Transfer to Peñacerrada and 25-29 miles/ 40-46 km 580-700↑m to Laguardia

A taxi/minibus transfer takes you in a bit over an hour to the village where the route starts. There is first a stretch of uphill cycling along lush forest and prairies. At the top, you reach the border between the Basque country and La Rioja and start a scenic descent where the green deciduous forest is replaced by a more Mediterranean vegetation and environment.

There follows a wonderful ride on winding little roads through the vineyards and along the Ebro river, with the small difference in mileage being an alternative detour to a chapel in a particularly lovely spot. Your goal is Laguardia, an old, beautiful little town on a hill, which you can explore in the evening.

21 miles/33 km  320↑m to Logroño

The second stage starts with a loop around the vineyards surrounding Laguardia, with stunning views of the sierras that protect them from northern winds and are mirrored by the Ysios winery’s facade. Little roads and lanes then thread their way through small valleys and hills, cliffs and riverbanks until reaching Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. In the afternoon its most historic wine cellars can be visited. Logroño is a small city with plenty of street life even on a Monday, including the international stream of way of St. James’ walkers and cyclists.

Transfer to Cabrejas and 41 miles/66 km 480↑m to El Burgo de Osma

(or 35 miles/57 km 360↑m without visit Calatañazor) 

Today starts with a taxi/minibus ride which is a great experience in itself: it follows a scenic and lush valley all the way up to a mountain pass. On the other side, you are on a very different kind of landscape: the high Castilian plateau. From the village of Cabrejas del Pinar you are on your bike again for a ride alternating forests and fields and passing now and then a sleepy hamlet. Underway there is the pretty medieval village of Calatañazor and plenty of nice countryside just to turn the pedals and be one with the peaceful surroundings. 

Your place for the night is a spa hotel in an historic building of El Burgo de Osma. With 5,000 inhabitants El Burgo is the biggest place around. It has a handsome old centre and Plaza Mayor to enjoy de evening.

36 miles/58 km 520↑m to Berlanga de Duero

In this stage you’ll enjoy delightful little roads, great landscape and amazing peace and quiet. Following an easy ride until crossing the river Duero, you start pedaling uphill through a valley, then gorge. Your goal is the remote village of Caracena, an ancient place where nowadays only a handful of people live. Hidden behind a hill above the village stands its castle, in splendid isolated and rugged surroundings. Down the valley and over some forlorn hills you’ll next have the huge fortress of Gormaz in front of you. A thousand years ago whole armies fought for this Moorish castle. Today it is only an abandoned ruin, a massive witness of another times.

Today’s destination is Berlanga de Duero, an old village with traditional Castilian architecture, again with a big castle as backdrop, which can be visited.

32 miles/51 km  590↑m to Atienza

or  42 miles/68 km  810↑m with detour

The first part of this stage is again almost flat, to get into the rythm. After cycling through a lovely little gorge, there is a decision to make: the direct way to Atienza or a bit more challenging route over a mountain pas. In both options you’ll be delighted by the little roads without traffic, threading their way through the hills in an harmonic combination of fields with grain or sunflowers, rocky slopes and original shrubland. The direct way can be complemented by visiting Rello, a village built almost exclusively of traditional dry stone and wooden beams.

You’ll see Atienza well before reaching it, with its castle high on an outcrop around which  actually the whole village is built. Because of its setting and pretty squares and alleys, this place of just 400 inhabitants is often used as location for films and series. 

37 miles/60 km 530↑m to Sigüenza

Today we make a detour to our final destination, just to enjoy once more the beautiful surroundings and solitary roads. Underway there are salt pans, yet a castle crowning a high hill, rockfaces with some caves and very nice bits of Mediterranean forest. 

Sigüenza is a place that represents Spain’s whole history, with traces from Keltiberian, Roman and Islamic times, but also a lively little town in the weekend and summer, with many visitors coming  to stroll along its parks and promenades and see the historic buildings. You can choose whether to explore the place further or just spend a relaxing evening in the comfort of our castle-parador. 

Departure: train to Madrid or Zaragoza

From the parador is about 20 minutes walk to Sigüenza’s train station. There are several trains a day to Madrid (aprox. 1 hr 30′) or to Zaragoza (aprox. 2 hrs 30′) from where it’s easy to connect with a train to Barcelona. See renfe.com  A taxi to Madrid centre/airport is also easily arranged.