Maestrazgo Circular Route

Maestrazgo Circular Route by car or motorbike: the uplands

• Route: Starts and ends in Rubielos de Mora (Teruel) or Montanejos (Castellón). Circular route.
• Provinces: Teruel, Castellón.
• Kilometres: Approx. 244 km.
• Days recommended: 2 days

Information you can download on this page

• The tracks on the route in GPX, KMZ and TRK format. To always be on the correct track you can download Mapas de España (Maps of Spain) app (only android version available) from the Spanish National Geographic Institute, from where you can access to all of our routes and navigate on accurate maps as well as to obtain additional features for free.
• List of accommodation.
• List of points for obtaining and stamping the Letter of safe conduct.
• List of tourist information offices.
• Tourist brochure (this can be obtained at any of the tourist information offices on the route).Only available in Spanish.

Remember that you can obtain more information about each route at the tourist information offices on the Way of El Cid, including brochures and the Letter of safe conduct.

Download our travel app free of charge

We recommend that you download our mobile travel app, available for iOs and Android. With this app you can find all our routes, you’ll never get lost because you’ll always know exactly where you are, and you can view information about 4,500 georeferenced places (sites connected with El Cid, things to see, accommodation, places where you can have your letter of safe conduct stamped, etc.)The app is free, is updated daily and does not require registration. It also works in places without a signal and therefore, when it is being installed and used for the first time, it may take some time to become active, depending on your internet connection. Be patient because it’s worth it!

For more information about the Camino del Cid travel app, click here. 

The Plot: in the footsteps of El Cid

El Maestrazgo is a mountain range that in the days of El Cid was sparsely populated due to its rugged landscapes and harsh climate. However, its location, nestling between the Moorish kingdoms of Lerida and Zaragoza and the County of Barcelona, created a series of strategic passes of vital importance and the construction of fortresses and castles in prime locations.

The historic El Cid holds close ties with El Maestrazgo, as he is known to visited the Morella area on several occasions, defending firstly the interests of the Taifa or kingdom of Zaragoza and later his own. However, his exact route and the towns he passed through are unknown, although he is likely to have spent time in Culla, which was a strategic spearhead for the emerging kingdom of Aragon and a military outpost in the middle of nowhere.

The historian Escolano (16th – 17th centuries) also makes an undocumented claim to the presence of El Cid in Montanejos and Puebla de Arenoso, standing on the banks of the River Mijares and whose castles paid taxes and tributes to him. At all events, the literary epicentre of this circular route lies in Onda, whose castle, according to the Poem, was conquered by El Cid following a fierce struggle between the Count of Barcelona and the King of Lerida, from which he emerged victorious. The battle was fought in Tévar, some 130 kilometres to the north, the direction that must be taken in order to link up with the Anillo de Morella circular route.

The Journey

El Maestrazgo is one of the most spectacular areas on the Way of El Cid. This vast mountainous territory stretches out across the provinces of Teruel and Castellón. It remained in the hands of the Moors until the 12th century. The monarchs of Aragon conquered these lands with the aid of the Knights Templar who received them as their reward. As a result, they fell under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master of this order, hence their name. In addition, the Knights Templar controlled a vast expanse of land used for livestock breeding as the rugged relief made it unsuitable for agriculture. Following the disbanding of the Order in 1308, the lands passed into the hands of the Military Orders of El Hospital and Montesa.

The route makes its way along winding roads that are particularly attractive for motorcyclists, set against a backdrop of upland landscapes and narrow valleys such as that of the River Mijares, twisting and turning along spectacular passes lined by sheer faces. The scenery is dotted with dense juniper woods nestling between open grasslands, vast forests of Scots and mountain pines, moorland and ravines that are home to mountain goats and birds of prey. Indeed, this 145 km circular route takes travellers through no fewer than five protected natural areas. Motorcyclists and drivers should remember that they are likely to come across cycle tourists and should therefore remember to leave a safe distance when overtaking.

The towns and villages scattered along this route are another of its attractions: Rubielos de Mora, Linares de Mora, Mosqueruela, La Iglesuela del Cid, Culla and Onda have all been declared by the Spanish government sites of historical and/or artistic interest, but the list could be even longer. Peaceful, well-kept towns and villages that are steeped in history where time seems to go by at a slower pace. They are also of considerable ethnographic interest, featuring many fine examples of the ‘dry wall’ building technique, such as those that can be admired in La Iglesuela del Cid and Villafranca del Cid.

The journey starts in Rubielos de Mora. It includes two steep uphill climbs along winding and isolated roads of breathtaking beauty that run for 25 km between Mosqueruela and La Iglesuela del Cid. From La Iglesuela to Onda, is a continuous downhill ride for some 110 km, dotted with the occasional small uphill sections. You can admire a number of stunning towns such as Villafranca del Cid, Culla – which in the 11th century was the spearhead for the conquest of the Moorish lands by the Aragonese – or Onda: it was here that the romantic hero Zayyan ibn Mardanish was born, the last Muslim king of Valencia. Its Moorish castle and countless archaeological findings dating back to this period, together with the Church of La Sangre – a superb example of the so-called ‘Reconquest architecture’ – make Onda an absolute must for those eager to gain an insight into various episodes of Spain’s medieval history.

The last stage takes you back to your starting point along the River Mijares’ upward course: a narrow pass forged through the mountain by the river, dotted with charming towns and villages with a certain Mudejar flavour, reflected in the layout of their streets, towers and whitewashed façades. This stage also includes one of the singular roads, the CV 20 between Puebla de Arenoso and Montanejos.

Singular roads

The term Carreteras Singulares or ‘Singular Roads’ has been coined by the Way of El Cid Consortium to highlight certain roads that stand out due to the environmental, heritage or historical value of the landscapes they run through, or due to their intrinsic appeal. To date, a total of seven stretches of road have received this distinction, including the CV 20 between Puebla de Arenoso and Montanejos (10 km).

It is one of the best-known and most popular roads on the Way of El Cid and the first panoramic road to be listed by the Comunidad Valenciana. Situated in the heart of the Estrechos del Río Mijares Natural Area, the road runs downhill parallel to the River Mijares, which widens as it follows into the Arenós Reservoir before narrowing again close to Montanejos, a stunning location that is ideal for free climbing and outdoor bathing in the hot springs. Although it is a popular route with cycle tourists, particular care must be taken during the summer season due to the considerable rise in traffic.

Culinary delights

Gastronomy in this territory is clearly influenced by the lay of the land. In the mountainous inland areas, dishes are hearty and surprisingly varied. In additional to the traditional fare, new ingredients have appeared, such as the magnificent truffle, whilst others have been reinvented, like the oil produced from ancient olive trees (some are believed to have been growing in these lands during the days of El Cid). When it comes to meat products, pork is one of the unquestionable highlights, including the famous cured ham of Teruel. Other pork products include a mouth-watering range of cured meats or popular stews and casseroles such as the olla. Pork stew stock and ham, together with bread crusts and eggs are all essential ingredients in the famous meatballs known as pelotas de carnaval, popular throughout El Maestrazgo.

Signposting

The roads are signposted at crossings and strategic places.

Tips and recommendations

• Book your accommodation in advance.
• Remember that the road you are on is also used by cyclists and you might come across a few of them on your journey. Respect them and take great care. Especially when overtaking: keep a safety distance of 1.5 m.
• Get your Letter of safe conduct. The Letter of Safe Conduct is a personalised 'passport' you can have stamped at many towns and villages on the Way of El Cid. You can use it to get discounts of at least 10% in more than 200 places of accommodation and benefit from special offers. It is free and you can apply for it at any of the more than 70 tourist information offices on the route or at the Way of El Cid Consortium.
• Your literary guide. You might think it's unnecessary weight, but for many it is essential: don't forget to take with you a copy of the Song of El Cid; you will be able to recreate some of its passages on site.

Rev. ALC: 05.10.18