Wind wheels are known since ancient times, technological superior tower mills with large sails appeared in western Europe in the 11th century and were used till the steam engine took over.

 

The windy plains of La Mancha were a perfect habitat to harvest wind energy and transform it in mechanical energy to mill grain. Hundreds of windmills were build and once dominated the landscape. 

 

The whitewashed windmills were made famous by Servantes when he let Don Quixote take on these giants.

 

Some of La Mancha's windmills have been restored and the most popular place to see them is Consuegra, where 12 of these mills line up on Calderico Hill.

Each one has a name, inspired by the Don Quixote novel. 

 

Also on this hill are the remains of El Castillo de Consuegra which has Moorish origens but later served the Hospital Knights.

 

We climbed Calderico Hill on a hot and sunny day in May 2016.