Camino del Cid

Mandayona to Sigüenza

Senderos Borderlands

Wednesday 17 May 2023

Distance: 24.3 km Time: 6:20 Ascent: 460m Descent: 330m – Wikiloc

Another fairly easy day’s walking. From Mandayona to Pelegrina via Aragosa and La Cabrera. The Camino del Cid follows the Rio Dulce for 16 km slightly uphill, passing through the Barranco del Río Dulce Natural Park. Very pleasant walking with the sounds of water running and birds singing. Then the path utilises the Don Quixote route, crossing a beautiful oak forest before descending into Sigüenza.

Romanesque church, from the 12th century, dedicated to San Roque, in Aragosa
Aragosa (pop 20) already existed 11th century as a Muslim defensive enclave
Water from the Rio Dulce (Fresh River) is channelled for irrigation
The flow of the water reminds us that we are going uphill
Entering the Barranco del Río Dulce Natural Park (Barranco = Ravine)
Flowers growing in the rock wall of the Ravine
Through the Barranco del Río Dulce Natural Park
in the remote Ravine, the 19th century paper money factory of Los Heros
The site is now inaccessible: this photo from Guadalajara Diario
At La Cabrera (pop 13) we crossed the stone medieval bridge to rest at the rural Romanesque church from the 12th century
The castle of Pelegrina (pop 14) was built after the Christian conquest of Sigüenza in 1124 from the Muslims
Leaving Pelegrina on the Don Quixote Route
Arriving at Sigüenza, the Medieval Christian castle built on an Arab structure that, in turn, took advantage of Visigothic foundations.
It is currently a National Tourism Parador (about 200 € per night)