Ezcaray is a village of 2080 inhabitants bathed by the Oja river at the foot of the Sistema Ibérico.
She was appointed First Tourist Village of La Rioja The population of the town has multiplied to 15,000 inhabitants during the summer season, although it is true that a large part of its fame is due to its ski resort. skiing in Valdezcaray located just a few kilometres from Ezcaray.
However, the Ezcaray's attractions do not end in the winter sports, but it is the ideal place for the hiking, with countless routes through forests, villages, old monasteries and hermitages. In addition, it has the ensemble of popular architecture most interesting of La Rioja.
All this attracts the visitor and makes him feel at home. a welcoming place of great beauty and dynamism.
1. Popular architecture to see in Ezcaray
The Ezcaray's popular architecture ensemble is possibly the most interesting in La Rioja and, without a doubt, one of the most important best preserved.
The historical centre is home to places of great beauty, including the arcades that once made it possible to maintain the social and commercial life even during the harsh winters.
The history of Ezcaray can be read through the labyrinth of ancient streets from emblazoned palaces and manor houses whose façades bear the coats of arms of the families that lived there centuries ago, such as the Archbishop Barroeta Palace o the Angel Palace.
The historical ensemble is proof of the wealth that the town possessed for centuries.
The typical architecture of the houses consisted of three-storey dwellings, where the ground floor was the stable where the cattle were kept, which also served to heat the rest of the house. The first floor was housing and the second is used as a store for livestock fodder.
2. Monuments and historical buildings to see in Ezcaray
In addition to its fantastic collection of popular architecture, there are a series of historic buildings and monuments worth stopping and seeing in Ezcaray.
2.1. The Royal Cloth Factory of Santa Bárbara in Ezcaray
The Royal Cloth Factory was founded in 1752 supported by the minister Marqués de la Ensenada and was named after Fernando VI's wife, Doña Bárbara de Braganza.
In 1773, it was granted the privilege of Royal Company, It was renamed the Compañía Real de San Carlos y Santa Bárbara de la Villa de Ezcaray (Royal Company of San Carlos and Santa Bárbara de la Villa de Ezcaray). In 1785 it suffered a serious fire.
At the beginning of the 19th century due to technological backwardness began its decline. until its disappearance.
It was declared Asset of Cultural Interest in the category of Monument on 29 October 1992.
It currently functions as hostel and theatre with 350 seats.
2.2. Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ezcaray
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was built in ashlar stone in the 15th century on top of an earlier Romanesque construction from the 12th and 14th centuries, as was customary.
The main altarpiece of great interest is from the 16th century.
The sacristy houses a museum with carvings of the village churches and a large parish cross Plateresque style in silver.
It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category on 11 October 1967.
2.3. Palace of the Angel and Palace of Barroeta in Ezcaray
The Angel Palace built in the middle of the XVIIIth century as can be seen in a legend on the façade which reads as follows: D. SALVIO ÁNGEL LA HIZO A SV COSTA. YEAR 1753.
On its façade there is also a Rococo-style quartered coat of arms, as well as a niche with the ceramic image of San Miguel.
For its part, the Barroeta Palace was built in the XVIII and its masonry façade features two coats of arms of the Fernández de Tejada.
2.4. Hermitage of the Virgin of Allende
At outside the city centre is the Allende Chapel built in a single nave in ashlar masonry and masonry typical of the area.
This baroque hermitage was rebuilt from an earlier one, the present one being finished in the year 1670. In 1710 the house of the hermits, at the foot of the temple.
You can visit its interior where you can find the mural paintings of the dressing room from 1706, the magnificent collection of paintings by the "Harquebusier Angels"A collection of 10 canvases with figures of angels, six of them carrying arquebuses instead of the traditional sword, donated by the archbishop of Lima, Ángel Barroeta.
In the background is the image of the Virgin of Allende, patron saint of Ezcaray and its region, dates back to the beginning of the 14th century.
2.5. Hermitage of Santa Bárbara in Ezcaray
Hermitage of a single nave in ashlar stone and masonry rebuilt in the 16th century from an earlier circular one.
It is at the top of the mountain with the same name. The origins of this hermitage lie in a watchtower from the 11th century, a period of great instability due to the continuous border wars between the kingdoms of Castile and Navarre.
Inside is a image of Santa Barbara, Reliquary bust from the 16th century, with very worn 17th century polychromy.
2.6. San Lazaro Crossing
Back in the historic centre of Ezcaray, the most outstanding feature is the 16th century San Lázaro transept, but rebuilt in the 20th century.
On the cross are the images of Christ and the Virgin and Child.
3. Valdezcaray, winter tourism in La Rioja
Ezcaray is known for hosting Valdezcaray ski resort and thus be an attractive destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
With a total of 26 slopes and 3 elevations Valdezcaray has been for 4 decades a place of enjoyment during the winters, and although the change in the climate has shortened the ski season during the last years, it still continues to be the place to be. a reference place for the practice of winter sports.
25 minutes, 17km and 750 metres in altitude separate the village of Ezcaray from the ski resort.
4 Main festivals celebrated in Ezcaray
Ezcaray has several dates marked on the calendar where they honour its traditions and most important festivals.
4.1. Santa Águeda in Ezcaray (5 February)
This is a tradition of medieval origin, in which during the evening of the 5th of February, the following are burnt in Ezcaray the "bonfires" of Santa Águeda.
The crews get together to to have a snack around the bonfires.
4.2. St. Benedict beans
This tradition is celebrated by the people of Escaragossa on Saturday closest to 21 March.
Once again we are faced with a medieval tradition which recalls the distribution of the bacon and baked beans that the monks of the Priory of Santa María de Ubagadocumented in 110, distributed to the poor of Ezcaray and its villages.
At present, the Brotherhood of St. Benedict continues to cook in huge cauldrons The "habas de San Benito" are offered to the inhabitants of the valley and visitors.
4.3. Festivities in honour of Santa Bárbara in Ezcaray
These are the most traditional fiestas in Ezcaray.
They are celebrated around Whit Monday, starting on Saturday and ending on the following Tuesday evening, with the big day being Monday, Saint Barbara's Day.
It highlights the pilgrimage to the hermitage of Santa Bárbara on Whit Monday, going up the "zig-zag", a path that starts in the Soleta neighbourhood and goes up to the hermitage.
In the grounds of the hermitage there is a mass and subsequent processionThe image of Santa Bárbara (a reliquary bust from the 17th century) is carried on a platform by women only. People dance, eat and drink with the family or in groups, and then go down to the kiosk square, where during all the festivities the classic laps to the rhythm of the song "oh, mama, how much my boyfriend loves me".
4.4. San Juan in Ezcaray
On the evening of the 23rd the Brotherhood of San Juan organises a popular chocolate and games of traditional games, such as uta or skittles.
On the afternoon of the 24th, the pilgrimage to the uninhabited village of Cilbarrena and in the fields of the hermitage, mass is celebrated and then a procession of the saint is held.
At the end of the religious ceremonies, the Brotherhood of St John gives out wine and soft drinks to the attendees who snack in groups in the surrounding area.
4.5. Festivities of San Lorenzo in Ezcaray
They are Ezcaray's most multitudinous and well-known fiestas as they coincide with the summer period and the busiest time of the year in the town.
They are held around 10 August with orchestras in the Parque de Tenorio, a troupe of giants and big-heads, a fair, tastings, sporting events, and religious events.
4.6. Our Lady of Allende in September
The Virgin of Allende is patron saint of Ezcaray and its villages.
It highlights the multitudinous procession of the Virgin of Allende from the church to her hermitage, The festival will take place in the streets of Ezcaray on the afternoon of 24 September.
The image is carried on the shoulders in its silver platforms and is accompanied by the municipal dance group, the municipal band, the bagpipers, the authorities and the faithful who come along.
5. Villages of Ezcaray in La Rioja
Ezcaray has in its surroundings 9 villages belonging to the municipalityThe number of these could be as high as 16 centuries ago, according to some authors.
It is about small population centres which have been fiercely affected by depopulation over the last century due to their harsh living conditions. Several of them have been depopulated for decades and are in a state of ruin.
5.1. Inhabited villages of Ezcaray
The villages of Ezcaray that are currently inhabited by a few people are: Ayabarrena (3), Azárrulla (24), Posadas (6), San Antón (6), Turza (5), Urdanta (17) and Zaldierna (28).
5.2. Uninhabited villages of Ezcaray
The rural exodus that took place in the 20th century left some of Ezcaray's hamlets abandoned, such as Altuzarra which had 130 inhabitants in 1752 and was uninhabited in 1974, and Cilbarrena with 75 inhabitants in 1752 was uninhabited in 1964.
Near Cilbarrena are the ruins of Santa María de Ubaga, a former Benedictine monastery, located at the mouth of the Cilbarrena ravine.
Other uninhabited and ruined villages of which hardly any traces remain are: Bonicaparra (Refuge), Espurgaña, Lazalaya, Ulizarna, Uyarra, San Juan or "Medio", Santa Mª de Lueñes.
6. Hiking Routes in Ezcaray and Natural Heritage
Ezcaray has a natural heritage of great value. It is the third largest municipality in La Rioja in terms of area, and the first in terms of forested surface area.
This translates into countless hiking trails from which you can enjoy unique surroundings in the heart of nature.
Here you will find routes for all ages around Ezcaray.