The Spain specialist since many years
Have you ever heard of the epic poem "El Cantar de Mío Cid"? This is a famous Spanish heroic epic from the twelfth century that tells the story of the legendary knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the so-called Cid Campeador. We suggest you relive these adventures by travelling to Spain and following the route described in the book. We will follow a tourist and cultural route that will take us through the interior and east of the country, through Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon and the Valencian Community. This route will take us through World Heritage Sites, examples of Romantic, Mozarabic, Moorish, Islamic and Gothic art and more than 70 nature reserves. Even though the individual interconnected routes are actually only between 50 and 300 kilometres long, together they make up a total of 2,000 kilometres.
After Don Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid) fell out of favour with King Alfonso VI in 1079, he conquered large areas in the north-east of the Spanish Levant on his own authority as a warlord and mercenary leader. From 1086, he officially took over the protective power over the Valencia region from the king, which he was also able to assert against the claims of the Catalan count Berengar Raimund II. He died here in 1097 or 1099.
Own journey to the start hotel in Lloret de Mar.
After a brief introduction and hotel transfer, we have dinner together and get to know the other participants. At the hotel, the tour guide will present the tours for the next few days over a glass of something nice.
We cross the eastern Pyrenees on winding roads with hardly any traffic and reach our first hotel in Tremp in the late afternoon.
After a delicious breakfast and a good familiarisation phase, we head to Tudela today. Our next accommodation awaits us there.
After a hearty breakfast, we continue our journey today and make our way to the burial site of the famous knight "Cid". Wonderful roads and lots of bends await us and we enjoy the north of Spain.
In Burgos, we want to visit the tomb, which is housed in the impressive, huge cathedral.
Burgos, the capital of the province of the same name in the autonomous Spanish community of Castile and León, is characterised by its intact medieval architecture. Its most famous landmark is the cathedral, built in the French Gothic style and dedicated to St Mary. The 3 main portals are flanked by ornate bell towers. Inside the church is the Capilla del Condestable, decorated with statues of saints, and the tomb of El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar), a military leader from the 11th century.
Today we are travelling on small side roads and, after a few nice stops, we make our way to Atienza. Atienza is a central Spanish municipality (municipio) consisting of the main town and four hamlets (pedanías) with only 422 inhabitants (as of 2024) in the far north of the province of Guadalajara in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. The municipality is located in the sparsely populated Serranía Celtibérica. Three well-known hiking trails meet here: the Camino del Cid, the Ruta de Don Quijote and the Ruta de la Lana trade and pilgrimage route from the south-east (Alicante/Valencia). The most striking building in Atienza is the castle (castillo), which stands on a rock and of which parts of the castle gate, the surrounding wall and the keep (torre de homenaje) have been preserved
And today we continue towards Zaragoza. The city was founded by the Romans between 24 and 12 BC under the name Colonia Caesaraugusta. Today's name Zaragoza goes back to this Latin name - via the Arabic intermediate stage Saraqusṭa. The Synod of Saragossa took place in 380 AD.
Today we leave Zaragoza and take another look at this beautiful city in the heart of Spain. Our next accommodation awaits us at the foot of the Pyrenees and not far from the Principality of Andorra.
Unfortunately our last day together. The newcomers among us have gained a first impression of the beauty and diversity of Spain. Our last journey together takes us back to our starting point on the Mediterranean coast.
For those who are not extending their holiday on the Costa Brava, the last night in a Spanish bed and departure the next day follow.
Hasta la próxima (until next time)
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