Valfermoso approves the ordinance regulating its bull runs and cattle releases

The City Council of Valfermoso de Tajuña has definitively approved the Municipal Ordinance Regulating the Celebration of Popular Bullfighting Spectacles, Bull Runs, and the Release of Fighting Cattle in the Countryside and Urban Enclosures, by Agreement of the Plenary on September 9, 2026. The regulation is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Guadalajara, number 175, dated September 14, 2026, for the purposes of article 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime.

The ordinance replaces the previous Municipal Ordinance on Bullfighting Festivities, published in BOP number 225, of November 27, 2019, which is hereby repealed. It shall enter into force on the same day as its full publication in the provincial gazette and shall remain in effect until its express modification or repeal. The document is signed by the mayor, David de Loro Santos.

Legal framework and scope of application

The regulation is issued by virtue of the powers attributed by Law 7/1985, Royal Legislative Decree 781/1986, of April 18, and Decree 38/2013, of July 11, which approves the regulation of Popular Bullfighting Festivities of Castilla-La Mancha, modified by decrees 73/2014, of August 1, and 60/2016, of October 11. Its purpose is to regulate the control of the development of bullfighting festivities held on the occasion of Local Patron Saint Festivals and other feasts or events.

Zones and bull run plans

The ordinance defines four duly delimited zones in each bull run: start, release, spectators, and finish. Two bull run plans, A and B, are contemplated, with itineraries running through streets such as C/ Mayor, Plaza Mayor, C/ Peñalver, C/ Soledad, C/ del Frontón, and C/ del Parque, as well as the Yélamos road and the Tendilla road, covering an area of approximately 2 km from the exit of the pens.

• Start zone: the place where the cattle are positioned to begin the run.
• Release zone: space reserved for participants, with road closures and the prohibition of unauthorized vehicles.
• Spectator zone: fenced and outside the release zone; anyone who leaves it acquires the status of a participant.
• Finish zone: where the cattle are enclosed at the end of the festivities.

During the transfer, riders and vehicles must maintain a minimum safety distance of two hundred meters between the herd and the rest of the participants. The run begins with the launching of three rockets and will have a maximum duration of three hours.

Participants, spectators, and sanctioning regime

Anyone who wishes to do so voluntarily and is in full physical and mental capacity may participate. The minimum age is 16 years, although participation is permitted for those over 14 years who are accredited students of an authorized bullfighting school. Those under 16 without authorization are excluded, as are those presenting symptoms of intoxication, narcotic substance poisoning, or mental alienation, and those carrying bottles, glasses, or instruments that could cause mistreatment of the livestock.

• Minimum of six horsemen coordinated by the fight director.
• Minimum of ten vehicles provided by the organization.
• Control means: 6 vehicles, 10 volunteer collaborators on foot, and 3 expert horsemen.
• Circulation of unauthorized motor vehicles is prohibited during the route.

Infractions will be sanctioned in accordance with Law 39/2015, Law 40/2015, Law 7/2011, of March 21, on public spectacles of Castilla-La Mancha, and Decree 38/2013. An administrative appeal may be filed against the agreement before the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha, based in Albacete, within two months of publication.

The new regulation provides legal and physical security to residents and visitors during the patron saint festivities by detailing the routes, security zones, and the responsibilities of participants and spectators, in line with the regional regulations for popular bullfighting festivities.

Source: BOP of Guadalajara, no. 175, September 14, 2026, City Councils section (official reference: document 2026_2387, Plenary Agreement of September 9, 2026).