AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY
The Camino del Cid route
Exciting battles, medieval knights, epic songs and much more. On this route you will explore the same path travelled by the legendary Cid, mythical character of the Reconquest, only you will probably be comfortable in your motorhome, enjoying the music and not getting lost with the help of a navigation system.
Explore the old Islamic kingdoms, the cultural and natural heritage in the old no man's land, conquer Valencia and defend the south from a beautiful campsite overlooking the sea. The starting point is Burgos and the final destination is Alicante, crossing from the north-east to the south-east of Spain and travelling through the most important places linked to the main character of the Cantar de mio Cid.
The route of El Cid allows you to discover:
- ...a diverse and contrasting landscape;
- ...almost three hundred castles and fortifications;
- ...Mediterranean beaches, rivers and forests;
- ...a unique gastronomic experience;
- ...enchanted villages and well-preserved historic centres;
Type of route Tourist route
Themes literature, history, gastronomy, nature
Home / Destination Burgos / Alicante
Length depending on route up to 2.000 km
States / Provinces Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Teruel, Zaragoza, Castillón, Valencia, Alicante
Tourist destinations Burgos Cathedral, San Pedro de Cardeña Monastery, Gormaz Castle, Hita, Guadalajara, Barranco del río Dulce Natural Park, El Cid Castle, Ayub Castle, Pelegrina Castle, Gallocanta Lagoon, Daroca, Collegiate Church of Santa María La Mayor, Alto Tajo, Río Martín Cultural Park, Onda, El Maestrazgo, Xàtiva Castle, Cullera, Palmeral de Eche and Cox Castle.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EL CID
Different routes through Spain
The exile of El Cid
The first stage of the route begins with the Destierro del Cid, the 357-kilometre route starts in Burgos, passing through Soria and ending in Guadalajara. In Burgos you will see the city's famous Gothic cathedral, a historical jewel containing sculptures, paintings, tombs and many other treasures. You'll also visit the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, declared a Spanish National Treasure and a perfect place to try Trappist beer. If you love fortresses, don't miss the Islamic fortress of Gormaz and its wonderful panoramic views.
Combine your route - Álvar Fáñez branch road
From Castejón de Henares, you can include one of the secondary routes, known as the Ramal de Álvar Fáñez route. This 65-kilometre route will delight all lovers of mediaeval history. Here you will get to know both Hita and Guadalajara. Hita has been declared a historic-artistic site for its magnificent old quarter, which includes, among other monuments, the Santa María gate, from where you can enjoy impressive views, as well as the stone walls that surround the city.
Borderlands
The second stage of the route, known as the Borderlands, begins in Atienza (Guadalajara) and ends in Ateca-Calatayud (Zaragoza). At the time of the Cid, these territories had been conquered by the Muslims and for this reason, you will notice the Islamic influence in the architecture of most of the monuments. Discover different and contrasting landscapes, from the royal mountain to the medicinal waters of Alhama and visit the natural park of Barranco del Río Dulce. There are also three imposing castles to visit on this route: the castle of El Cid, the castle of Ayub and the castle of Pelegrina.
Combine your route - Ring of Gallocanta
From Zaragoza, you can also add a 78-kilometre circular route known as the Ring of Gallocanta, which features one of the largest salt lakes in Western Europe, the Gallocanta Lagoon, a beautiful nature reserve that welcomes thousands of migratory birds in winter. On the way back, you can visit the town of Daroca, where you can travel back in time by walking through its medieval streets.
The route of the three taifas
The Three Taifas Route continues from Zaragoza to Cella, crossing Toledo and Albarracín. In Calatayud you will find one of the most famous Islamic complexes in Spain, the Mudejar geometry in the collegiate church of Santa María La Mayor, the wild nature of the Alto Tajo, the beautiful village of Albarracín, the Roman aqueduct of Cella and much more. If you like hiking, in Orihuela, there are several trails where you can admire the unique landscapes of the Sierra del Tremedal leading to the viewpoint of La Portera.
Combine your route - The Ring of Montalbán
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar camped in 1088 with his army in the northwest of the province of Teruel, in Calamocha, and this is where another fantastic 145-kilometre route called the Ring of Montalbán begins. Walk through the village of Huesa del Común, take a hiking route through the cultural park of Río Martín and get to know the wonderful village of Montalbán with its beautiful narrow streets, panoramic views and the gothic church of Santiago el Mayor, declared a historic-artistic monument.
The conquest of Valencia
And now... Let's conquer Valencia! The fourth route is one of the best for all lovers of contrasting natural spaces. From the highlands of Teruel, crossing Castellón to the Mediterranean coast of Valencia. Discover the Mudejar mastery of the cathedral of Teruel, the Gothic bridge of Pobla del Bellestar, the charming village of Morella and the magical city of Sagunto. A route that all hikers will love as, between Onda and Montanejos, you will find the banks and straits of the rivers Mijares and Palancia, where you can start hiking and end up bathing in the natural pools of the river Mijares. Enjoy the ham of Teruel, stroll along the coast of Castellón and when you reach the dream city of Valencia, after visiting the Lonja de la Seda, take a break and try the authentic Valencian paella.
Combine your route - the ring of Maestrazgo
If you want to immerse yourself completely in nature, from Teruel you can also venture out on a circular route known as the Ring of Maestrazgo which passes through several attractive villages such as Nogueruelas, Linares de Mora and Mosqueruela and get to know more about the Maestrazgo mountain range. Stroll through the charming village of Onda and discover its castle or enjoy one of the five protected natural areas along the route.
Combine your route - The ring of Morella
Another mini-route that also starts in Teruel, and which can be perfectly combined with the Ring of Maestrazgo, is the Ring of Morella. On this 104-kilometre route, in addition to the Iglesuela del Cid, you can visit one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Morella, located 60 kilometres from the coast, which is characterised by its medieval castle and its numerous cultural activities in summer.
The defence of the South
Fresh fish, horchata, turrones and much more. From Valencia to Orihuela, El Cid moves to the Defence of the South, the territories of this fifth stage were strategic for numerous battles and for this reason, there are around thirty medieval defensive constructions that are already a marvel in themselves, but they are also located between beautiful beaches and mountain ranges. What more could you ask for? On this route, we recommend you visit: the castle of Xàtiva, the beaches of Cullera, the town of Onteniente and its medieval festivals, the palm grove of Eche and the castle of Cox.
Combine your route - The Castellón Branch Line
El Ramal de Castellón was a strategic point that helped to preserve the integrity of Valencia, in fact El Cid conquered several of these towns. From Sagunto in Valencia, you have the possibility of taking a short trip along the coast of Castellón where you will discover some fairly quiet beaches during most of the year, such as those of Burriana, Chilches or Nules. The Ramal de Castellón route can be done in a day or two, covering approximately 44 kilometres. And if you like hiking, there are a couple of interesting routes from Valencia that are in the pipeline, the Ramal del Olocau and the Taifa de Valencia. At the moment they are not fully signposted but you can always access the main places by road, for example: the Bayrén castle, the marsh of Gandía and the Castillo de la Carbonera, in the Sierra de Benicadell.
Impressions of the Camino del Cid route
Route guide with information about places to spend the night and parking.
You will find a general map of the points of interest, as well as the access routes, in our Route Map" section.
Oficinas del Consorcio Camino del Cid
Real Monasterio de San Agustín
C/ Madrid, 24 09002 BURGOS
Opening hours: weekdays from 08:00 to 15:00.
CAMINO DEL CID
