Universidad de Castilla~La Mancha

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About UCLM

1. Greetings from the Rector
2. General Info – Basic data
3. Charter of the University of Castilla-La Mancha
4. Act on the creation of the University of Castilla-La Mancha
5. The Region
6. History
7. Our Campuses
8. UCLM organization
9. UCLM in the world
10. Activities and Figures UCLM 2011

5. The Region

The Community of Castilla-La Mancha is located in the lower southern plateau with an area of 79,461 square kilometres, which represents 15.7% of Spain’s total territory. According to data from January 2009, the approximately 2,050,000 inhabitants of Castilla-La Mancha (25.7 inh./km2) base their economy on different activities, with those related to agriculture carrying the most weight. Castilla-La Mancha is an autonomous region, which was established as such on August 16th, 1982, and is located in the heart of Spain, and consists of the provinces of Albacete, Cuidad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo, the latter being home to the capital.

History. From the origins to the Autonomous Community

Originally a land of Military Orders, between the 12th and 15th centuries, and comunero (old Castilian communities) revolts, in the times of Carlos V, some of its cities endured a hard blow in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region suffered many ups and downs throughout its history including the loss of Toledo as capital in favour of Madrid, the economic crisis which opened the way to fortune in the New World for many, the Spanish War of Succession, the invasion of Napoleon, which dimmed the flashes of Enlightenment experienced in this land and also the devastating Spanish Civil War.

Location, population and economy

Castilla-La Mancha, as an inland region on the peninsula, enjoys an amazing variety in geography and a climate which is fundamentally continental. The region’s economy mainly centres on agriculture with grain such as wheat, barley and oats, together with olives, grapes, purple-skinned garlic and saffron being the main crops. Most of the industry is based in the largest centres of population and with the exception of Puertollano’s petrochemical industry, the rest are chiefly capital goods and consumer goods industry such as furniture, building materials, leather, shoes, cutlery, textile and food (wine and cheese). The 400-Year Anniversary of the Publication of Don Quixote has led to an expansion in the service sector. Trade, transportation, and especially tourism have provided more and more people with employment.Any of the five provinces making up the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha is well worth a visit.