Cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla. Teruel © Turespaña
Mora de Rubielos castle © Turespaña
Rubielos de Mora © Turespaña
View of Jérica © Turespaña
Segorbe city walls. Castellón-Castelló © Turespaña
Sagunto. Roman theatre © Turespaña
'Any man who wishes to come with me to lay siege to Valencia… I will wait for him for three days at the Cella canal'. According to the Song of El Cid, Cella was the place chosen by the famous knight to gather an army with which to conquer the city of Valencia. This fourth section of the Way of El Cid recreates that adventure which began in Cella (Teruel) and ended with the taking of Valencia.
This part of the route known as the Way of El Cid revolves around the setting of the greatest of El Cid's heroic deeds: the conquest of the kingdom of Valencia. It runs through the provinces of Teruel, Castellón and Valencia. From the starting point –Cella– to the end –the city of Valencia– there is a distance of 245 kilometres along the paths and trails, or else 228 kilometres by road. At a leisurely pace it takes 12 days on foot, five days by bike, and three days by car. For information about all the activities available in the area, the best idea is to visit the tourist offices in each place.
There are also another two alternative circular routes: the circuits of El Maestrazgo and Morella. The first runs through the region of El Maestrazgo, between Rubielos de Mora (Teruel) and Montanejos (Castellón); and the second starts in La Iglesuela del Cid and passes through Morella. You'll also find the Castellón branch, between Sagunto and Castellón de la Plana: a stretch of 48 kilometres which follows the defensive line established by El Cid along the Mediterranean coast to protect the city of Valencia.
Notable places
Cella is the starting point on this itinerary which leads through historic towns and villages, and places steeped in mediaeval charm. One essential stop on the route is Teruel, to see its ensemble of Mudéjar architecture, with its beautiful towers and churches, which has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage designation. Other sights not to be missed include the castle and the historic quarter of Mora de Rubielos. The neighbouring town of Rubielos de Mora is another place well worth a visit for its picturesque noble houses and religious architecture.
Further on, in Montanejos, there is a chance to enjoy the thermal waters and beautiful natural surroundings; and from there on to Jérica, one of the sites in the Levante region which was conquered by El Cid. There are still a couple of stops to make before we reach Valencia, the final destination on our route: Segorbe, with its cathedral, its defensive walls and its historic quarter; and Sagunto, where the highlights include the castle enclosure and the Roman theatre.
What to see on the route See more
To continue your journey
The Way of El Cid. First section: Exile
The Way of El Cid. Second section: Frontier territory
What to do
More information
Calendar
Discover the surroundings
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