Tembleque's Plaza Mayor is one of the finest in Spain — a grand, irregular square surrounded by buildings with wooden galleries and balconies supported by stone columns. The galleries were used for watching bullfights and public spectacles, and the plaza retains the atmosphere of a place designed for performance and community life. It's worth lingering.
The town also has the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, with a distinctive tower, and a pleasant old quarter. Basic services are available. Tembleque is one of the highlights of the Levante's Manchego crossing, and sleeping here to see the plaza at night — when it's lit and empty — is recommended.
Tembleque was a possession of the Order of San Juan (the Knights Hospitaller). The Plaza Mayor dates from the 17th century and reflects the town's importance as a stopping point on the road between Madrid and Andalusia. The red cross of the Order of San Juan is still visible on some of the buildings.
