Discover Araia: Hiking Trails, Culture and Holiday Apartment

The SL A14 circular route begins in the Intuxi district of Araia, near the San Pedro hydroelectric plant. The walking route to the source of the Zirauntza River passes through the river floodplain and lush scenery with beech and oak trees, pools and waterfalls. The watercourse, floodplain and woodland shape the individual sections of this trail.

Hiking

The SL A13 circular route leads to Castillo de Marutegi, also known as Morutegi. The trail climbs to the summit of San Miguel, which offers views over the Llanada Alavesa. While the SL A14 leads to the Zirauntza spring, the SL A13 combines the ascent with a historic destination and views across the Llanada Alavesa.

Culture and History

The Ajuria factory operated from 1848 until it closed in 1985. The factory housed the first electric induction furnace in the entire country and one of the first blast furnaces in the Basque Country. The factory's history is therefore linked both to a clearly defined period and to two notable technical installations.

The current building of the Iglesia de San Pedro was constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries. The Ermita de Andra Mari in Araia is an 18th-century Baroque chapel, while the Palacio de los Ajuria survives as a 19th-century historicist palace. The three buildings thus represent different periods and architectural forms within the history of the town.

The Frontón de Iturbero in Araia was built in 1876 and is considered one of the oldest in the province of Álava. Carved crosses of Saint James at the Ermita de Andra Mari recall that it was almost certainly a stopping place on the Camino de Santiago route leading to Álava through the San Adrián Tunnel.

The Museo del Mitxarro brings together themes and heritage values from the municipality of Asparrena. These include energy, the ecology of a beech forest, karst, archaeological remains, architecture and transport routes. Araia's foundry, cheese production, and the customs and ways of life of the local population are also among the themes connected there. The Aspárrena Nature Interpretation Centre and the Renewable Energy Centre are located within the San Pedro de Araia hydroelectric plant. Thus, alongside buildings and industrial history, the cultural sphere also encompasses nature, technology and regional ways of life.

Regional Products

At Caserío Aixtra, 01250 Araia, Álava, AIXTRA S.C. is listed as a cheese producer with the protected designation of origin D.O. Idiazabal. The address directly associates the named producer with Araia and complements the historical and landscape-related themes with a regional product reference.

Further places for planning your trip: Pinedo, Urizaharra, Molinilla, Bilar, Páganos, Lezama, Apodaka and Navaridas.

Connections

Araia is served by Line 5, which connects Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alegria/Dulantzi and Araia. Lines 9A and 9B connect Araia with Agurain/Salvatierra. Line 9A runs via Gordoa, while Line 9B runs via Durruma/San Román. Thus, in addition to Araia, the places and connecting lines mentioned are also part of the public transport information.

For the overarching travel overview: Alava.