Alavaturismo - Date un Respiro en Álava - 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 😉

In the peaceful natural surroundings of Atauri, next to the Izki Natural Park, lies a gem of the Basque industrial heritage: Lucia Mine. A key site in the development of the region, it has now been restored for guided tours, becoming a showcase for local history and culture.

An environment that speaks for itself

The Lucía Mine is located in a beautiful setting, among oak groves, rural paths and remnants of its mining past. It is part of the Route of the Natural Asphalt Mining Landscapes, a 39-kilometre trail that connects different key points of the industrial heritage of the Alavese Mountain: old train stations, factories, mining villages, tunnels and interpretation centres. 

The town from which you access the mine, Atauri, also has other points of interest, such as its railway viaduct, parish church, the Basque-Navarre tunnel, the La Soledad chapel and other spots full of history and rural charm.

An underground past

Lucia Mine began operating in 1872, during the boom in natural asphalt mining in the Alavese Mountain. Its main gallery is 300 metres long and for decades it was one of the most active mines in the area. The asphalt extracted here was used throughout the Basque Country, other parts of Spain and even other European countries to pave streets, waterproof structures and for other industrial uses.

This type of asphalt, which emanates naturally from the walls, is very unusual, which is why the Lucía Mine has become such a unique place: it is one of only two natural asphalt mines open to visitors in all of Europe.

A present for dissemination

After years of neglect, the mine has been restored as an interpretive and visitor space, with an intervention that has respected its authenticity and natural environment. Since 2023, visitors can take a guided tour through the gallery, entering a cool, quiet space full of history.

During the tour, visitors will discover what the miners' work was like and the geological and social context of this activity in the region. Soft lighting and original materials also provide an immersive and respectful experience.

A mine that keeps beating

Lucia Mine not only preserves galleries, tools and materials, but also a collective story: this of those who worked underground and shaped the landscape that now speaks to us with its own voice. Visiting it means gaining a better understanding of the history of this land and reconnecting with a past that, far from disappearing, continues to beat in the heart of the Alavese Mountain.

Want to discover it?

Tips for your visit

🔸 Guided tours: it is essential to book in advance, as access is regulated and always accompanied by a guide.

🔸 Equipment: comfortable footwear, warm clothing (the temperature inside the mine is quite low) and a desire to learn are recommended.

🔸 Duration: the guided tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

🔸 Great for families: this activity is suitable for all ages and is especially interesting for schoolchildren and geology enthusiasts.

🔸 Natural surroundings: combine your visit with a walk along the Basque-Navarre Greenway or a stop at the nearby Izki Natural Park.

More info

Guided tour hours at Lucia Mine in 2025:

Every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00, 11:15 and 12:30

Reservations: 639 310 779

If you have a group outside these time slots, please enquire about availability

Small groups of 10-13 people

Visits in English, French, Basque and German - please enquire in advance

Meeting point: Atauri car park (next to the fountain)