El Ballestero is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain; it is 68 km west of Albacete. A small town in La Mancha. it was likely founded after the meeting between Alfonso X (the wise) and his son-in-law, Jaime I of Aragón to settle the ownership of the recently captured territory. Local legend has it that this fertile, well-watered area was settled by crossbowmen ("ballestero" in Spanish) now redundant following the cessation of hostilities. The town was established around a crossroads on the main road between Munera and Robledo.