Alavaturismo - Date un Respiro en Álava - arabaturismo

The Alava Mountains not only boast spectacular natural landscapes and a unique mining heritage, but also a valuable architectural heritage that stands among mountains and paths, bearing witness to centuries of history. Churches, walls, palaces, and popular symbols make up a legacy that deserves to be admired.

Churches with character and memory

Each village in the Alava Mountains has its own church reflecting its history, traditions, and community. In Maeztu, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands at the top of the town center. Of medieval origin, although renovated several times over the centuries, it houses Baroque elements inside. Another very representative feature of this church is its famous flycatcher, which moves its arm when the hours strike.

In Korres, the 16th-century parish church dedicated to San Esteban crowns the village. Its portico was built in 1712. The façade is Renaissance in style and has a semicircular arch with moldings. Despite its simple exterior, the building surprises visitors with the richness of its altarpieces and decorative details inside.

Antoñana, with its wall, has the church of San Vicente Mártir. It is one of the most outstanding buildings in the area. With a Latin cross plan and an octagonal apse, it is impressive for its ten pilasters decorated with garlands and the vaults covering the four sections. Its interior portico, dating from the late 18th century, has five semicircular arches in ashlar stone, while the south door is in the neoclassical style. The slender square tower is also in this style, with Tuscan columns, flame-shaped decorations, and an elegant ovoid dome. The Rococo altarpiece is the work of Manuel de Moraza and is presided over by a carving of Saint Vincent Martyr, accompanied by Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and a Calvary crowned by the Holy Spirit. Also noteworthy is the seated image of Our Lady of the Field, from the 12th century, and several side altars dedicated to saints and virgins, as well as two valuable Baroque canvases attributed to Cornelio Schut.

And finally, in Atauri, the church of La Asunción de Nuestra Señora combines medieval and Renaissance elements. Its rectangular base preserves a 13th-century doorway with a pointed arch and a nave with 16th-century elements such as the apse and vaults decorated with religious symbols. Inside, there is a 17th-century walnut altarpiece, donated by the residents, presided over by a Baroque image of the Assumption and flanked by carvings of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Lucy, and Saint Sebastian.

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 😉