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Atienza is one of the central milestones of the Way of El Cid. The Song of the Cid mentions it twice, describing it as a “mighty crag”. The village is the end of route 1 (“The Exile”, about 300 km from Vivar del Cid, Burgos) and the start of route 2 (“Frontier Lands”, about 275 km to Calatayud).
Two mentions in the Song of the Cid
The Song of the Cid mentions Atienza twice. In the first cantar the Cid avoids direct confrontation with the village —then under Muslim control and described as a “mighty crag”—. In the third cantar the mention helps locate the kingdom.
Route 1 “The Exile”: from Vivar del Cid to Atienza
The Exile route starts in Vivar del Cid (Burgos), the birthplace of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, and totals about 300 km. Atienza is its end point: the pilgrim arrives after crossing the Sierra de Pela and enters the village via the CM-110 or CM-1101.
Route 2 “Frontier Lands”: from Atienza to Calatayud
From Atienza starts the second great route of the Way of El Cid, “Frontier Lands”, with about 275 km to Calatayud (Zaragoza). It crosses the Sierra de Pela, the Salado valley and the Señorío de Molina —lands that in the 12th century were exactly the border between Castile and Aragon—.
Modes: on foot, MTB or motor vehicle
The Way of El Cid can be travelled on foot, by MTB or by motor vehicle. Each mode has its own waymarked route. The Camino del Cid Consortium (caminodelcid.org) publishes official stage guides and downloadable maps.
Salvoconducto: where to stamp it in Atienza
The official Way's salvoconducto is stamped in Atienza in two places: the Town Hall (Plaza de España, 11), Monday to Thursday from 8:30 to 14:00; and the Tourism Office (Posada del Cordón, C/ Héctor Vázquez 2), Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
