5 Essentials: what to see and do in Ezcaray in 1 day (La Rioja)

If there was a town that you always wanted to visit in The Rioja, that is Ezcaray.

I already knew it was a nice village with a long history, a very tourist destination in summer, and also the gateway to go up to the Valdezcaray ski resort, In the Saw of Demand.

I had gone several times to Haro, a town that is located just 40 kilometers from Ezcaray, and also visited Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and I finally had the chance to visit Ezcaray at two different times of the year.

On the one hand, in summer, with the possibility of enjoying nature activities, and more recently, in winter as a complement to a ski day in Valdezcaray.

And the first conclusion is that Ezcaray is that kind of charming town, all very careful, which is easy to see in European countries such as, for example, Great Britain, France or Germany.

Located in full Oja River Valley, surrounded by green landscapes, with an altitude of 1.100 meters, and at the foot of the Saw of Demand, Ezcaray It is not a large town, but it will catch your eye because of its beautiful and surprising typical mountain architecture.

Indeed, on your walk through the historic center of Ezcaray You can even have the feeling of being in a Basque town.

And that is even more accentuated when you know that Ezcaray It is, especially in summer, a common destination for visitors from the the Basque Country and, specifically, of Biscay.

Curiosities history of Ezcaray in La Rioja

This has a historical explanation, since it seems that during the 10th and 11th centuries the first settlers who arrived in this valley were people from Basque culture from Navarre, so that in the Middle Ages en Ezcaray was spoken Basque.

An example of this are the various villages with Basque place names that you currently find in the surroundings of Ezcaray.

Highlight moment of the Ezcaray history was when in 1312 a Royal Court to the entire valley with the aim of repopulating it.

A curious aspect of this Royal Court was that to facilitate this repopulation, those who had previously been criminals in their place of origin were exempted from prison or death sentences.

Now, perhaps the most important moment in its history has been the founding in 1749 of the Royal Factory of Santa Barbara dedicated to cloth production.

Its importance is the fact that up to 1.000 people worked there in a town that never exceeded 3.000 inhabitants.

The king himself Carlos III was a shareholder in this factory, and the strength that it represented for Ezcaray It led to the construction of several stately homes that you can now see during your walk.

Finally, in 1910 the royal factory It became property of the municipality, and currently, after a recent restoration, there is a hostel in said building and it has also become the headquarters of the Ezcaray City Council.

As a curiosity, when textile production ended during the French occupation, in Ezcaray wood began to be worked, and during the last century this Rioja town has become the main place where seats for cinemas and theaters are manufactured Spain.

What to see and do on the Ezcaray tourism visit

Tu Ezcaray tourism visit The main interest is a walk through the historic center of this beautiful town, and as its central axis, the Vegetable Square and the nearby Kiosk Square.

Of course, as you arrive at the town from Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the first thing you should pay attention to is the great former royal factory building, and when you arrive at the center you will be surprised by the building of the parish of Santa María la Mayor.

During your walk through the town you will enjoy the beautiful architecture with half-timbered facades in many of its buildings, very flowery in summer, and its street with arcades, as well as some manor houses.

Ring of the Fuero in Ezcaray

In the aforementioned Vegetable Square You will see one of the main half-timbered and porticoed houses that you will find in Ezcaray, which in the past was the headquarters of the historic town hall, and which now houses the Tourist Office.

You will recognize it by the so-called Ring of the Fuero, which is attached to one of the columns of the arcades, and on which a legend which connects with the aforementioned Royal Court.

Legend says that if an evildoer touched the ring, for a time he could not be pursued by the Justice.

It seems that the truth is that it is a simple ring that was used to tie the horse of someone who was going to the town hall.

Palace of Archbishop Barroeta in Ezcaray

Among the latests Moravia's compositions manor houses what can you see in Ezcaray, highlights the palace of Archbishop Barroeta, from 1766, located next to the aforementioned Kiosk Square, which had two designated residents.

On the one hand, whoever was Archbishop of Lima in the mid-18th century, which gives its name to the palace, and on the other, a wealthy family from the textile industry of Ezcaray that exported to South America.

And also highlights the angel palace, from 1753, which you find in front of the church of Santa María la Mayor.

Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ezcaray

This building was built in several stages, between the 12th and 16th centuries, and architecturally it draws a lot of attention due to a structure that resembles a medieval fortress.

Come on, looking at its main façade from the outside it doesn't look like a church.

The set is part of a 10th century tower, prior to romanesque church, which had an extension in the 13th century in Gothic style, and another later in the 16th century in Renaissance style.

Inside its single nave you can see capitals and a baptismal font of romantic style, but especially the main altarpiece in walnut wood from the 16th century Gothic style.

Also a gothic virgin from the 16th century, and above the side entrance door, a matachin, that is, a baroque automaton clock from the 17th century that still works.

Ezcaray blanket factory

The historic factory has also remained in Ezcaray la tradition of selling blankets, which seems to match the tourism that this town receives in the winter season attracted by the nearby ski resort.

This way you can visit the Ezcaray blanket factory store, a family business founded in 1930, in which the artisanal way of production is followed.

In addition to being able to buy blankets with a unique color, in the store you can see the carders with which they were traditionally made, a process that is maintained today, in addition to continuing to use the moher from South African wool.

Where and what to eat in Ezcaray

Finally, I recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to eat in Ezcaray, where there are several establishments with good cuisine.

In this regard, did you know that in Ezcaray there restaurant with two Michelin stars? Is about The Echaurren Portal, your option if you are looking for creative gastronomy.

And as an alternative I suggest Home Masip, in its triple version of rural hotel, restaurant y tapas bar with terrace, one of the most popular and recommended.

Here are tips on what to eat and where in Ezcaray and surroundings.

Valgañón and Zaldierna, charming villages near Ezcaray

One last and important recommendation.

On a vacation stay in Ezcaray or on a getaway to this mountain town, it is worth visiting some of the villages that are within the municipality and very close to the town.

For example, Valgañón, with its stone houses, its nearby church of Our Lady of the Three Fountains, from the 13th century.

En Valgañón You have a very good accommodation option in the Hotel Pura Vida, a corner with great charm due to its very careful decoration.

For its part, Zaldierna It is a village where we recommend you go to eat at Zaldierna rural house restaurant, one of the best gastronomic options in the area, and where you can walk through its streets with stone houses where “it smells like firewood.”

And it's worth it too go up to the Hermitage of Santa Bárbara, from where you have spectacular panoramic views of Ezcaray and its valley.

Map: how to get to Ezcaray in La Rioja

Ezcaray is in The Rioja, south of Haro and close to notable places such as Santo Domingo de la Calzada, San Millán de la Cogolla or the Valdezcaray ski resort

Photos of Ezcaray

Here you have more photos of Ezcaray and its surroundings in La Rioja.