Valdepeñas offers different ways to explore history and culture, from a church linked to a medieval fortress to Iberian archaeology and winegrowing. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these themes distinct: museums showcase history and art, while walking tours and wineries offer different perspectives.
Churches, Art and Local History
La Asunción de Nuestra Señora was originally built in the late 12th or early 13th century as part of the fortress of the Knights of Calatrava. The Iglesia Trinitarios belongs to a much later building period: this Neoclassical-Baroque church was built between 1615 and 1632. Those interested in historic architecture can thus explore two very different periods.
The Fundación Gregorio Prieto brings art together with a historic setting: it is housed in an early 18th-century mansion and preserves more than 5,000 works. Works by Gregorio Prieto in photography, drawing, collage, graphic art and painting are displayed on a rotating basis. The exhibition changes, so what is on display at any given time is not the same as the full collection.
The layout by floor at the Museo de los Molinos y Ciudad de Valdepeñas is worth noting. The ground floor displays Gregorio Prieto’s works about windmills. The upper floor traces the history of Valdepeñas through the documentary archive of Eusebio Vasco. The Museo Municipal also houses 32 clay vessels as part of its collection.
Iberian Archaeology and Regional History
The archaeological site of Cerro de las Cabezas reveals parts of the urban and defensive structures of an Iberian city. These include traces of urban planning, storehouses and domestic areas, as well as shrines, towers and walls. The site can be visited along a designated route through areas that have already been restored. Check access conditions before your visit so you can factor the route into your plans.
The Centro de Interpretación Baños del Peral offers a different historical perspective. It explains the water’s medicinal mineral properties and houses a permanent exhibition on the importance of the baths in the comarca. The centre is currently temporarily closed, so plan a visit only after checking whether access has resumed.
Winegrowing: Exhibitions and Winery Visits
The Museo del Vino explores the development of winegrowing and winemaking through an educational, interactive exhibition. It also preserves original features such as presses, a winery with earthenware jars and a cave. This brings the history of winemaking together with preserved objects, although the two are not the same kind of visitor experience.
Wine tourism in Valdepeñas includes guided visits to historic wineries and vineyards, as well as tastings and workshops about wines with their own Denominación de Origen. La Bodega de las Estrellas is a traditional family winery in the town, with courtyards, earthenware jars and a cave; it offers wine tourism experiences guided by the producers. La Antigua Bodega Los Llanos offers visits to its original cave, with galleries carved into limestone. As visiting and booking conditions may change, check the options with the respective wineries in advance.
Festivals, Routes and Getting There
The Fiestas de la Vendimia y del Vino are recognised as a festival of tourist interest and take place during the first week of September. If you are planning your trip for this period, check the programme for the relevant year separately.
Those interested in walking routes can explore the GR 164, Section 1 of the Cañada Real Conquense: it passes through Valdepeñas and is also part of the Ruta del Quijote. The Embalse de la Cabezuela in Valdepeñas is another local landmark and is designated a Refugio de Fauna.
For those arriving by car, the town’s location at kilometre 200 of the Autovía A4-E5, the Autovía del Sur, provides a useful point of reference. Together with the different historical and wine-related themes, this can help you choose the focus of your stay and plan visits according to their respective conditions.
Discover more destinations: Almadén, Tomelloso, Alcolea De Calatrava, Hinojosas De Calatrava, Castellar De Santiago, Ciudad Real, Albaladejo, Navalpino.
Back to the main travel overview: Ciudad Real.
