One of the reasons why it is advisable to come to Ciudad Real is to blend in with nature by visiting the natural landscapes that offer its various villages. Undoubtedly the most impressive things are the two National Parks and the two Natural Parks, in the vicinity of some municipalities of the province. This is quite incredible since Ciudad Real is the only province in the country with this number of parks included in its term, which makes it a region of interest for all of Europe.
The concept of the National Park is that of a protected geographical space due to its environmental and scientific richness due to the presence of native flora and fauna. A Natural Park is similar, only it does not have unique species, so its attraction is the natural environment. Another difference is the entity in charge of protecting them: the National Parks are managed by the State Government, while the Natural Parks are cared for by the Regional Government (in our case, the regional governments). In any case, both areas are places of great importance and beauty that deserve recognition and a visit to learn a little more about our environment.
We invite you to know the National and Natural Parks of Ciudad Real, discovering its importance, the species that live in them... As well as the various activities offered there and covering all seasons of the year. These are the Cabañeros National Park, in the region of Los Montes; the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, near the town of Daimiel; the Ruidera Lagoons Natural Park, near the town of Ruidera; and the Natural Park of the Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona, within the areas of Alcudia and Sierra Morena.
Starting with the National Parks, we have the Cabañeros National Park, declared Natural Park in 1988 and finally National Park in 1995. It is a fantastic wild environment with Mediterranean plant species (holm oaks, cork oaks, gall oaks, peonies...) and animals (imperial eagles, black vultures, Iberian lynxes, deer, deer, fallow deer...).
Precisely the existence of cervids in its term is one of the main attractions, since in time of zeal they call their partners with a characteristic sound that envelops the entire area in what is known as the "deer rutting season". Its ecological value also lies in the purity of the forests and forests, while one of its cultural attractions are the characteristic huts or cottages, simple cone-shaped shelters formed with pipes and branches of local vegetation, where shepherds and coalmen rested temporarily during their periods of work.
Although taking a free-form walk, admiring the beautiful landscape, is recommended, we suggest you visit some of the nearby places that offer unique activities. For example, in some nearby towns there are museums explaining the fauna and flora of the park: the Fauna Museum is located in Retuerta del Bullaque, and has a permanent exhibition called Zoorama with varied information about the animals that live in Cabañeros (open all year); the Ethnographic Museums of Alcoba and Horcajo de los Montes, which open every weekend of the year, are ideal for you to know the past way of life of the shepherds and coalmen who lived in the area of Cabañeros; the observatory of storks is located in the term of the Park, very close to Pueblonuevo del Bullaque and Santa Quiteria (villages with few inhabitants that are inside Cabañeros), and every day offers a perfect panorama of the storks that rest to rest from their periods of migration; Finally, the reservoir of the Tower of Abraham of Retuerta, to the north of the Park, has beautiful views from its viewpoint, freely accessible.
If you prefer to explore the places offered by the Park, the options are varied: from the Information Points and Visitor Centres of the nearby towns you will find the necessary information for guided tours. Walking trails can be done alone or with a guide, but to travel more distance it is more practical to use the 4x4 that lead expert guides-drivers. There are many possible routes, such as hiking, night Astro tourism, "birdwatching", horse riding... as well as wine tourism routes through the wineries of the nearby villages, kayaking and bathing in nearby rivers (bathing in the waters of the Park itself is forbidden) or even cheese workshops for the little ones. All these activities can be carried out throughout the year, with all kinds of events distributed in spring, summer, autumn and winter.
The gastronomic offer of Cabañeros is not short: to not dirty the Park itself, the surrounding villages offer a wide range of bars and restaurants with which to enjoy the fantastic cuisine of La Mancha; if you are looking for accommodation, its farmhouses, hotels and cabins will give you the best possible rest surrounded by the air of nature of Cabañeros.
If you intend to visit Alcoba de los Montes, Horcajo de los Montes, Navas de Estena or Retuerta del Bullaque, take a short detour, book your guided tour and get ready to discover the amazing natural world offered by the Cabañeros National Park.
75 kilometres from Cabañeros is the other National Park: the Tablas de Daimiel National Park. As its name suggests, it is a magnificent wetland in the vicinity of Daimiel, although it can also be found within walking distance Villarrubia de los Ojos. Since 1973 it is a National Park and since 1981 it is a Biosphere Reserve.
It is a unique place, an unusual ecosystem caused by the accumulation of overflowing waters of the Guadiana and Cigüela rivers in a particularly flat area: this type of wetland is called Fluvial Tables, and those of Daimiel are the best preserved of the whole Iberian Peninsula and even of the whole world.
That is why its avifauna is unique and you will enjoy knowing it. Some are native species that live there throughout the year while others live in specific summer periods (spring and summer, or autumn and winter), highlighting especially the varied aquifer birds: grebes, kits, ducks, radishes, eagles, etc. On the other hand, in the crystal-clear waters live otters, water rats, hedgehogs, frogs, snakes, lizards, crayfish and many fish such as carp or chubs. Regarding terrestrial species, other mammals such as wild boar, fox, rabbit, or hare would stand out. The water interpretation centre, in the Daimiel itself, is a good place to visit to learn more about these species and the history of the park, from temporary exhibitions, conferences and workshops.
Even if all you are looking for is a simple walk in the countryside, the Park offers that and much more. Its hiking routes can be done alone, such as the Pan Island Itinerary or the Permanent Lagoon. The itinerary of the Torre de Prado Ancho is also beautiful, but only in spring, while there are routes that can only be done by booking in the Visitor Centres a driver guide who will take you with a 4x4. Another activity that we recommend is the "birdwatching", since from certain specific points the fauna of birds is observed spectacularly in the periods of breeding or pairing.
Daimiel also offers a wide range of restaurants and accommodation for visitors: in its restaurants you can taste the best typical cuisine, while the best places to relax surrounded by the stars are its farmhouses, hotels and cabins, which will make you feel unforgettable evenings.
If you are prepared to marvel at the aquatic wonders offered by this unique natural reservoir on the planet, the Tablas de Daimiel National Park is undoubtedly one of the best tourist options for you. Whether you want to visit Daimiel or you are looking for adventures in nature, you must set foot and visit one of the most beautiful and attractive places in La Mancha imaginable.
After having discovered the National Parks, you should discover what the Natural Parks of Ciudad Real offer. The first one is the Natural Park of the Ruidera Lagoons, located (as its name indicates) in the town of Ruidera. Besides, you can access to the park by visiting the villages of Alhambra, Argamasilla de Alba and Villahermosa, that are so close to the lagoons. The Ruidera Lagoons are 15 lagoons with an incredible scenic and natural valour, that is why in 1979 it is declared a Natural Park, in order to protect its unique environment. This incredible landscape is located in the limits of the province of Ciudad Real and Albacete, that is why some of the places are shared between the two provinces (especially those of the Ossa de Montiel zone).
Its visitors centre and the projection rooms will help the visitor to know more about the history of the Lagoons and how they were originated thanks to the natural drainage of the Acuífero 24. The lagoons have different heights, in this way, the water can go through the highest to the lowest; thanks to the characteristic ‘noise’ that the impact of the water causes, the lagoons receive the name of ‘Ruidera’, as well as the name of the village where we can find the lagoons. There are three groups of lagoons: the ‘high lagoons’ formed by the ‘Blanca’, ‘Concejo’ and ‘Tomilla’; the ‘medium lagoons’ formed by the ‘Tinaja’, ‘San Pedro’, ‘redondilla’, ‘La Lengua’, ‘Salvadora’, ‘Santos Morcillo’, ‘Batana’, ‘Cueva Morenilla’, ‘Coladilla’ and ‘Cenagosa’; and the ‘lowest lagoons’ that are the ‘Colgada’ and ‘Laguna del Rey’. With the captionon of ‘la Blanca’ the rest of the highest and some medium are owned by the province of Albacete, however, in the province of Ciudad Real we can see the lowest and the rest of medium.
But this is not the only information you’ll discover. There you will know that visiting the Lagoons is possible throughout the year is possible, with guided tours offered on Thursdays. There are trails on foot and others more recommended in 4x4 with professional drivers. One of the tourist attractions is the swimming that they offer in the summer months: seven of their lagoons have a bathing area and a small "beach", places that you will enjoy alone, with family or friends soaking and refreshing in the hours of more sun. In winter we recommend walks through the nearby forests, fishing, the "birdwatching" and the observation of other fauna and flora of the term. Other outstanding activities in the waters of the lagoons are sailing, kayaking or canoeing.
The gastronomic offer is very wide in the Lagoons. Thanks to its numerous restaurants you can discover what the food of the region has to offer. On the other hand, the Park has a camping offer for all tastes, so that by contacting the responsible staff you can rent tents with which to dazzle you with the night sky. It should be remembered that, among the many rules of the Park, free camping is forbidden.
There are more attractions besides these activities in the Lagoons. In addition to the wetland and its characteristic flora, other plants, flowers and shrubs of great beauty grow in the forests and nearby mountains, propitiating the appearance of a fantastic fauna that you will surely want to know: from amphibians and reptiles (newts, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes...) up to small and large mammals (rabbits, foxes, wild boars, wildcats, shrews, hedgehogs, otters...), passing as normal by a large number of aquatic birds, highlighting the red duck, the common goose or the mallard.
There are many other species of birds such as the carricero tordal, the kingfisher, the imperial heron, the lagoon harrier, the owl or the short-toed eagle. Inform yourself if you want to fish in the area, because in most of the lagoons this practice is forbidden to conserve the fish farm.
Nature lovers will appreciate the great wealth that these wonderful lagoons offer. If you are one of them, travel to Ruidera on any day of the year and come to discover the Natural Park. Whether you prefer swimming, fishing, camping or hiking, surely this lagoon has something to offer.
The last Ciudad Real Park is the Natural Park of the Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona. This extensive natural territory, which includes many towns such as Almodóvar del Campo, Brazatortas, Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Fuencaliente, Hinojosas de Calatrava, Mestanza, San Lorenzo de Calatrava and Solana del Pino, was declared a Critical Area for protected species in 2003, before becoming a Natural Park in March 2011.
If you arrive at this place, you will be surprised by its incredible natural, cultural and historical heritage, full of Archaeological Heritage, Rock Art, Mining, Transhumance and Forestry. No wonder you want to marvel at unique elements such as the Roble del Abuelo (Fuencaliente), the Castillejos Volcánicos de la Bienvenida (Almodóvar del Campo), the volcanic lagoon of la Alberquilla (Mestanza) or the Alhorín volcano(Solana del Pino), sites with self-interest that will make you discover the history of the term.
Although you can come to this peaceful and attractive world at any time of the year, depending on the season its colour will surprise you in different ways: in spring and summer the brightest green will populate each visible branch, while with the autumn and winter rains the landscape will take on an ochre, yellow and red hue that accompanies the fall of the tasty fruit.
We also recommend that you come to the Park in September and October if you are a wildlife lover; deer and their time of zeal offer a few days of mystery and strange sounds that give life to the forests. To know more about the "berrea" it is advisable to walk with the help of a guide. Among the more than 275 species of vertebrate animals that reside in the area, we should also highlight the black vulture, the Iberian imperial eagle, the bonelli eagle, the black stork, the Iberian lynx, the Iberian wolf, the golden eagle, the vulture, to the wild cat, to the melon, to the genet and to diverse species of bats. As many of these species are in danger of extinction, they are cared for and preserved in micro-reservoirs scattered throughout the Park, such as the Niefla Tunnel in Almodóvar and Brazatortas, the Mina de los Pontones in Mestanza or the Ailojén Tunnels in San Lorenzo de Calatrava. You can visit them if you take great care not to alter the natural order and not threaten the existence of this endangered fauna.
If you want to discover on your own the world offered by the Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona, just take one of its 18 tourist routes that run through towns and natural areas of the best interest. You can also do guided tours, such as the well-known Sisapo Route and the Castillejos Volcánicos, a simple but spectacular night path that ends with a look at the stars (usually organized in September). It is precisely in Fuencaliente where there are more activities and areas to visit for tourists, thanks to its recreational area and its fountain. If you have come to the Valley by this village you will be able to appreciate the nature in the silence so beautiful and enveloping of the rural world.
The magical mountains and meadows of the Alcudia area meet in this protected environment that will surely make you want to return. Its landscapes, its fauna, its flora and its wealth of heritage are just some of the elements that define the Natural Park of the Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona and that elevate it as a tourist destination for nature lovers that you can not miss.
They are four names that are never forgotten: Cabañeros, Daimiel, Ruidera and the Valley of Alcudia. They are four unique parks in the world with very different characteristics but a feeling of peace, tranquility and shared freedom. The National and Natural Parks of Ciudad Real are, in short, a must if you want to discover what is really the natural value that offers our planet, when it is preserved in as good a state as in these protected environments.
