It runs through the town and connects the history of its route with opportunities for walking and cycling.

Church architecture and sculpture

The Parroquia de la Virgen de la Natividad was built mainly in the 16th century. Its ashlar construction has a single nave divided into three sections and a rectangular apse. This clear description of the building’s form can be complemented by a specific work of art: the late Gothic Hispano-Flemish Virgen de la Silla is in the presbytery and dates from the late 15th century. The artwork and the church therefore reflect different periods: the sculpture dates from the late 15th century, while the church was built mainly in the following century.

Architecture is also a feature beyond the parish church. Old ashlar manor houses with coats of arms and elaborately decorated eaves have been preserved on Calle Mayor. At Calle Mayor 15, you can see the manor house and the coat of arms of the Ruiz de Zelada family; the date 1724 appears on the coat of arms. Another religious building is the Ermita de San Miguel in the cemetery. It is built of masonry, has ashlar stone at the corners and a two-part pitched roof. The town thus brings together a variety of architectural details: the parish church’s nave and apse, the manor houses’ decorated eaves and the hermitage’s distinctive roof.

Mayo tradition and patron saint’s festival

The Mayo is still erected today. One of the tallest poplar trees in the municipal poplar groves is selected, felled and stripped of its bark, then raised upright. In local tradition, the erected Mayo serves as a landmark for pilgrims on the Way of St James.

The patron saint’s festival in honour of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a separate celebration: Castañares de Rioja celebrates it on 8 September. The exact programme may vary. If you plan to time your trip to coincide with this annual date, check the specific event dates in advance. The Mayo custom and the patron saint’s festival thus offer two distinct cultural points of reference for planning your trip.

The Vía Verde del Oja

The Camino Natural Vía Verde del Oja passes through Castañares de Rioja. For most of its length, it follows the former narrow-gauge railway line between Haro and Ezcaray. The Vía Verde del Oja route runs from Santo Domingo de la Calzada through Bañares and Castañares de Rioja to Casalarreina. The order of these places helps explain the route; it is not a fixed day itinerary.

The route is suitable for walkers, cyclists and people with reduced mobility. Nevertheless, check local conditions and accessibility before your trip. This will help you adapt your planned outing to conditions on the ground. The route combines a distinctive historical feature—the use of the former railway line for much of its length—with several ways to experience it. Which option suits your stay depends on whether you are walking, cycling or travelling with reduced mobility.

Getting there and spending time outdoors

Castañares de Rioja has three road connections: a northern entrance from the direction of Haro, an eastern entrance leading directly to the park and town centre, and a southern entrance with connections to Villalobar de Rioja and Bañares. These three directions provide practical guidance for getting there. As road layouts and conditions can change, check access before your trip.

There are extensive parks and green spaces where you can spend time outdoors. They offer another way to shape your stay, alongside the town’s cultural and scenic attractions. This gives you a choice of different themes when planning your trip: historic architectural styles in the town, the Mayo tradition, the Vía Verde or green spaces for time outdoors. You can decide which ones to combine based on your interests and the specific conditions of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Badarán, Laguna De Cameros, San Vicente De La Sonsierra, Navalsaz, Villalba De Rioja, Igea, Ventosa, Lumbreras

For the main travel overview: La Rioja.