Discover Ausejo: Churches, Festivals and Wine Country

Ausejo can be explored through several themes: architecture, visible traces of the past, a cultural landscape that changes throughout the year, and local traditions stand side by side. The town offers you different ways to engage with history, pilgrimage, the landscape and local daily life. Fixed dates and changing landscapes provide different points in time for planning your trip.

Culture

The Iglesia parroquial de Santa María dates from the 16th century. After suffering damage in the earthquake of 18 March 1817, it was rebuilt around 1840; it preserves Baroque, Neoclassical and Romanesque Revival works from the 17th and 18th centuries. This provides different historical points of reference for visitors: the parish church combines the history of reconstruction with several architectural styles, the Ermita Virgen de la Antigua a Baroque building with a Gothic image, while the Ermita del Crucifijo adds another architectural accent through its original construction.

Two kilometres from the town centre stands the Ermita Virgen de la Antigua, a Baroque building from the 17th century. Its venerated image is a Gothic sculpture from the 14th century. The Ermita del Crucifijo was originally a cross-shaped structure from the 16th century with four buttresses and a star-ribbed vault supported by round arches.

History

On the hill where Ausejo extends, two round towers and some sections of wall from the Castillo de Ausejo are visible. Stone from the Castillo de Ausejo was used to repair the parish church after the earthquake of 18 March 1817. The hill of Ausejo also contains an extensive system of traditional wine cellars and caves; these were once inhabited.

Landscape

Ausejo’s cultural landscape changes throughout the year. In late winter, the almond trees blossom and the cereal fields are green; in spring, colourful gardens and orchards appear. In summer, golden cereal fields emerge, while in autumn there are ochre poplars and green and reddish vineyards.

For planning purposes, the seasonal landscapes and the two festival dates can be considered as different points in time alongside one another.

Festivals and Routes

On 3 May, Ausejo holds a pilgrimage to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Antigua, during which the fields are blessed. On 24 June, Ausejo celebrates the San Juan festival in the Parramera district with traditional bonfires. The Camino Jacobeo del Ebro runs through the municipality of Ausejo.

When booking a holiday apartment in Ausejo, you can consider travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions as different points of comparison.

Other places in the destination area: Clavijo, Pradillo, Haro, Cenicero, San Millán De La Cogolla, Castañares De Rioja, Zorraquín, Fuenmayor.

Local Life

A market takes place every Wednesday morning in Ausejo’s village square; the stalls offer fresh food, household goods and clothing. Some of the grape harvest from Ausejo is marketed through the local San Miguel cooperative winery.

For the broader travel overview: La Rioja.