The trails along the Oja give a stay in Casalarreina a clear setting; the chapel, monastery and church offer various historical points of interest. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the routes: one follows a former railway line and is 26 kilometres long, while another covers 12 kilometres via Cihuri and Anguciana to Haro. The Rioja Alta Wine Route adds another theme to explore.

Trails along the Oja and different routes

The Vía Verde del Oja runs for 26 kilometres along a former railway line. It is not circular and is suitable for bicycles. When planning, therefore, take the route into account rather than assuming it is a loop. Local conditions and access may change; check the conditions before setting out.

On the stretch between Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Casalarreina, the Vía Verde passes through an extensive floodplain with intensively cultivated fields. Remnants of natural pastureland scrub can also be found along the Oja. Thus, cultivated land and riverside vegetation are among the landscape features described along this stretch. A path along the Oja connects Santo Domingo de la Calzada with Casalarreina.

The Ruta Verde del Oja-Tirón runs from Casalarreina via Cihuri and Anguciana to Haro; it is 12 kilometres long. The named stops give this route a different orientation from the 26-kilometre former railway line of the Vía Verde. Which description is more useful for your choice depends on whether you want to focus on the connection between towns or the former railway line.

Landscape and viewpoint

The Mirador de Zaballa has an accessible, fenced viewing area with seating and an information panel. The seating provides a place to linger; the panel is also part of the area's facilities. If you plan to visit the viewpoint, check the condition of the facilities on site.

Chapel, monastery and church

The Chapel of San Román de Ajuarte is a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century and the last surviving trace of the former settlement of Ajuarte. It therefore links a precisely dated building with the history of an earlier settlement. If you wish to visit the chapel specifically, check access in advance.

The Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad was built between 1514 and 1524. The Church of San Martín is designed in the Rococo style: it was designed by Fernando González de Lara and built by Tomás Díez de Mata in 1789. Together, the monastery's construction period and the church's year of construction provide two specific reference points for local history, in the early 16th and late 18th centuries.

Wine connections and festival traditions

Casalarreina is part of the Rioja Alta Wine Route and is one of the municipalities within the Rioja protected designation of origin. If wine is one of your travel interests, this affiliation gives the town a specific thematic context, complementing its trails and historic buildings.

Festivals in Casalarreina feature tastings of characteristic local products such as chorizo, sardines and veal, as well as a craft market. The traditions of the Fiesta de San Juan include a pilgrimage, a wine battle and an outdoor meal near the Fuente de Pobes. If you want to plan a trip around a festival, check the dates and programme in advance.

Discover more destinations: Ezcaray, Igea, Alesón, Navarrete, Ventosa, Castañares De Rioja, Arrúbal, Hornos de Moncalvillo.

For the main travel overview: La Rioja.