Cirueña: Way of Saint James, Oak Landscapes and History

The Way of Saint James continues through Cirueña towards Santo Domingo de la Calzada. In Cirueña, pilgrimage traditions, sacred history and oak landscapes come together.

For more pages about localities, you can also visit Peciña, Arnedo, Ojacastro, Azofra, Baños de Río Tobía, Castroviejo, Bobadilla and Alfaro.

Culture and History

The present-day parish church of San Andrés was built in 1965 on the foundations of a pre-Romanesque temple dating from the 10th century. The presbytery contains a Baroque altarpiece from the first half of the 17th century. The Ermita de la Virgen de los Remedios is a recently rebuilt building made of rubble masonry, with a single-nave layout consisting of four bays and a rectangular chancel.

The history of Cirueña includes the collective agricultural agreement granted on 30 November 972, considered the oldest of its kind in La Rioja. Its historical range therefore extends from a pre-Romanesque temple and a Baroque altarpiece to an agreement from the early Middle Ages.

Festivals and Pilgrimages

On the first weekend of September, Cirueña celebrates the festival of the Virgen de los Remedios and Día de Gracias. The programme includes a sung Mass, a procession, games for children and adults, communal meals and dancing.

On the third weekend of June, a pilgrimage takes place from Cirueña to the Monasterio de Valvanera, with a large part of the population taking part. The two dates represent different cultural highlights throughout the year.

Landscape

The Dehesa de Cirueña is characterised by well-developed oak trees within the landscape of the Way of Saint James. In the Barranco de Valdián, there is a dense oak forest, along with tables and wooden benches for a peaceful rest and meal.

Cerro Plaza offers pilgrims on the Way of Saint James a jet fountain for cooling their feet and ergonomic benches overlooking the grain fields and oak landscape. The contrasting landscapes thus range from open agricultural areas to dense oak woodland.

When searching for a holiday apartment in Cirueña, compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the offer pages. This information helps you match the accommodation you want to your own dates and planned travel arrangements.

Activities

The Variante de Cirueña is a 5.7-kilometre linear route. The Rioja Alta Golf Club in Cirueña has an 18-hole, par-72 course and an RFEG-approved pitch-and-putt course.

A linear route and two different golf formats can be considered separately when planning your trip. The route length and course classification make the respective types of activity directly comparable.

Transport Connections

Cirueña is connected to Santo Domingo de la Calzada via the LR-204. Via the LR-236, the town is connected to the N-120 national road between Logroño and Burgos.

For the overarching travel overview: La Rioja.