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We can consider that the first settlers of the Lagunas de Ruidera date back to the Lower Paleolithic period. During the rest of Prehistory, there is also evidence of the settlement in the Ruidera environment.



Although it is in the Bronze Age, when visible remains, motillas and morras appear, scattered throughout the Alto Guadiana.



From Roman times there are also a large number of sites, villas, isolated houses, highlighting a Roman road that ran longitudinally through the lagoons.



The castles of Peñarroya and Rocha Frida (X-XII centuries) are of Arab origin.



Between 1213 and 1217 Ruidera passed into Christian hands and the military orders of San Juan and Santiago administered the territory of the lagoons.



It is in the seventeenth century during the reign of Carlos III when the area experiences a significant boom. Some buildings still stand, such as the house of the administrator of the gunpowder factory and the Grand Prior canal, among others.



On July 13, 1979, Ruidera is declared a Natural Park.



It was established as a municipality on September 21, 1990. Previously it depended administratively on Argamasilla de Alba (Order of San Juan), since the end of the 18th century by royal decision. But before it belonged to the municipality of Alhambra, (Order of Santiago) and for this reason it is today part of Campo de Montiel.



Ruidera is a Spanish town and a municipality belonging to the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha within the province of Ciudad Real. It is known for its lagoons, which constitute the head of the Guadiana River.



Heritage



House of the King. Ruidera House of the King

Work attributed to Juan de Villanueva, neoclassical style of the 18th century. It is the emblematic building of Ruidera.





Ruidera Church

Santa María de la Blanca Church (1958).

There was an older hermitage located in the current Plaza de Cervantes

Sluice Bridge. Ruidera Bridge of the Lock

Starting point of the Grand Prior canal.

Architecture of Juan de Villanueva (18th century).



Virgin of Ruidera Virgin of the White

Procession of the Virgin Our Lady María de la Blanca.

Patron of Ruidera (August 15).





Ruidera lagoons

The wisdom of nature took possession of this place many years ago. Never seen so much charm, so much beauty, so much grandeur as can be seen in this beautiful place. Lagunas de Ruidera, which long before they were declared a Natural Park, were already the envy of kings and eminent writers, are today a must for nature lovers and are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in Europe.



Here in the Lagunas de Ruidera is born one of the main rivers of Spain, the Guadiana River. This is what many people know about the Lagunas and others, luckily few, have already forgotten. Well, from this humble town that is Ruidera and more specifically from his Hon. City Hall, we invite you to come and discover this wonder worthy of admiration. Learn about our history, customs and traditions. Enjoy an unforgettable experience with the multitude of activities that the environment offers us: hiking, diving, horse riding, canoeing, fishing, camping, rural tourism, ... YOU WILL REPEAT !!



LAGUNAS DE RUIDERA NATURAL PARK



The Ruidera Lagunas Natural Park is made up of a set of a swamp (the Peñarroya swamp) and 15 lakes: Laguna Blanca, Conceja, Tomilla, Tinaja, San Pedra, Redondilla, Laguna Lengua, Salvadora, Santo Morcillo, Batana, Laguna Colgada, Laguna del Rey, Cueva Morenilla, Coladilla and Cenagosa. The park has an extension of more than 30 km and occupies a total area of ​​3772 hectares. Throughout its journey, some lagoons communicate with others through a complex river network with many streams and waterfalls, thus constituting a very beautiful landscape with an attractive and unique setting.



The Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park is located in Campo de Montiel in the municipalities of Ruidera, Alhambra, Argamasilla de Alba and Villahermosa in Ciudad Real and Ossa de Montiel in Albacete.



The Lagunas de Ruidera have a specific geographical personality of the peninsular landscapes derived, in addition to the visual and aesthetic quality of their places, from the characteristics that their lagoons show. Among them it is necessary to highlight: All the Ruidera Lagoons are closed by a natural barrier of tuff that dams the lagoons.



The surface of the lagoons is small in general since their lengths are usually less than 500 m. Some lagoons, such as La Lengua, Tinajas ... are bordered by cliff banks and with numerous overhangs. Others such as the Council, Tomilla, ... offer smooth shores covered by thick reed and españadales. The depths are mostly between 10 and 20 m.



The water in the lagoons comes from:



Lateral springs located on the slopes that delimit its vessels.

Superficial contributions from Alto Guadiana that go beyond the barriers or from a tributary such as the Arroyo de las Hazadillas.

Underground contributions that follow the valley and that are capable of karstly and deep-seated the barriers that close it.

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