Complete guide to La Rioja Oriental

La Rioja Baja is the area easternmost in the region bordering Aragon, Navarre and the province of Soria.

Here you will find Calahorra, the second most populated municipality in La Rioja after Logroño.

Below, you will find a list of the places you can't miss in La Rioja Bajawhich is made up of 22 municipalities in the valley area.

1. MONUMENTS NOT TO BE MISSED IN LA RIOJA ORIENTAL

La Rioja Baja has a cultural heritage worthy of being visited by locals and visitors alike.

These are some of the monuments not to be missed.

1.1. The Cave of the Hundred Pillars in Arnedo

The Cave of the Hundred Pillars in Arnedo is currently the town's main tourist attraction as it is of great value. as a Rock Heritage Site.

It is located in the Cerro San Miguel and is believed to have been the location of the old monastery de San Miguel referred to in the will of Sancho Fortún, Lord of Arnedo, in the year 1063.

The guided tour departs from the tourist office of Arnedo and is priced at €7, so it is advisable to book early.

The visit begins with a brief explanation of the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle to continue walking to the Cave of the Hundred Pillars.

The first cave to visit is the Ethnographic Interpretation Centre of the Life in the Caves where you can discover the history of these curious constructions used as dwellings and for economic purposes where more than 200 families lived until the middle of the 20th century.

You can then access via a spiral staircase to what would have been the old monastery of San Miguel.

Visit 100% recommended.

1.2. Cistercian Monastery of Vico in Arnedo

The Cistercian Monastery of Ntra Sra. de Vico is located 4 km from the Rioja town of Arnedo. 1456 by Fray López de Salinas.

Since its foundation and until the disentailment of 1836, the monastery of Vico was a convent Franciscan. After years of looting and deterioration, in 1844 the politician Salustiano de Olózaga bought the building and converted it into a palatial residence. His granddaughter, in 1953, returned it to the Franciscans, who established a seminary.

It is currently inhabited by a community from the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists). It is a Religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church of monks and nuns that has its origins in 1098.

1.3. Santa María Cathedral in Calahorra

Calahorra Cathedral is the Diocesan Headquarters of Calahorra and La Calzada - Logroño.

Built in ashlar masonry in the 15th century of gothic style with baroque façade pioneer in La Rioja with novelties that did not exist before in the region.

The sacristy and the cloister house the diocesan museum which has pieces of great value such as a sacred bible of the 12th century.

Next to the cathedral is the Episcopal Palace.

1.4. Monastery of San José in Calahorra

The Monastery of San José in Calahorra was founded in 1598 The church was consecrated in 1642.

Currently living Carmelite nuns and you can visit the church any day of the year.

1.5. Collegiate Church of San Miguel Arcángel de Alfaro

With 3.000m² it is the largest sanctuary in La Rioja.

Built in brick and of classicist style has two 50-metre twin towers. Its construction began in 1562, but took more than 100 years to complete.

The Collegiate Church of San Miguel has the world's largest stork colony on a building.

1.6. The Picuezo and Picueza of Autol

The Picuezos have been transformed over time and are now standing as guardians of the inhabitants of Autol.

Geological wonders located next to the Cidacos River and at the foot of the local castle, these are two rocky monoliths of 45 metres high, with a diameter of about 10 metres for the first one, and about 30 metres for the second one. The tallest one is given the masculine character, giving him the name of Picuezo, and Picueza, because he is smaller, to his female companion.

The most widespread legend has it that the Lord of the Castle owned a vineyard that gave exquisite grapes.

One night, the guard caught a couple hiding something in a basket; he asked them to show it, suspecting it to be grapes, to which the couple refused and tempted the devil saying: "We may turn to stone, if it is grapes that we are carrying here".

The curse fell on them.

1.7. Roman Nymphaeum in Alfaro

From when Alfaro was Graccurris in Roman times, the following is preserved Roman nymphaeum, as well as the remains of other constructions such as a bridge, a basin or concrete hearths.

Restaurant Casa Javi

Rincón de Soto

Valenciso

Ollauri

Pilgrim House

Navarrete

2. NATURAL ENCLAVES TO ENJOY THE RIOJA ORIENTAL

Nature always finds something to surprise us with and in La Rioja Baja it does so in an amazing way through the Sotos de Alfaro Nature Reserve and the Pools of Arnedillo where you can bathe in hot water in the middle of the river Cidacos.

2.1. Sotos del Ebro Nature Reserve in Alfaro

The Sotos de Alfaro are a privileged natural ecosystem from riverine forests poplars, poplars, willows, ashes and alders, and birds The stork predominates, but you can also see herons, cormorants, blackbirds, blackbirds, kites, hoopoes and kingfishers.

The Ebro River runs through this area creating meanders, islands and beaches from which to observe all the beauty of the place.

You can enjoy these spots by exploring their nooks and crannies and relaxing in their recreational area.

2.2. Arnedillo Thermal Pools

Las Pozas de Arnedillo is a free and conditioned bathing area on the banks of the Cidacos river where water flows from the earth to a temperature of 40ºC and with a flow rate of 1L/s.

The thermal waters of Arnedillo are classified as sodium chloride, calcium sulphate, bromide, with magnesium, iron, silicon, lithium and rubidium ions, and a total mineralisation of approximately 7.66 g/litre, isotonic with respect to blood plasma; hyperthermal and highly radioactive.

As they were open access until recently, they were open to the public. 24 hours a day, at present are closed from 00:00h to 06:00h.

For those who prefer to bathe in warmer waters, you can look for streams with different temperatures in the middle of the river.

These medicinal waters were already known to the Romans who came to the area through the Roman road linking Calagurris with Numantia.

Restaurant La Vieja Bodega

Casalarreina

Betolaza Winery

Briones

Entrebosques Rural House

El Rasillo de Cameros

3. CASTLES IN THE EASTERN RIOJA

In La Rioja Baja we find a number of castles which were once of great importance as they were located on the border.

However, today, in most cases, only the ruins of what they once were remain. Visiting them is a journey into the past that will not leave you indifferent.

Arnedo Castle

Arnedo Castle was the most important in the area during the Middle Ages, passing from Muslim to Christian hands on several occasions until it was finally conquered by the Christians in the 11th century.

In 2016 and 2018, it was restored and reopened to the public.

Around the castle there is a nice walking area and a viewpoint overlooking Arnedo. However, the castle remains closed and can only be visited by reservation.

3.2. Arnedillo Castle

The construction of the Castle of Arnedillo dates back to the 10th century from where the passage between the upper valley of the river Cidacos and Arnedo was watched over, as next to the river is a single-span bridge over which the road between Yanguas and Arnedo ran.

Built in ashlar and masonry, a square tower is preservedThe wall that connects it to the rocks of the mountain and the beginning of another wall.

3.3. Prejano Castle

The Prejano Castle consists of a rectangular enclosure and a spectacular pentagonal tower of 15 metres dating from the 15th century.

The fortified enclosure was used as a cemetery until a few years ago.

3.4. Quel Castle

The castle of Quel was built in the year 1470 on a hill about 100 metres high.

The castle consists of a main tower and a wall which you can walk around on your own thanks to the reconstruction that took place in 2012.

Next to the castle is the image of a Virgin Mary, and the whole ensemble offers a beautiful panoramic view of the village of Quel.

You can drive up to the castle itself on a gravel road.

If you are interested in castles, in this post you will find the most interesting ones. castles and fortresses of La Rioja.

Restaurant Allegar

Briones

Sea of Vines

San Asensio

Boutique Hotel Casona del Boticario

San Vicente de la Sonsierra

4. ICHNITE DEPOSITS IN LA RIOJA BAJA

In La Rioja there are several places where you can see up to 10,000 dinosaur footprints belonging to the periods of Upper Jurassic (150 million years) and Lower Cretaceous (100 million years).

This is due to the fact that at that time this area of La Rioja was a muddy region which, over millions of years and covered by other sediments, eventually solidified into rocks.

In La Rioja Baja you can see these sites at Enciso, Arnedillo, Poyales, Munilla, Muro de Aguas and Prejano.

5. THE IGNATIAN WAY AS IT PASSES THROUGH EASTERN RIOJA

St. Ignatius of Loyola begins in the year 1521 his pilgrimage route to Jerusalem from his home town Azpeitiain Guipúzcoa, and touring the peninsula. to Manresa. The same road that you can travel today and which passes through the lands of La Rioja.

The Ignatian Way enters La Rioja through Fuenmayor and continues its course to to reach La Rioja Baja via Calahorrathrough Rincón de Soto and Alfaro.

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