Discover Valgañón: Nature, Trails and Romanesque Churches

Valgañón is home to the Laguna de la Dehesa, a natural mountain wetland included in the Spanish Wetlands Inventory. Eight amphibian species and ten dragonfly species reproduce there. A 600-metre-long footpath through the Dehesa leads to a point opposite the Laguna de la Dehesa. You can consider nature, exercise, architecture and festival traditions as separate focuses for your holiday days.

Nature

The Acebal de Valgañón covers approximately 10 hectares; some holly trees reach more than 10 metres in height. The area bears the designation VS-50-ENP as an area of special vegetation. The holly trees provide refuge and a source of food for numerous species.

The Acebal de Valgañón can be explored in all directions; the recommended route leads west. The freedom to walk anywhere and the designated route can be considered different points of orientation when planning your own day.

Hiking and Cycling

A circular hiking route called Ruta Circular del Acebal de Valgañón is signposted in Valgañón. Mountain-bike routes lead through the Hayedos de Zamaqueria to Alto de Pradilla and onwards through the Dehesa. The circular hike and the mountain-bike routes represent different forms of activity that you can consider separately when planning your day.

Valgañón hosts the cycling event Travesía Valdeminochi, which counts towards the OPEN XCM classification.

Culture

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Tres Fuentes, the former parish church of Valgañón, now stands on the outskirts of the village. The Church of Nuestra Señora de Tres Fuentes was consecrated on 7 November 1224.

The Church of Santa María de Tres Fuentes has a 13th-century apse and portal. Its Romanesque features include windows with lobed arches and wrought-iron fittings on the door.

The tympanum of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Tres Fuentes depicts an unusual Annunciation group with the Virgin Mary in the centre, flanked by the archangels Gabriel and Michael. The church has one of the few Romanesque sculpted tympana in La Rioja.

The Ermita de San Andrés was built in the 18th century as a subsidiary church to the parish church.

Traditions

The celebration of San Isidro Labrador on 15 May includes a pilgrimage to the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Tresfuentes. As part of the festivities, La Patatada takes place on Mondays as a public dinner in the village square; up to 1,500 portions of patatas a la riojana are served.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Valgañón, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the offer pages. For your planning, nature, hiking, cycling, churches and festival traditions can be weighted as different focuses.

Other Places

Other places in the same selection: Santurde De Rioja, Sajazarra, Logroño, Aldeanueva de Cameros, Munilla, San Román De Cameros, Igea, Baños de Río Tobía

For the higher-level travel overview: La Rioja.