In the famous Song of My Cid, it recounts the exile that El Cid endured in 1088, due to King Alfonso VI. As a result, he was forced to leave Castile.
In this itinerary, you will cycle the same journey that the famous knight undertook back then, from Burgos, very close to our protagonist's hometown, to the town of Atienza in Guadalajara.
On this route, you will immerse yourself in landscapes of mountains, forests, and farmlands, but also discover historic cities and towns and significant monuments.
-DAY BY DAY-
Day 1 - Arrival in Burgos
In the times of Rodrigo and Alfonso VI, Burgos had fewer than 2,000 inhabitants and had become the heart of the emerging Kingdom of Castile.
Today, Burgos is a monumental city, traversed by the Arlanzón river, one of the best-maintained urban rivers with a vibrant life along its banks.
In its renowned Cathedral, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains the rests of El Cid and his wife, Doña Jimena.
It is also highly recommended to visit the Royal Monastery of Las Huelgas.
Day 2 - Stage 1: Burgos to Santo Domingo de Silos (63.6 km/ 39 mi)
Breakfast and picnic delivery. In this stage, we leave behind the urban landscape to venture into fields of cereal crops dotted with oaks and holm oaks.
We recommend stopping at the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, where El Cid, on his way into exile, left his wife Jimena and daughters in the care of the monastery's abbot.
Throughout this stage, you will come across numerous limestone quarries, and you will also see the tallest sculpture of El Cid to date.
Upon arrival in Santo Domingo de Silos, you can try their gastronomic specialty, roast kid.
Day 3 - Stage 2: Santo Domingo de Silos to Langa de Duero (61.5 Km/ 38 mi)
Breakfast and picnic delivery. Before departing, we recommend visiting the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, an essential monastic center on this journey, where El Cid donated some properties. Its famous cloister is a true gem of Romanesque art.
We are now in the La Yecla Natural Area, a protected area known for its geological features such as limestone cliffs, karst formations, and hanging synclines. Here, you can find the gorge of the same name, a narrow and deep canyon that you can explore using various walkways and suspension bridges.
Upon reaching Langa de Duero, don't forget to visit the Cubo Castle.
Day 4 - Stage 3: Langa de Duero to El Burgo de Osma (64 km/ 39 mi)
Breakfast and picnic delivery. We depart from lands of castles, rivers, and borders, where Muslims and Christians faced each other many times.
In this stage, it's essential to visit the Castillejo de Robledo castle, the place where most scholars locate the affront suffered by El Cid's daughters at the hands of their husbands, the Infantes of Carrión.
We now enter the Ribera del Duero region, on the outskirts of the village of San Esteban, where traditional wine cellars, dug into the earth, create a curious visual effect.
Arrival in El Burgo de Osma, a monumental city known for its cuisine. It's worth taking a leisurely stroll through its streets and crossing its walls to reach the banks of the Ucero River, passing through its beautiful arcaded main square along the way.
Day 5 - Stage 4: Burgo de Osma to Berlanga de Duero (43 km/ 26 mi)
Breakfast and picnic delivery. Leaving the city behind, we head to Navapalos, where according to Song of My Cid, the archangel Gabriel appeared to our protagonist, foreseeing his success in his endeavours.
We will also pass through Gormaz, a town that plays an essential role in our history: in 1081, the town was attacked by a Muslim contingent, which provoked a harsh retaliation from El Cid. He acted on his own, without seeking permission from his king, Alfonso VI, and this, combined with the severity of the attack, contributed to the first exile of El Cid, a journey on this route.
In this town, you can visit the Caliphate Fortress, which is possibly the best example of military architecture built by the Caliphate of Córdoba.
Day 6 - Stage 5: Berlanga de Duero to Atienza (50 km/ 31 mi)
Breakfast and picnic delivery. The town of Berlanga de Duero was declared an Artistic Historic Ensemble and, along with other towns on the Camino del Cid, was part of the defensive line along the Duero river in the 11th century, making it an essential stop on the Route of Exile.
Notable landmarks include its Renaissance-style castle, with the Escalote river flowing at its feet, and the ex-collegiate church of Nuestra Señora del Mercado.
We arrive at Atienza, the end of our journey.
This town, with its rich heritage, features four museums where it's displayed. We recommend taking a stroll through its urban centre, which has medieval and Renaissance origins.
Also worth a visit is its castle, which was once a prison, and it is said that Francis I of France was held there.
Return.
The Price Includes:
- 5 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels and inns.
- 5 breakfasts, 4 dinner and 5 picnic lunches.
- Trekking bicycles equipped with rear racks, front bags, and helmets.
- Car support along all the route.
- Travel documents.
- Luggage transfer between stages.
- Transfer from Atienza to Calatayud.
- Telephone assistance (English-speaking)
The Price does not include:
- Single room supplement: 350
Eur
- E-Bike supplement: 120 Eur/ person.
PRICE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE ROOM.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE WITH MINIMUM 4 PARTICIPANTS
