In-land
· The Rioja
Bodegas
· The La Robla
train
· Mines
· Pyrinees
· Picos de
Europa
· Route of
the Rioja monasteries
· Route of
Navarra monasteries
The Rioja Bodegas
Thanks to the specific climate in the Rioja valleys – dry and with a
25° mean temperature – the region produces wines which have become
world renowned for their quality. Many bodegas offer guided tours and traditional
meals; most of them require advanced booking.
+ info: www.bodegasriojanas.com
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The La Robla train
This is the old mining train that transported the coal from the León
mines in north-west Spain to Bilbao´s port. Recently restored and re-established
as a tourist train, the line runs through some amazing and scarcely populated
valleys like Ordunte, Mena, or Merindad de Sotocueva, and the unspoilt Palencia
and León mountains, on the borders of the Spanish plateau.
+ info: www.feve.com
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Mines
The La Arboleda district, near Bilbao, was one of the main iron ore mine areas
in Bizkaia. With the mines closed for more than 25 years, the area has today
some interesting walks among the remains of this industrial complex.
The mineral was taken to a loading dock in Punta Castillo, by Playa de La
Arena, and loaded onto ships bound for Durham (England), as its final destination.
The ore reached the dock via a wagon train line, now a walking path, where
we can discover industrial archeologic ruins like burning ovens half-covered
by bushes.
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Pyrinees
The Pyrinees mountain range create a natural border between Spain and France,
along the northern end of the Navarra, Huesca and Lleida provinces. The whole
range is widely visited all year-round by sports enthusiasts and nature lovers;
in Winter, thousands of people take to the many ski resorts (alpine and cross-country)
of the area. During the rest of the year, mountain climbing and a wide variety
of adventure sports are practised in different areas.
The area is also known for the quality of its local produce and cuisine: from
meat and fish (trout) to, and especially, the dessserts, with an ample variety
of cheese and sweets. And there are several wine regions in the area, with
Ribera Navarra being the best known.
In addition to its natural resources, the Pyrinees hold great examples of
Romanesque art in temples and monasteries, and a long tradition as part of
the Camino de Santiago.
+ info: www.lospirineos.com www.pirineos.com
www.pirineodigital.com
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Picos de Europa nature park
It has taken 300 million years for the Picos nature park to attain one of
the most impresssive mountain landscapes in southern Europe. The sights are
often breathtaking, with high mountains, sharp cliffs and deep canyons with
crystal-clear streams, that open onto rich forests and prairies.
Picos de Europa is one of the major limestone rock formations in Western Europe,
with 1,000 m deep caves, lakes, and clearly visible glacial erosion processes.
Among its wildlife, we find chamois in the high mountains, roe deer in its
forests, and some wolves in the valleys. And there are more than 140 bird
species living here; among them capercaillie, lion vulture and the royal eagle.
+ info: www.mma.es/parques/lared/picos
www.picoseuropa.net www.infoasturias.com
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Route of the Rioja monasteries
The Rioja region has a vast wealth of monasteries, with many of them still
run by the different monastic orders, the most important being Nájera,
Cañas, San Millán de la Cogolla and Valvanera.
To visit the first, Nájera, take the AP-68/E-804 towards Logroño,
and exit in Cenicero/Nájera (exit 10), and follow the signs to Nájera.
Here, we find the Santa María la Real monastery, declared National
Monument in 1889. The highlights of this gothic style monastery of the order
of Cluny are the cloister of the Caballeros, and the Vera Cruz chapel. During
July, the Chronicles of Najera are staged here.
Thirteen Kilometres further south in Cañas, we find Santa María
del Salvador. This XII century cistercian monastery is known for its capitular
work, and for the crafts works by the monks in the female monastery, one of
the oldest in Christianity.
Going westward, again on the LR-331, we reach San Millán de la Cogolla,
and its two monasteries, Suso and Yuso. The first was founded in 984, and
Yuso in 1053. They are of great importance, as this is where the first texts
in Spanish, along with some words in Basque, were found (X century). The book
where they appeared is known as the Glosas Emilianenses, and can be contemplated
during the guided tour of Yuso.
Continuing along the LR-331, we reach Valvanera monastery. Located in the
San Lorenzo mountain range, it holds the shrine of the Virgen de Valvanera,
patron-saint of Rioja. Built in the XI century, this romanesque monastery
is a pilgrimage site, and known for its collection of X century miniature
illustrated codex.
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Route of Navarra monasteries
From Pamplona, we drive for 50 Km along the N-135, to the XII century Roncesvalles
monastery. Set in an idilic mountainous landscape, the Colegiata de Roncesvalles
(as it is also known) marks the entrance of the French route of the Camino
into Spain – the main route for European pilgrims. Here we can also
visit the San Salvador sanctuary and its X century chapel, where the mythical
Roldán died, although his tomb is located at the monastery.
On leaving Roncesvalles, take the N-135 to Burguete, and then the NA-172 to
Villareta. There, take the N-150 towards Lumbier and join the N-240 towards
the Yesa dam area. Near the dam we find the Leire monastery – one of
the oldest in Navarra, built during the Goth period. The monastery is the
site of the pantheon of the kings of Navarra. Today Leire also serves as hostel
for the pilgrims on their way to Santiago. On the way back to the dam, we
find one of the most beautiful castles in Spain, Castillo de Javier, birthplace
of San Francisco Javier, co-founder of the Jesuit order with Saint Ignatius
of Loyola.
From Javier we travel on the NA-5411 to Sangüesa, and take the NA-132
to Tafalla; continue on the A-15 motorway, exiting in Marcilla, then taking
the N-121, and later the NA-124 to Carcastillo. Here we find one of the best
examples of cistercian architecture: the monastery of La Oliva. Although overall
of gothic style, the church has some romanesque elements. The monastery is
located in one of the most important wine areas in the country (Ribera Navarra)
and makes its own wine.
We return to Marcilla taking the A-15 motorway, then
the A-68 and leaving it on exit 18. We then take the N-121 towards Tarazona
until we reach Tulebras and its Santa María de Tulebras monatsery (1149).
This is the first female monastery in Spain of the Cister order. Its most
important elements are the cloister, church and Palacio Abacial.
From Tulebras we again take the N-121 for 2 Km, and then take the NA-6900 for 14 Km until
we reach the NA-6940. This road will lead us to the town Fitero, known for
its thermal waters and spa. The town´s monastery is certainly one of
the most beautiful and impressive in Navarra. It also belongs to the cistercian
order, with two clearly differentiated architectural periods: the medieval
(XII-XIII) and the modern (XVI-XVII). To the former belongs its Templo Abacial
and Sala Capitular, while the cloister, convent, library and Palacio Abacial
belong to the latter.
We continue the route to visit two other important monasteries: Iratxe e Irantzu.
We leave Fitero by the NA-693, taking the A-68 motorway. Upon reaching Calahorra
(in Rioja), take the LR-134 towards the Navarran town of San Adrián,
and take the NA-122 towards Estella; just before this town, take the NA-111
to Ayegui. Here we find one of the best preserved monasteries, Iratxe. Built
between the X and XVII centuries, is one of the few to have reached our times
without further remodelling. Taking again the NA-111 into Estella; from there,
take the NA-120 to Abarzuza, and follow the signs to the sanctuary of Iranzu.
This cistercian site, built in the XII century, is an elegant and austere
construction, with a gothic cloister and spectacular Capitular Hall.
We go back to Estella, where we take the NA-111 towards Pamplona, until we reach
Puente la Reina, and then onto Muruzabal. Here we find the hermitage of Nuestra
Señora de Eunate, the jewel of romanesque art in Navarra. The building
has an octogonal plan surrounded by a cloister, and with a pentagonal apse.
We leave Muruzabal taking the road back to Puente la Reina, then the NA-111
to Pamplona. From there, we take the A-15 to Irurtzun, and the N-240 to Huarte-Arakil.
Here, in the heart of the Aralar range, we find the sanctuary of San Miguel
Excelsis. This romanesque monastery was one of the most important centres
of European goldsmithing in the XII century. The monastery’s church
has three naves and three apses. The chapel, late romanesque, has a silver
effigy of Sain Michael.
And thuis concludes our route through Navarra´s
romanesque; we return to Huarte-Arakil, and then continue on the N-240 to
Vitoria-Gasteiz, where we will take the N-622 and later the A-68, back to
Bilbao.
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