The Herencia Windmills are a building of traditional agro-industrial architecture located in Herencia "Herencia (Ciudad Real)"), Ciudad Real. Specifically, these are flour mills, designed for the grinding of cereals, mainly wheat, using wind energy as a driving force.

The historical context of the Herencia windmills is closely linked to the agricultural and cultural evolution of the Castilla-La Mancha region, as well as to the economic and social transformations that marked the area since the 19th century.

The need to grind cereals, mainly wheat, for the production of flour prompted the construction of windmills throughout the La Mancha region, taking advantage of the favorable climatic conditions, characterized by constant winds. In Herencia, the first license for the construction of a windmill was granted in 1778, and in 1790 the first one in operation was documented.[1]​ Throughout the century, the town had eleven windmills.[2]​.

During this period, the mills were not only essential for food production, but they also became social meeting points and key elements of the La Mancha landscape. Its presence symbolized technical progress and the ability to take advantage of natural resources for agricultural development. However, with the advent of more modern milling systems, such as water mills and later industrial flour factories, the decline of traditional windmills began. Added to this were the ravages of conflicts such as the Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814), during which several mills suffered damage, and progressive abandonment in the following decades.[3]​.

Despite this decline, at the end of the century and beginning of the century a process of recovery and restoration of the milling heritage in Herencia began. In 2003, major restoration work was carried out to preserve the mills that still stood. Of the eleven original mills, seven have survived and today have become cultural and tourist symbols of the town.

This rebirth has made it possible to value not only the architecture and functionality of the mills, but also their literary significance, as they are closely associated with the figure of Don Quixote de la Mancha, the work of Miguel de Cervantes. The preservation of these mills is part of the effort to preserve the identity of La Mancha and keep the memory of its traditions alive. [4]​.