Almansa Facts for Kids

For the municipality in León, Spain, see Almanza. For the Spanish wine region, see Almansa (DO).

Quick facts for kids

Almansa

Municipality

Coat of arms

location in Albacete

Almansa

Location in Province of Albacete

Almansa

Location in Castilla-La Mancha

Almansa

Location in Spain

Country

Spain

Comarca

Altiplanicie de Almansa

Judicial district

Almansa

Commonwealth

Monte Ibérico–Corredor de Almansa

Area

• Total

531.91 km² (205.37 sq mi)

Elevation

712 m (2,336 ft)

Population

(2018)

• Total

24,537

• Density

46.1300/km² (119.476/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Almanseños

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

02640

Dialing code

967

Almansa is a town and municipality in Spain. It is located in the Province of Albacete, which is part of the Castilla–La Mancha region. The name "Almansa" comes from an old Arabic word that means "halfway of the road." This town is special because it's close to the borders of three other areas: Alicante, Valencia, and Murcia. Almansa is very famous for its exciting Moros y cristianos festival, which happens every year from May 1st to May 6th.

Almansa is built at the bottom of a tall, white rock. On top of this rock, there is an old Moorish castle. The town is surrounded by a green, fertile plain where farmers grow crops. About 1 kilometer south of the town center, there is a tall monument called an obelisk. This monument remembers the Battle of Almansa, which was fought there on April 25, 1707. This battle was part of the War of Spanish Succession. In this battle, an army from France, Spain, and Ireland won against the combined armies of Britain, Portugal, and some Spanish troops. Today, people still hold annual reenactments of that battle. These reenactments are officially recognized as important cultural events in Spain. The Sierra del Mugrón mountain range is also located within the Almansa area.

Main Sights
Camino de Santiago
Famous People from Almansa
Images for kids
See also

Main Sights

Almansa has many interesting places to visit. The most famous one is the Castle of Almansa. This castle was built in the 14th century.

There are other important buildings and monuments you can see:

Church of la Asunción: This church was built over a long period, from the 16th to the 19th century.
Palace of Los Condes de Cirat: This palace dates back to the 16th century. Today, it serves as the Town Hall, where the local government works.
Church of the Agustinas Convent: This beautiful church was built in the 18th century.
The Convent of San Francisco: This old convent was built in the 17th century.
Clock Tower: This tower with a clock was built in 1780.

About 8 kilometers from the city, you can find the Almansa reservoir. This reservoir was built in 1584 and is the oldest one in Europe! Also, about 12 kilometers from the city, there is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Belen, which was built in the 17th century.

Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is a famous network of pilgrim routes that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Two of these important routes meet in Almansa. The Camino de la Lana comes from the south, starting in Alicante and going all the way to Burgos. The Camino de Levante comes from the east, connecting Valencia with Zamora. This means Almansa is a meeting point for many pilgrims on their journey.

Famous People from Almansa

One very famous person connected to Almansa is Santiago Bernabéu de Yeste. He was born on June 8, 1895, and passed away on June 2, 1978. Santiago Bernabéu was the 11th President of Real Madrid, one of the most famous football clubs in the world. Even though he was born in a nearby town, Montealegre del Castillo, he was officially registered at his parents' home in Almansa, where his family lived. His family moved to Madrid when he was very young. Bernabéu joined Real Madrid's junior teams in 1909 when he was 14 years old, after watching their matches for many years.