Vivar Del Cid – Culture on the Camino del Cid

Vivar del Cid is the starting point of the Camino del Cid and was recognised as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category “historic site” by Decreto 203/1993 of 25 August 1993. According to the Cantar de Mio Cid, the Cid went into exile from here and received the order to leave Castile.

Culture and history

Excavations at the Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel uncovered a necropolis dating from the 11th to the 13th century. The church was built in the Flamboyant Gothic style and also features elements of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. At the entrance is a heavily worn baptismal font with a Romanesque appearance, whose origin is unknown.

The Convento de Santa Clara was founded at the end of the 15th century and preserved the manuscript of the Cantar de Mio Cid. The Convento de Nuestra Señora del Espino houses a Gothic polychrome wooden image of Santa Clara dating from 1251. The monastery also houses the chest in which the manuscript of the Cantar de Mio Cid was kept. Access to the monastery with the Cantar chest is restricted; you must call in advance to check whether a visit is possible.

The Cid statue on Calle del Destierro is the work of Valencian artist Francisco Catalá Blanes, who handed over the mould in 1963 to the Junta Vecinal de Vivar. The Monumento al Cid Campeador complements these memorial sites with a life-size bronze statue, a body of water and a limestone block displaying the silhouettes of two riders.

The Molino del Cid is a small Cid museum at Legua 0 in Vivar del Cid. Alongside an old mill, a sculptural monument bearing the inscription “Legua Cero” symbolically marks the beginning of the route. Vivar del Cid is also part of a signposted and informative cultural itinerary focusing on Charles V’s final journey towards Extremadura.

Trails and routes

The El Destierro hiking route runs from Vivar del Cid in the province of Burgos to Atienza in the province of Guadalajara. The road cycling version of the same route includes a 12-kilometre prologue stage from Vivar del Cid to Burgos. The different route options help you compare routes by mode of transport and scope.

Landscape and surroundings

Vivar del Cid lies in the valley of the River Ubierna. Several grain mills were built along the Ubierna, probably belonging to the family of Rodrigo. The former water tank in Vivar del Cid has been converted into a viewpoint.

The Castillo de Sotopalacios is located nearby. The castle is privately owned and does not organise visits.

For a holiday apartment in Vivar del Cid, travel dates, type of accommodation and cancellation conditions provide three practical comparison points for planning your own trip.

Getting there

ALSA offers a fairly broad service from Monday to Sunday for return journeys between Vivar del Cid and Burgos; you should confirm the appropriate timetable in advance.

For the higher-level travel overview: Quintanilla Vivar.