Aula· Spain, city by cityCastilla-La Mancha
Almansa
«Almansa destaca por su impresionante castillo medieval en un cerro.»Almansa stands out for its impressive medieval castle on a hill.
Almansa is located at the eastern end of the province of Albacete, where the Meseta descends towards the Levante, and is dominated by a rocky spur with a castle on top. Its name is linked to the 1707 battle that decided the War of the Spanish Succession, fought on the plain below the fortress.
Did you know
A castle on a rocky spur.
Its medieval castle, perched on a steep rock formation, is considered one of the best preserved in the region.
How they talk in Almansa
The position between La Mancha and the Levante brings contacts with Valencian and Murcian into the lexicon, while Castilian remains dominant. «Gachamiga» is a very useful word locally: it indicates a preparation of flour, water, oil and garlic shared in a pan.
ea
Yes; sure; alright, in addition to general hortatory values. In Manchego speech it can confirm what the interlocutor has said or conclude a decision; the precise value depends on the intonation.
Everyday life in Almansa
The «calzado» is the trade
In Almansa, footwear has been made for more than a century, especially men's shoes sewn by hand: many families have worked in the factory, and in town you can recognise the brands by the stitching.
«Aquí se hacen zapatos desde hace un siglo.» — Shoes have been made here for a century.
The «Castillo» above the rock
The fortress stands on a limestone spur in the middle of the town and can be seen from every street. You can walk up in ten minutes, and it is the place where you take visitors.
The battle is re-enacted every April
In 1707, the War of the Spanish Succession was decided here, and every year the town re-enacts it in costume, with camps outside the walls.
What to eat in Almansa
Gazpachos manchegos
Unleavened flatbread broken up and cooked in broth with game meat. It is not cold gazpacho.
Ajopringue
Hot cream of liver, bread and spices to spread on bread, made after the slaughter.
Vino de Almansa
Red made from Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell, dark and warm, with its own designation of origin.
Festivals in Almansa
Fiestas Mayores
from 30 April to 6 May
Moors and Christians parade under the castle firing blanks, and the Virgen de Belén descends from the rock.
What to see in Almansa
Castillo de Almansa
Almohad fortress rebuilt in the 15th century, on a rocky spur that rises from the plain.
Iglesia de la Asunción
The town's large church, Gothic underneath and Renaissance in the portal.
Casa Grande
16th-century Renaissance palace, with a stone façade and the coat of arms above the portal.
Campo de la batalla
The plain below the castle where the battle was fought on 25 April 1707.
Where Almansa comes from
«Halfway there»
Islamic era
Al-Manṣa
The Arabic name means «halfway there»: it was a fortress on the road between the Meseta and the Levante.
13th century
The frontier
It passed to Castile and remained a border point with the Crown of Aragon for centuries.
25 April 1707
The battle
The battle that decided the War of the Spanish Succession was fought on the plain below the castle.
20th century → today
Almansa
Footwear and wine became the city's economy.
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