Alcázar de San Juan

Alcázar de San Juan
—  Municipality  —
Old windmills.

Flag

Coat of arms
Alcázar de San Juan
Location in Spain.
Coordinates:
Country  Spain
Autonomous community Castile-La Mancha
Province Ciudad Real
Comarca Campo de San Juan
Judicial district Alcázar de San Juan
Commonwealth Promancha
Government
 • Mayor José Fernando Sánchez Bódalo (PSOE)
Area
 • Total 666.78 km2 (257.4 sq mi)
Elevation 644 m (2,113 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 30,675
 • Density 46/km2 (119.2/sq mi)
Demonym Alcazareños
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 13600
Official language(s)
Website Official website

Alcázar de San Juan (often called simply Alcázar or Alcázar de Consuegra) is a town and municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is located in the plain of La Mancha.

Its name is taken from an old moorish fortress (al-qaSsr in Arabic language), which was afterwards garrisoned by the knights of St John (San Juan in Spanish language).

Much of the action of Cervantes' Don Quixote takes place around Alcázar. The village of El Toboso was the home of the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso; Argamasilla de Alba is declared by tradition to be the birthplace of the original of Don Quixote himself.

Alcázar de San Juan was a main railway hub.

Main sights

External links

http://www.turismocastillalamancha.com/arte-cultura/monumentos/alcazar-de-san-juan/molinos-de-viento-de-alcazar-de-san-juan/