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26-06-2024

5 perfect family activities to do this summer in Álava

With its rich historical heritage, vibrant culture, and diverse and lush nature, Álava is an endless source of family-friendly activities suitable for all tastes.

Any time of year is good to enjoy what Álava has to offer, but summer, which is usually synonymous with free time and is also generally mild and pleasant in this province, offers even more opportunities to make the most of your time and get the most out of the Álava experience.

Here we want to offer you 5 different summer plans in Álava that you can do as a family, in the company of the little ones, and that will allow you to discover different aspects of the heritage and landscape of this region. Take note!

1. Tour the Añana Salt Valley

The Añana Salt Valley, just 30 km from Vitoria-Gasteiz, is a truly unusual and special landscape, marked by its characteristic salt-extracting terraces. With over 7,000 years of uninterrupted exploitation, the Añana salt pans are the longest-used in the world.

Here you can not only walk around the terraces and discover their surprising architecture, but you can also enjoy different experiences such as salt and chocolate tastings, virtual reality, and more.

Children will have a particularly good time in the salt workshop, an activity where they can touch the brine with their own hands and learn in a simple and fun way how salt is extracted. And, if you're still hungry for more, we invite you to experience the therapeutic properties of the salt spa.

2. Visit the Cathedral of Santa María

The Cathedral of Santa María, popularly known as the Old Cathedral, is one of Vitoria-Gasteiz's emblematic monuments. It is an impressive 800-year-old Gothic complex whose restoration and original "Open for Works" visiting program have turned the church into a point of great tourist interest and a driving force for economic development.

It can be visited in its entirety, from the crypt to the triforium. The visits also include a program of themes adapted for children of different ages and content designed specifically for them, such as the polychrome show The Portico of Light, not to mention the possibility of traveling back in time through virtual reality.

3. Enjoy the Berganzo Water Route

The Berganzo Water Route is a circular trail of approximately 8 km (approximately 2.5 hours), well signposted and easy to follow, suitable for families.

The trail starts and ends in Berganzo, a town in the municipality of Zambrana, just over 30 kilometers from Vitoria-Gasteiz. It runs along the banks of the Inglares River through a dense forested landscape full of small and large waterfalls, pools, and canals.

During the second half of the route, children will find interactive panels with games and scores that will help them learn about the water cycle and the local flora and fauna.

Camino del Berganzo water

4. Walking along the Delika Green Trail

Another excellent option for a family walk through nature and mountains is the Delika Green Trail, a route that starts in the village of Delika and heads into the canyon of the same name, with the cliffs of the Sierra Salvada and the Salto del Nervión as a backdrop.

It's almost 5 kilometers (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes) of meadows, oak and beech forests, streams, and waterfalls, all along a well-marked trail suitable for the whole family.

Salto del nervión Álava

5. Discover the medieval villages of Rioja Alavesa

The last of the family summer plans in Álava that we want to propose is a tour of the beautiful medieval villages of Rioja Alavesa.

Rioja Alavesa is one of the regions into which Álava is divided and is full of small traditional villages that emerge among the seas of vineyards so characteristic of the region.

26-04-2024

The dolmens of Álava

Exploring Secrets and Enigmas of the Neolithic

Want to discover the 6 most impressive megalithic monuments in Álava? Álava offers visitors an exceptional archaeological heritage, with dolmens and other megalithic monuments standing out for their value. These stones tell stories, the stories of our ancestors, and are also nestled among spectacular landscapes.

Dolmen, a Breton word meaning "large stone table," is a megalithic construction, generally built with several slabs on the ground and covered by one or two more. These structures were created during the Neolithic period for funerary purposes as collective tombs, but it is also believed that they could have served to claim a territory and reinforce group identity.

Experts have inventoried more than 100 megaliths in Álava—72 dolmens and 45 burial mounds—and several of them have been declared Cultural Assets. In this article, we recommend a route through the province to discover the six most spectacular must-see megaliths…

28-09-2023

Álava: one province, seven districts and much to offer

Álava is a land rich in traditions and exciting landscapes. One of the province’s lesser known, but more fascinating treasures is Añana Salt Valley, a place where history, nature and culture combine to create a unique, extraordinarily well preserved setting. The valley has been recognised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System since 2017, making it the only place with this distinction in all of Europe.

The Añana Salt Valley’s history dates back more than 7,000 years. The valley has been a salt production hub since the Bronze Age, leveraging salt water rising up out of underground springs. For centuries, Añana salt was a valuable and essential good in everyday life.

One of the most notable aspects of the Salt Valley is its traditional salt mine architecture. Here you’ll find an intricate network of terraces and dams handcrafted by generations of workers. The architecture in the valley is a living testament to humankind’s skill and creativity for centuries.

The process of producing salt in the Añana Salt Valley is an ancestral tradition that has not changed over time. In spite of the technological advances, the majority of this process is done by hand, preserving the essence and authenticity of the salt production in this unique place.

The Salt Valley is not just a historical site, but also a natural sanctuary. The presence of salt water creates a unique habitat for the valley’s endemic species, making it a source of biodiversity.

Salt Valley Experiences

Visiting the Añana Salt Valley is much more than an excursion. Here are a few experiences to try on your next visit.

Guided Tours

Explore the secrets of the Salt Valley with local experts and learn about the history of the valley and its salt production process.

Tastings of Local Cuisine

Try Añana salt at a gourmet tasting and discover how this special salt brings local dishes’ flavours to life.

Salt Spa

One of the most unique experiences available in the Salt Valley, where you'll be able to experience the benefits of brine.

Visiting the Salt Valley is a journey to the past and an enriching experience for history buffs and natural beauty lovers. Discover this hidden treasure and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of salt while enjoying the unique experiences the valley has to offer.

28-09-2023

Almond Market in Vitoria-Gasteiz

The medieval quarter of Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts the traditional Almond Market on the first Saturday of every month. This market takes place on some of the main streets of the Medieval Almond Market between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Dozens of local merchants and vendors participate and add color to the space that extends through the streets of Cuchillería, Pintorería, Correría, Cuesta de San Francisco, and Plaza de la Burullería.

The Almond Market offers businesses the opportunity to showcase and directly display their most outstanding and emblematic products to the public. This commercial space exudes tradition and authenticity and is, without a doubt, a magnificent opportunity to find unique products and enjoy local cuisine, in addition to participating in various activities.

This initiative aims to develop and promote the city's culture, leisure, and commerce, as well as potentially attracting tourism. The Federation of Commerce and Services of the Medieval Quarter promoted this initiative with the aim of creating a meeting place for residents.

The Almendra Market offers activities designed for family tourism and people of all ages. Children can enjoy entertainment, games, workshops, and crafts in the Plaza de la Burullería from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Adults can enjoy a variety of routes, such as the shopping route, the barrel route, and the gastronomic route. In addition, attendees have the chance to enter a raffle for a product, which varies each month, offered by one of the market's merchants.

As a curious fact, the name "Almond Market" traditionally comes from the set of streets that make up the layout of the historic center and form the shape of an almond. This layout was designated a Monumental Complex in 1997.