Lukiano: La Encontrada, Baias and San Juan

Lukiano offers cultural, historical and natural points of interest, including the La Encontrada ironworks, the parish church of San Juan Bautista and the La Encontrada Trail. The oak forest area of the Zuia Valley also extends into Lukiano. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: local history and architecture, walks or the wildlife of the forest landscape.

Landscape and trails around Lukiano

The oak forest area provides a habitat for numerous woodland birds as well as small amphibians and reptiles. Nature enthusiasts will find a specific aspect of the landscape here: wildlife is one of the area's highlights, alongside its forests. The Baias enters the municipality of Urkabustaiz at Lukiano, providing another geographical point of reference for the village.

Rural tracks connect Lukiano with Aperregi, Domaikia and Jugo. They invite you to take a walk and enjoy the rural scenery. In terms of choosing what to do, these tracks offer walks and scenic views, while the La Encontrada Trail stands out for its bridges and historical connections.

The La Encontrada Trail

The trail begins in the centre of Lukiano, next to the parish church and the village bowling alley. Its starting point is therefore marked by two named features of the village. One of the trail's notable stops is a narrow suspension bridge over the Baias. The trail also offers views of Gorbea.

The trail leads to a medieval bridge, beside which the La Encontrada Tower once stood. The route brings together a river crossing, scenic views and a historic site. The former La Encontrada Tower is the setting for the legend of “La Encontrada”, which Manuel Díaz de Arcaya immortalised in 1895. The La Encontrada ironworks is also located in Lukiano and is another local point of interest. La Encontrada has two distinct associations: the former tower as the setting for the legend, and the ironworks in Lukiano.

Church, heritage and Midsummer

The parish church of San Juan Bautista has a pointed-arch portal. The vault paintings in the Church of San Juan are considered a notable part of the local cultural heritage. The portal and paintings offer different points of interest: one is an architectural feature, while the others are an artistic feature of the church vault.

Local celebrations take place around the summer solstice on 24 June, St John's Day. A municipal notice about the 2025 festivities lists a traditional St John's bonfire on 23 June and a Mass in honour of the patron saint on 24 June. If you would like to plan your trip around the celebrations, check the dates and programme in advance.

Discover more destinations: Molinilla, Campezo / Kanpezu, Hueto Arriba, Rivabellosa, Pobes, Samaniego, Castillo-Sopeña, Aprikano.

For the broader travel overview: Alava.