Logo camino del cid
Follow us onfacebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
ESPAÑOL/ENGLISH
Contact
Menu principal

 

Take a walk around The Way of el Cid

History, Adventure, Nature and Landscapes, Peaceful Rural Settings, six Medieval Marbles declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, 39 Towns and Villages declared Historic and Artistic Sites by the Spanish Government, a hundred of Castles, Towers and Walls, countless outstanding examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic art, Spanish Gastronomy and traditional Festivities. Take a look to our photo galleries!

Your guide: el Cid, History and Legend

  • El Cid, exiled, leaves Vivar with a handful of knights ordered by the king to leave Castile in nine days. Statue of el Cid in Vivar del Cid, province of Burgos / ALC.
  • In the 11th-Century the Iberian Peninsula was divided into numerous Christian and Muslim kingdoms that fought against each other. In 1081 Rodrigo Diaz was exiled from Castile by order of King Alfonso VI. Thirteen years later he conquered the Islamic principality of Valencia, where he died in 1099. Drawing: Julián de Velasco.
  • The heroes of epic songs of deeds are often the result of individual or collective imagination. Some of them, however, are based on people who actually existed, whose fame converted them into legendary figures. This is the case of El Cid / José Beut Duato.
  • El Cid's charter of donation to the Cathedral of Valencia (1098): his signature 'Ego Ruderico' is shown below. Ego Ruderico in Latin means 'I, Rodrigo'.
  • Sepultures of El Cid and his wife Jimena in the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, province of Burgos / ALC.
  • Tras la muerte del Cid comenzó a propagarse su leyenda de boca en boca gracias a juglares y poetas. La manifestación literaria más importante fue el Cantar de mío Cid, un poema de gesta anónimo escrito a finales del siglo XII o principios del XIII. Imagen: una de las hojas del manuscrito del Cantar, que hoy se conserva en la Biblioteca Nacional.
  • The equestrian sculpture of El Cid is the most photographed one in the city of Burgos / ALC.
  • Vela Zanetti´s mural paintings portraying el Cid in the inside of the Palace of the Burgos Provincial Council / ALC.
  • In the 19th-Century El Cid was recovered by the German romantics and since then his legend had many reinterpretations that enriched the myth: plays, operas, novels, or movies, like the one starring by Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren in 1961 , in the image / Castillo de Belmonte.
  • On describing the figure of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, el Cid Campeador (the Battler), we must make a clear distinction between documented historical fact and the literary creation of this figure. Even today, in modern times, it is quite easy to confuse both planes, and although it is necessary to compare them, they must not be confused with each other / Víctor Manuel Ausín Sáinz.
  • According to the Song of el Cid, around Castillejo de Robledo -Soria- Cid's daughters were brutally beat and leave to their fate by their husbands / ALC
  • Possibly in May 1099, El Cid died in Valencia of natural causes, at the age of less than fifty-five years. Monument to El Cid, in the city of Valencia, by sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntington / ALC.
  • Camino del Cid, a medieval Western / ALC.
  • The Way of el Cid, when history and legend come together / Anton Pentinat Ayelo
  • This carrion crow plays a very special role in the Poem of El Cid. Stanza 11 reads “Crows flew across to their right as they were leaving Bivar”. The direction of the flight of the carrion crow was seen as an omen. For travellers, as for El Cid, this bird is a symbol of good luck / ALC.
  • Before Sunrise / Diego de la Iglesia.
  • El Cid, exiled, leaves Vivar with a handful of knights ordered by the king to leave Castile in nine days, a term El Cid uses to leave his daughters and his wife in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña (image), stock up on ammunition and stores and increase his small group of loyal followers by enlisting new knights and soldiers / ALC.
  • Statue of el Cid in the front of the San Pedro de Cardeña´s monastery / ALC.
  • Romanesque capital in the fascinating cloister of Santo Domingo de Silos. El Cid and Jimena, her wife, donated several possessions to the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, province of Burgos / ALC.
  • According with the Song of El Cid, on the 16th day of exile, the heroe set up camp opposite the fortified town of Alcocer (today an archaeological site), very close to Ateca (image), and after a siege of more than three months, he succeeded in its conquest / ALC.
  • Statue of el Cid, in the village of El Poyo del Cid, province of Teruel. According with the Song of el Cid, the warrior reinforced a Roman fortress, turning it into his headquarter for Teruel and Zaragoza / ALC.
  • According with the Song of el Cid, Rodrigo conquered the castle of Onda (image), province of Castellón / ALC.
  • In 1092 Rodrigo rebuilt the castle of Peña Cadiella (today, La Carbonera, in the mountains of Benicadell, province of Valencia), where he established his operations base / Gersón Beltrán.
  • There are a lot of streets with the name of El Cid along the Way / ALC.
  • Along the Camino del Cid many medieval festivals are celebrated, some of which are based on the life and legend of El Cid / ALC.
  • Every year Burgos celebrates a festival called Fin de Semana Cidiano during the first weekend of october / ALC.
  • Mail coif. You can see many medieval reenacments in the Way of el Cid throughout the year / ALC.

World Heritage Sites

  • Cathedral of Burgos / PAB.
  • The Palmeral de Elche, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the largest palm grove in Europe / Rafael Jaúregui.
  • Mudejar Tower of Saint Martin in the town of Teruel, declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO / ALC.
  • Mudéjar tower of Santa María in Calatayud (Zaragoza), declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO / ALC.
  • Mystery Play of Elche is a liturgical drama dating from the Middle Ages, which is enacted and celebrated in the Basílica de Santa María in the city of Elche on 14 and 15 August of each year. Elche, Alicante / Turisme Elche.
  • La Lonja de Valencia was a financial centre where the latest medieval merchants work out contracts. It is a wholly exceptional example of a secular building in late Gothic style. It was declared World Heritage Site in 1996 / València Terra i Mar.
  • The Festivity of ‘la Mare de Déu de la Salut' is a series of activities and performances celebrated every 7 and 8 September in Algemesí, Valencia / Museu Valencià de la Festa de Algemesí.
  • Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO / CARP.
  • The Way of Saint James, Burgos / SODEBUR.

Historical and/or Artistic Sites in the Way of el Cid

  • Bocairent, province of Valencia / ALC
  • Albarracín is a legendary petty islamic Kingdom in the heart of the province of Teruel, and also one of the prettiest villages in Spain / Luis Antonio Gil Pellín.
  • Streets of Daroca, a medieval town of two thousand inhabitants, in the province of Zaragoza / Ramón Sanz Frax.
  • The old town of Burgos / Manuel Muñoz García.
  • Church of Santiago el Mayor in the village of Montalbán (Teruel) / ALC.
  • Hita, province of Guadalajara / Alfonso López Pérez.
  • Villena, province of Alicante / Manuel López Francés.
  • The millenary city of Sagunto, province of Valencia / Julián Negredo Sánchez.
  • Covarrubias, province of Burgos / ALC.
  • Mirambel,Teruel / ALC.
  • Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos / ALC.
  • Ontinyent, Valencia / Tourist Info Ontinyent,
  • Panoramic view of Elche, Alicante / Turisme Elche.
  • King Jaime I, equaestrian statue in Valencia / ALC.
  • The village of Onda, province of Castellón / ALC.
  • Walls of Alzira, province of Valencia / València Terra i Mar.
  • El Burgo de Osma, province of Soria / ALC.
  • The town of Teruel, its cathedral was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO / ALC.
  • Morella, province of Castellón. In 1083 El Cid attacked Morella Castle, although he was forced to retreat / Diputación de Castellón.
  • Culla, Castellón / ALC.
  • Sigüenza, Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Mora de Rubielos, Teruel / ALC.
  • Segorbe. The islamic Segorbe paid tributes to El Cid / ALC.
  • Molina de Aragón, Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Cantavieja, Teruel / Diputación de Teruel.
  • Peñaranda de Duero, Burgos / Diputación de Burgos.
  • Rubielos de Mora, Teruel / ALC.
  • Linares de Mora, Teruel / ALC.
  • Langa de Duero, Soria / ALC.
  • Calatayud, Zaragoza / Santiago Cabello.
  • Culla, Castellón / ALC.
  • Burriana, Castellón / ALC.
  • Orihuela del Tremedal, Teruel / ALC.
  • La Iglesuela del Cid, Teruel / ALC.
  • Berlanga de Duero, Soria / ALC.
  • Orihuela, Alicante / Asís G. Ayerbe.
  • Jérica, Castellón / Asís G. Ayerbe.
  • Xàtiva, Valencia / PAB.
  • Atienza, Guadalajara / ALC.
  • The Fadrí Tower, a standing alone bell-tower of the Gothic procathedral of Castellón / Diputación de Castellón.
  • San Esteban de Gormaz, Soria / ALC.
  • Main Plaza of Medinaceli, Soria / ALC.

Castles, lookout towers and defending constructions

  • The castle of El Burgo de Osma (X-XI Centuries), province of Soria / Jesús Bernal Lorenzo.
  • The millennial castle of Sagunto, province of Valencia / Felipe Noguera Trejón.
  • Templar castle in Castillejo de Robledo, province of Soria / ALC.
  • Castle of Torres Torres, province of Valencia / ALC.
  • Castle of Sax, province of Alicante / Juan Miguel Martínez.
  • Castle of Mora de Rubielos, Teruel / ALC.
  • Watchtower in Calatayud. Because of its size and age, Calatayud is one of the most important Islamic walled towns in Spain / ALC.
  • Castle of Huesa del Común, province of Teruel / ALC.
  • Castle of Atienza, province of Guadalajara / ALC.
  • The caliphal fortress of Gormaz, province of Soria / ALC.
  • Watchtower in Almenara, province of Castellón. El Cid conquered the castle in 1098 / ALC.
  • Castle of Xàtiva, Valencia / València Terra i Mar.
  • Castle of Jadraque (province of Guadalajara), named as Castle of El Cid / ALC.
  • Alhama de Aragón, province of Zaragoza / ALC.
  • Villena castle, Alicante / ALC.
  • Daroca islamic walls. El Cid was there in 1090. Daroca, province of Saragossa / ALC.
  • Mirambel, Teruel / ALC.
  • Cox castle, Alicante / ALC.
  • Monforte de Moyuela castle, Teruel / ALC.
  • Burbáguena castle, Zaragoza / ALC.
  • Medinaceli castle, in the province of Soria / ALC.
  • Biar castle, Alicante / ALC.
  • Langa de Duero bridge and tower, Soria / ALC.
  • Berlanga de Duero castle, Soria / ALC.
  • Tower in La Hoz de la Vieja, Teruel / ALC.
  • Banyeres de Mariola castle, Alicante / ALC.
  • Montuenga de Soria castle, province of Soria / ALC.
  • Burgos castle / ALC.

Nature

  • The Duero river near Gormaz fortress, province of Soria / ALC.
  • Abandoned silver mines in Hiendelaencina, province of Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Protected Natural Area of San Martín, province of Teruel / ALC.
  • Mountain range of Albarracín, province of Teruel / ALC.
  • Shelter in front of the castle of Atienza, province of Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Alfafar rice paddies, Valencia / Vicente Alemany.
  • Vultures near Berlanga de Duero, Soria / ALC
  • The Castellón route is a short and quiet coastal route situated mainly in the province of Castellón that leads travellers to a series of spectacular beaches that are surprisingly uncrowded for most of the year, such as Burriana, Chilches or Nules / ALC.
  • Pela mountain range, dight from Miedes de Atienza, province of Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Hot spring in Montanejos, province of Castellón / ALC.
  • The Valley of Jiloca, provinces of Saragossa and Teruel / ALC.
  • The Gallocanta Lake is one of Europe´s most important wetland and birdwatching areas / Eduardo Viñuales.
  • Marshes in Valencia have an extremely rich biodiversity. They allow a great variety of fauna, especially birds, and flora to be observed year-round / María Antonia García de la Vega.
  • The Alto Tajo Natural Park is an impressive outdoor geological museum with all kinds of faults, folds, stone rivers, drop stones and all forms of erosion, some of which are particularly interesting, such as the Towers of Chequilla, in the province of Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Spectacular straits of river Mijares, province of Castellón / ALC.
  • La Albufera de Valencia. This ancient marine gulf, evolved into a freshwater lake, is one of the most important wetlands in Spain. It has also been declared a Special Bird Protection Area / / Luis Moreno Morales.
  • Saltworks in Salinas de Almallá, Guadalajara / ALC.
  • Landscape in Huesa del Común, Teruel / ALC.

Traditional festivals

  • You can find almost twenty festivities declared of National or International Tourist Interest / José Antonio López Rico.
  • Dancers. Popular Festival at Utande, province of Guadalajara / Jesús de los Reyes Martínez.
  • The Contradanza of Cetina (province of Saragossa) is an ancient ritual dance with the Devil as protagonist / Javier Romero Francés.
  • Devil´s Festival. Saturday of Carnival in Luzón, province of Guadalajara / Juana María López Rojo.
  • The ancient relationship between men and animals is mirrowed in traditional festivals as Albal, Valencia / José Beut Duato.
  • Festival called La Nit del Foc (Night of Fire) in Burriana, province of Castellón / Alberto Navarro
  • Festivity of Saint Acacious, in Utande, a small village of 30 inhabitants, province of Guadalajara / Juana María López Rojo.
  • Medieval market in Villena, province of Alicante / Stewart John Mur.
  • 'Carasses', festivity with masks in Petrer, Alicante. In October / José Antonio López Rico.
  • Correfocs 'fire runners' in Petrer, Alicante / José Antonio López Rico.
  • Fiesta de La Caballada in Atienza, province of Guadalajara. Festivity of National Tourist Interest. It commemorates the charge of muleteers in Atienza, 1162, that saved king of Castilla Alfonso VIII from falling into the hands of his uncle
  • Festival in Petrer, province of Alicante / José Antonio López Rico.
  • Easter in the small village of Hiendelaencina, Guadalajara / Carlos Pineda García
  • The city of Burgos celebrate the exile of el Cid in the first weekend of October / ALC.
  • The village of Segorbe, province of Castellón, celebrates during the second week of September the Bulls and Horses Entrance, Fiesta of International Tourist Interest / Juan Francisco Bascón.
  • Bull and Horse droving fiesta in Segorbe (Castellón), festivity declared of International Tourist Interest / Ayuntamiento de Segorbe.
  • Burgos, during the festivity of El Cid, the first weekend in october / ALC.

This website uses own and third party cookies to enhance your visit by adapting browsing to your preferences. By continuing to browse our site, you accept our cookie policy.

More info