In La Mancha territory, to the south-east of the province of Toledo, Villafranca de los Caballeros has been inhabited since the Iron Age, as proven by the necropolis found next to the Amarguillo river. It also has evidence of the Roman and Muslim presence.

A stroll through its alleyways and streets reveals a hamlet with bright whites dotted with the traditional La Mancha indigo. Calle Cervantes has a stately home with the family coat of arms and Casa Galitos is another eye-catching residence. The imposing parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption is a highlight, along with the numerous chapels spread around the town such as the Santo Cristo de Santa Ana or San Antón chapels.

Leaving the town on the CM-3130 road, just 2 kilometres away, we come across one of the corners that take travellers by surprise: the Villafranca de los Caballeros lagoon complex, an extremely beautiful enclave declared a Biosphere Reserve.

This oasis of life, water and nature stands out on the La Mancha plains as an extraordinary refuge for wildlife, and particularly for birds. An extremely important wetland in an ecological sense, it is a place of pilgrimage most of the year round for ornithologists from all over the world, who focus on Laguna Chica, while Laguna Grande –one of the largest lagoons in La Mancha– offers a wide range of recreational activities.

In summer, towels, parasols and swimming costumes add a dash of colour to its artificial beach, spanning around two and a half kilometres, where we’ll find car parks, showers, first aid posts, games for children, barbecues or spaces for fishing. Travellers will find a wide range of accommodation and other services such as rental of canoes and boats. The area also features the Las Lagunas Nature Classroom, which offers an extensive environmental education programme in close contact with nature.

In addition to the Grande and Chica lagoons, this area is home to chapels such as San Isidro, Virgen del Rocío and San Cristóbal, and silos such as Tío Claudio.