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The Way of

A journey into medieval and natural Spain El Camino del Cid

Cycle tourism Hiking Cultural tourism Gastronomic tourism

History Nature and landscapes Peaceful rural settings

Signposted trails Personalised products Ongoing support

Get More information Camino del Cid Consortium C/ Madrid, 24 09002 - SPAIN Phone: 00 34 947 256 240 Mail: [email protected] Web: www.caminodelcid.org What is the Way of El Cid? The Way of El Cid (El Camino del Cid) is a tourist and cultural trail that crosses Spain from the North-west to the South-east, retracing the footsteps of the legendary Cid Campeador (‘the Champion’), a famous medieval knight who lived in Spain in the 11th century.

The Way starts in the city of Burgos in northern Spain, and ends in the region of , in the Mediterranean, taking us through lands of exceptional historic, cultural and natural wealth.

Due to its considerable length (almost 1,400 kilometres of paths and around 2,000 km of roadways), the Way is divided into stretches of no more than 300 km that can be combined to suit travellers’ needs.

Bilbao F R A N C E

Burgos

Guadalajara Barcelona Madrid PORTUGAL Castellón Valencia

Palma

2 How to follow The Way of El Cid?

The Way of El Cid can be followed either by road or paths: By road The majority are secondary roads and are clearly signposted. There is very little traffic and they are generally ideal for cycle tourism. Indeed, the Way of El Cid is attracting growing numbers of international cycle tourists. By paths Suitable for walkers and mountain bike users. They are signposted and partially certified as GR footpaths (GR 160) .

The degree of difficulty of each stretch of the way has been calcula- ted in accordance with Spanish IBP Index and MIDE criteria.

3 Why choose the Way of El Cid?

Following this way is an immensely relaxing, gratifying and enriching experience. The stret- ches that make up the Way of El Cid take trave- llers through territories where they will have the chance to enjoy direct, first-hand contact with a vast natural and historical heritage. The Way of El Cid includes trails that are ideal for cycle tourism and hiking, set against delightful countryside landscapes in total contact with nature.

Nature. The Way of El Cid goes through 70 natural spaces protected by the Natura 2000 Network. It boasts an endless diversity: plains and steppes of great ornithological interest, large juniper forests, mountain landscapes, river valleys, wetlands and eventually the warm beaches of the Mediterranean.

Artistic and historical heritage. Travellers following this Way will have the chance to see 6 medieval marvels, declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO; 39 towns and villages declared historic and artistic sites by the Spanish government, as well as over a hundred castles, towers and walls, and countless outstanding examples of Romanes- que, Gothic and Islamic art, etc.

A rural backdrop for guaranteed tranquillity. Although the Way of El Cid goes through cosmopo- litan cities such as Valencia, 90% of the towns and villages on the way have fewer than 5,000 inhabi- tants, and 40% fewer than 100.

Tourist infrastructures, gastronomy. There is a wide range of accommodation options at value for money prices. The way is also a magnificent showcase for Spain’s delicious and varied gastronomy. Photo: Manuel Ricardo González

4 More Information: the Camino del Cid Consortium The Camino del Cid Consortium is a not-for-profit public institution set up for the creation of new infrastructures and the conservation of existing ones, as well as the active promotion of the Way of El Cid. The Consortium deals with queries and requests from all interested parties: indivi- duals, professionals and businesses. All our services are free of charge:

We provide full details of the various preferences, hobbies, trip length and stretches of the Way: topo-guides, maps, budget; we help to create bespoke tracks, general tourist information inclu- products tailored to each customer. ding details of accommodation options and restaurants; the characteristics of We answer any queries from tourism each stage of the Way for hikers, moun- companies interested in this Way or tain bikers, cycle tourists, etc. organising a trip.

We provide travel advice and help inclu- ding itineraries for groups as well as personalised options in accordance with the travellers’ profiles, including age,

5 The Ways of El Cid 1/2 The Way of El Cid is essentially a series of inter- connected routes. Below you will find details of the most characteristic of these routes. El Destierro (The Exile)

Path: 275 km | road: 340 km. Provinces: Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara This route runs through medieval Castile. Steppes and mountain landscapes; natural, historical and medieval area of the River Duero. Juniper forests. Rural Romanes- que architecture. The Gothic , Roma- nesque Cloister of Santo Domingo de Silos, the Islamic Gormaz Castle.

Tierras de Frontera (The Border Lands)

Path: 270 km | road: 270 km. Provinces: Guadalajara, Soria, Zaragoza This stretch takes us through the border lands of the Middle Ages. Mountain ranges and moors. Castles. Picturesque towns and villages. Mudejar (Islamic) architecture declared a World Heritage Site.

Las Tres Taifas (The Three Petty Kingdoms)

Path: 290 | road: 300 km Provinces: Zaragoza, Guadalajara, Teruel This route travels through the ancient Muslim kingdoms of the 11th to 13th centuries. Wetlands, mixed forests and mountain ranges of immense environmental value. Mudejar architecture. Historic towns and villages with a medieval air such as , Molina de Aragón or Albarracín.

6 The Ways of El Cid 2/2 Road cycle tourism only The routes below follow secondary roads and are suitable for road cycle tourism only: El Anillo de Montalbán La Conquista de Valencia (Montalbán Circular Route) (The Conquest of Valencia) 160 km. Province: Teruel. Vast open Path: 250 km | road: 220 km. spaces. Unspoilt nature. Small towns and Provinces: Teruel, Castellón, Valencia. villages. Castles. Mountain landscapes, wetlands and Medite- El Anillo del Maestrazgo rranean beaches. Picturesque towns and (Maestrazgo Circular Route) villages. This route ends in the city of Valencia. 200 km. For experienced cycle tourists. Steep climbs. Mountain landscapes. Narrow La Defensa del Sur valleys. Picturesque towns and villages of (Defending the South) outstanding beauty. Examples of stone constructions. Cave art. Path: 230 | road: 250 km. Provinces: Valencia, Alicante. El Anillo de Morella Mountain ranges of immense environmental (Morella Circular Route) wealth, flats and marshes, beaches, 100 km. For experienced cycle tourists. orchards and palm groves. A defensive line Steep climbs. Mountain landscapes. of 13th century Islamic castles. The city of Narrow valleys. Picturesque towns and Valencia. Picturesque towns such as Xàtiva villages of outstanding beauty such as or . Morella. Photo: Gabriel Garcia Villamil

7 The way of el Cid - Camino del Cid Spain as you never imagined it

Our offices: Consorcio Camino del Cid Phone: 00 34 947 256 240 C/ Madrid 24 Mail: [email protected] 09002 Burgos - SPAIN Web: www.caminodelcid.org