Castile La Mancha (or Castilla La Mancha) is a large, sparsely populated region, which together with the Castile and Leon and Madrid regions, form the vast plateau or Meseta Central which is effectively central Spain. Predominately flat, there are mountains around the region's borders. With no coastline to temper the climate here, Castile La Mancha is very dry with hot summers and reasonably cold winters, supporting a large number of vineyards and olive groves.

The major tourist atractions in the region are probably the city of Toledo with its wonderful medieval buildings and the city of Cuenca with its 'hanging houses' perched atop rocky outcrops. For the literary minded, this is the home of Don Quixote, Cervantes' much-loved knight, who rampaged through the region battling the many windmills and rescuing damsels who had no need of any help, in a desparate bid to maintain the chivalrous reputation of his kind!

Accommodation here very much depends on the type of place you visit. There are apartments to let in the towns and cities, with more rural holiday homes, cottages and farmhouses to rent in the countryside. To experience 'real Spain' why not try a rustic guesthouse or the Spanish hospitality of a local bed and breakfast.