Discover Hereña: Bayas, Churches and Mills

Landscape along the Bayas

Hereña lies in a hollow between two mountains on the left bank of the Bayas River. The built-up area of Hereña lies on alluvial soil deposited by the Bayas River. The terrain around Hereña consists of sandy limestone, marl and red sandstone. Ochre-colored marl and sandstone also occur south of the village. The bridge of Hereña marks the entrance to the narrow passage. This narrow passage connects the areas on both banks of the river. The riverbanks, bridge and narrow passage are therefore among the defining geographical reference points of the village. The different rock colors and landforms describe the landscape around Hereña through several natural facets.

Culture

The Church of San Miguel in Hereña features a striking pre-Romanesque window. A low square tower stands on its north side. The side altars of the Church of San Miguel are dedicated to the Dolorosa and Our Lady of the Rosary. The former Chapel of San Bartolomé no longer has a religious character. Its eastern wall preserves a window with Romanesque features.

The village landscape thus brings together architectural elements from different periods and with different functions: in San Miguel, the pre-Romanesque window and the low square tower define the church, while the former chapel has retained its Romanesque-style window despite its present-day secular character.

The mill of Hereña stands beside the path next to the watercourse. The mill has now been restored. The baptismal font of Hereña rests on a column. Six small columns are attached to this column. The baptismal font is classified as High Romanesque. According to some authors, including G. López de Guereñu, the baptismal font of Hereña came from another church. This church was located in Hereñuela.

The baptismal font combines its distinctive form, its classification as High Romanesque and its traditionally reported origin in Hereñuela. The mill complements this historical connection with the village through a restored structure beside the watercourse.

History

In the Middle Ages, Hereña lay in a narrow passage between the territories of Kuartango and Ribera Baja. This location made the village desirable to influential families. They wanted to build a defensive tower there in order to control the movement of people and goods.

Routes and Festivities

From Hereña, you can reach the 737-meter-high Montemayor. The Senda de los Molinos begins at the Molino de Hereña and leads to the Molino de Mimbredo. Hereña lies near the Camino de Rudopio. This route leads to the meadows of the Castro de Carasta.

The Castro de Carasta is located in the vicinity of Hereña. It preserves defensive structures from a cultural sequence spanning the Iron Age, Romanization and the Middle Ages. Hereña celebrates its patronal feast on the last weekend of August.

The routes and destinations mentioned thus extend from the 737-meter-high Montemayor to the connection between two mills and the meadows of the Castro de Carasta. There, the routes meet an area whose defensive structures preserve several historical stages of development. The patronal feast marks an annual cultural event on the last weekend of August.

Other Places

Find more places here: Lalastra, Lapuebla Labarka, El Campillar, Gorbeia Inguruak, Arkaia, Pobes, Ibarguren and Corro.

Getting There

From Vitoria-Gasteiz, Hereña can be reached via the exit to Nanclares from the N-I. The route continues on the A-2622 to the junction at Anúcita. It then follows the A-4343 to Mimbredo.

To the main travel overview: Alava.