Vivar Del Cid: Cid Heritage and Historic Routes

Vivar Del Cid brings together the literary tradition of the Cid, religious buildings, sculptures, and the starting points of various routes. The town lies in the valley of the Ubierna River and was designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in the “historic site” category by Decree 203/1993 of 25 August 1993. This designation provides a framework for a townscape whose historical themes can be experienced through specific buildings, memorials, and routes. When planning your visit, you can choose between local history, art, and different types of routes.

Cid stories and routes

The Camino del Cid begins in Vivar del Cid. The Cantar de Mio Cid says that the Cid went into exile from here and was ordered to leave Castile. This link to the town connects the actual starting point of the Camino with a literary tradition. A sculptural monument bearing the inscription “Legua Cero” stands beside an old mill and symbolically marks the beginning of the route. The Molino del Cid is a small Cid museum at Legua 0 in Vivar del Cid.

The two Cid sculptures also each have their own features. The Cid statue on Calle del Destierro is a work by Valencian artist Francisco Catalá Blanes; in 1963, he gave the mould to the Junta Vecinal de Vivar. The Monumento al Cid Campeador, by contrast, is an ensemble comprising a life-size bronze statue, a pool of water, and a limestone block bearing the silhouettes of two horsemen. The Cid theme is thus represented both by individual memorials and by a composition made up of several elements.

The El Destierro walking route runs from Vivar del Cid in the province of Burgos to Atienza in the province of Guadalajara. The road-cycling version of El Destierro includes a 12-kilometre prologue stage from Vivar del Cid to Burgos; this distance refers to the prologue. Another signposted and interpreted cultural itinerary follows Charles V’s final journey towards Extremadura and also includes Vivar del Cid. The routes therefore represent different themes and formats: a walking route, a road-cycling prologue stage, and a cultural-historical interpretation of a journey.

Religious buildings and historical details

The Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel was built in the Flamboyant Gothic style and also features Renaissance and Baroque elements. Excavations there uncovered a necropolis dating from the 11th to the 13th century. At the entrance there is also a heavily worn baptismal font with a Romanesque appearance; its origin is unknown. The architecture, archaeological find, and font reveal different historical layers, though the font’s origin has not been established.

The Convento de Santa Clara was founded in the late 15th century and housed the manuscript of the Cantar de Mio Cid. Another chest associated with the Cantar is in the Convento de Nuestra Señora del Espino: the manuscript was kept inside it. The same convent houses a Gothic polychrome wooden image of Santa Clara dating from 1251. Access to the convent containing the Cantar chest is restricted. Call ahead if you would like to check whether a visit is possible.

River landscape and travel planning

The Ubierna River also shapes the historical landscape: several grain mills were built along its course and are believed to have belonged to Rodrigo’s family. A former water tank has been converted into a viewpoint. These two features point to different aspects of the town—the river’s former use and its later transformation into a viewpoint.

ALSA offers fairly frequent services from Monday to Sunday for the round trip between Vivar del Cid and Burgos. Confirm the timetable that suits you before travelling. If you are looking for a hotel in Vivar Del Cid, you can also consider your interests: Cid heritage, architectural and art history, or one of the routes described here. When choosing a route, it is particularly useful to note the difference between El Destierro on foot, the road-cycling prologue stage to Burgos, and the cultural itinerary associated with Charles V.

For the broader travel overview: Quintanilla Vivar.