Discover Elburgo/Burgelu

Elburgo/Burgelu is a stopping place for pilgrims on the Álava Alternative of the Camino de Santiago, who arrive from Gipuzkoa through the San Adrian Tunnel. Other routes, paths between the villages and buildings from different periods give this destination a variety of character. Those interested in the history of pilgrimage will find connections both to present-day routes and to historical traces in the landscape and architecture.

Pilgrim routes and paths around the municipality

The GR-10 is one of several routes in the municipality of Elburgo/Burgelu. The GR-25 runs through its southern part and connects the Llanada Alavesa. In addition, rural paths connect the various villages; some stretches pass through areas of natural and cultural interest. The Ruta de las 3 ermitas combines walking and cultural heritage. These paths and routes offer different points of connection, although they do not all follow the same course.

Geocaching is also possible in the municipality, with numerous caches at various locations. In addition, 25 crosses are scattered across the municipality.

The connection with pilgrimage goes back further than the name of today’s route. Elburgo lay on the ancient Roman road Ab Asturica Burdigalam, which connected Bordeaux with Astorga. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims on their way to Compostela used part of its course through Álava, which was known as the Calzada de los romanos. The ancient road and the Álava Alternative of the Camino thus represent different historical and present-day connections to pilgrimage.

Churches and architecture

The Ermita de San Juan de Arrarain dates from the 12th century. Its semicircular Romanesque ashlar apse is the last surviving trace of the former high-medieval village of Arrarain. San Juan de Arrarain is also one of the four hermitages named by the municipality and is located in Elburgo. The apse, the semicircular end of the church, can also be seen here as a distinctive architectural feature.

Gazeta is home to the 13th-century Iglesia de San Martín de Tours. Romanesque features and elements from the transition to Gothic define the church. Its Late Romanesque portal has a pointed arch and five archivolts decorated with plant, geometric and anthropomorphic motifs. Archivolts are the stepped bands of stone that frame an arch; their varied motifs give the entrance an intricate design.

In Elburgo, the Iglesia de San Pedro replaced an earlier Romanesque church. It has an elongated hall plan with tierceron vaults and stands at the highest point of the small rise on which the village centre sits above a plain. The church’s location and design thus offer two different perspectives on the village: its topographic position and the shape of its interior.

Argómaniz and Añua also add to the picture of the churches and historic buildings. The parish church of San Andrés in Argómaniz dates from the 16th century and has a Latin cross plan. Its main altar is a 17th-century Baroque work with rich plant decoration. The Palacio de los Larrea in Argómaniz features a Renaissance façade bearing the Larrea family coat of arms.

In Añua stands the Iglesia de la Natividad de Nuestra Señora, a 13th-century church with medieval features and a Romanesque style. Its apse is considered one of the richest examples of medieval art in the Llanada Alavesa. This regional comparison concerns the apse and complements the architectural details of the churches in Elburgo, Gazeta and Argómaniz.

Historical traces

Outside Elburgo’s fortified area stands the 16th-century Picota. It was used to carry out sentences and is associated with Elburgo’s former civil and criminal jurisdiction in the surrounding area. Elburgo was first mentioned in a written document in the 11th century, when the place appeared as Burgello. Together with the historic Roman road, the name shows how Elburgo’s recorded connections span different periods.

Discover more destinations: Argómaniz, Maestu, Lalastra, Villanañe, Alaiza, Bernedo, Gopegi, Elciego.

For the broader travel overview: Álava.