Four historic chapels among mountains and mines: a spiritual walk through the Alava Mountains - arabaturismo

The mining landscapes of the Alava Mountains are not just forests, mines, and trails leading to unique places. There are also small architectural gems that speak of devotion, tradition, and the history of rural life. 

Today we focus on four hermitages that, although they may go unnoticed, have been part of the soul of this land for years. They are located in the villages of Antoñana, Atauri, Korres, and Maeztu, where time takes things slowly. 

Hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Campo (Antoñana)

Located on the outskirts of the village of Antoñana and surrounded by meadows and old rural roads that were used to transport natural asphalt, we find this Romanesque chapel, which, although it has undergone many renovations since then, still retains the original magic that makes it special, such as the arch of the presbytery and the shell-shaped apse. 

This chapel has a small bell gable, a simple nave, and an image that is highly venerated by the locals, as it was a traditional place for prayers asking for good harvests. 

Visiting this place is ideal if you want to combine it with a walk along the Vasco-Navarro Greenway.

Ermita de la Soledad (Atauri) 
 

This is a small Romanesque building constructed in ashlar stone, with a beautiful semicircular apse and two 13th-century windows. On the left side of the altar, an image of the Soledad presides over the chapel. 

Located in the lower part of the village and a key point in local religious celebrations, mining remains are preserved in the surrounding area, such as the Lucía Mine and old asphalt factories that are so characteristic of this area. 

Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña (Korres) 

Located on a rocky promontory on the outskirts of the village and accessible on foot via a short path. The Virgen de la Peña chapel is simple and of more recent construction. Its location, together with its name linked to a natural feature such as the rock, suggests that this place may have had a symbolic or spiritual value prior to the construction of the building.

The pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin is celebrated on the weekend closest to September 14 and lasts from Friday to Sunday. It is the perfect occasion to see how the whole community comes together to carry the image of the Virgin in procession and enjoy an outdoor mass in a charming setting. 

Hermitage of the Virgin of the Field (Maeztu) 
 

It has a rectangular floor plan, with two large windows, corbels and archivolts, cornices supported by short corbels decorated with different motifs, a straight apse, and a nave covered with a barrel vault.

Of humble origin, with a single nave and a gabled roof, its name is associated with the protection of crops and the agricultural cycle. In an open area between fields, this chapel is located on the outskirts of the town, next to the road to Apellániz, and is much loved by the locals as it is a place for processions, pilgrimages, and popular festivals. 

What unites these hermitages? 
 

Their strategic location: the hermitages are located at crossroads of rural roads, mountain routes, or old mining trails, making it possible to visit them on foot or by bike, connecting culture and nature within everyone's reach. 

Their modest architecture and strong roots in local memory have given them an important role as spiritual and community landmarks. 

Route to discover the four hermitages in a day trip: 

With a little enthusiasm and planning, you can take a circular route by car, bike, or even on foot, linking the four hermitages: 

• Departure from Maeztu → Virgen del Campo 
• Stop in Atauri → Ermita de la Soledad 
• Next stop: Antoñana → Nuestra Señora del Campo 
• End in Korres → Virgen de la Peña 

A perfect plan if you want to spend a day full of rural history, silence, mountains, and hidden heritage. 

Did you know that so many chapels so close together held so many stories? Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones that don't appear in tourist brochures 😉

Find out more at: www.arabakomendialdea.eus and www.alavaturismo.eus