town on the cliffs above the Jucar and Huecar Rivers, while Albacete is a provincial capital in the southeast part of the region. Literature lovers – or at least those who like Miguel Cervantes’ Don Quixote - will enjoy seeing the windmills of the region, particularly those above Consuegra. There are also many old castles, churches and monasteries throughout the region, making any trip through the countryside worthwhile.

When looking for property in Castilla La Mancha, the most popular places are in the cities and towns of the north, closest to Madrid. There are very nice villas, both older and newer, in and around Toledo that can be had from €100,000 and up. There are also flats and apartments that are available for reasonable prices. Guadalajara is a more modern city with lots of newer properties available at prices beginning just over €100,000 and going up from there. Albacete has a variety of places, but also some nice, large properties for sale if you want to live in this area. Wherever you go, there is a variety of property that is available

Travel to central Spain is fairly easy through Madrid, which has the busiest airport in the country. Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) handles over 50 million passengers annually and is 13 kilometers northeast of downtown. There are flights to and from most major destinations across Europe and the globe. There are also many easy and relatively inexpensive flights to and from almost any UK airport. From Madrid, you can get to just about anywhere there is a commercial airport in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Madrid Airport is connected to the Madrid Metro, which is quite extensive. There are also trains to the rest of Europe and a regional network of trains that will get you to some, but not all of Castilla and La Manche. Check out the national train system operated by RENFE to see what is available. Car is the easiest way to travel around the region as it is very broad, but not mountainous. There are plenty of major roads that can get you where you’re going quickly and directly.

If you want to get to the eastern part of the region, then another option is to fly into one of the airports on the coast and head inland. These are bit closer than Madrid, and have lots of reasonable flights, particularly in the summer holiday season. Valencia Airport (VLC) is a reasonably sized facility that is busy in the summer with many flights to the UK. Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is another coastal airport that is growing and offers an option for travelers.

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