Bike tour through La Rioja

Your bike tour through La Rioja starts in Burgos. Explore the medieval city center after your arrival at the hotel. Especially the Catedral de Burgos will catch your attention. The noble cathedral belongs to the most extreme churches of Spain. In the middle of the church is the grave of the Spanish national hero El Cid. Make a walk along the Rio Arlanzón in the evening and up to the ruins of the Castillo de Burgos, a castle complex that was built in the 9th century.

After you got your bikes, the journey starts. Out of the city, you follow the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, for a few kilometers. Then it goes uphill to the direction of the mountain range of the Sierra de la Demanda. Follow an old train street away from the traffic, that is accompanied by oak and beech forests. With the mountain village Pineda de la Sierra, you reach today’s destination. Very worth seeing is the church San Esteban. It belongs to the most outstanding Roman churches in the north of Spain.

The second stage of your bike tour leads you into the region La Rioja. You cycle on small land roads, that lead you along the Rio Najerilla and the Mansilla artificial lake to the charming mountain village Viniegra de Abajo. The isolated village was presumably founded in the antiquity. After your arrival, make a walk and discover numerous palatial buildings, that, in contrast to the simpler old buildings of the former local cattle breeder found their place along the main road.

Along the Rio Ventrosa and the Rio Najerilla, you cycle on your bike tour through La Rioja to San Millán de la Cogolla, that is popular for its monastery complex. It consists in two monasteries, the San Millán de Yuso and the San Millán de Suso. Both are dedicated to the Holy Millán, who died more than 1500 years ago and is a popular place of pilgrimage. Besides numerous architectonic particularities, the town has a big historic meaning, as it hosts the first writings written in Spanish.

Along gentle hills, you cycle to the valley of the Ebro today. It is popular for the cultivation of the famous Rioja grapes. Make a stop in Briones and visit the museum for wine culture. Back on your bike, you can see from afar the church Santa Maria la Mayor above today’s destination San Vincente. It is part of a building complex, whose origins go back to the 12th century. Visit the former defensive complex and enjoy the impressive view to the surroundings.

Today, you make a trip to the surroundings of San Vincente de la Sonsierra on your bike tour through La Rioja. Not far from the river Ebro, you cycle, including a few uphill climbs, to the historic Haro. The city is the capital city of the wine growing area Rioja Alta. The long wine growing culture had its origins already in the time of the Romans. Try the excellent and award-winning red wines in the wineries and visit many wine cellars. Energetically, you cycle back to San Vincente de la Sonsierra.

Today, you get to know the south of the Basque Country and the wine region Rioja Alavesa. First, you cycle to the medieval town Laguardia. Surrounded by a city wall, the city center is on a hill in a region, that is characterized by grapevines. Visit the church Santa Maria and the picturesque old town, before you go back on your bike. Arrived at Elciego, a detour to the avant-garde hotel Margués de Riscal is worthwhile. It hosts a winery and originates from a draft of the famous architect Frank Gehry.

Your bike tour through La Rioja already ends after breakfast. With pleasure we extend your stay in Llanes or Bilbao for an additional night.