Menagaray: Churches, Manor Houses and Trails at Peregaña

Menagaray brings together churches and chapels, manor house architecture and routes at Peregaña. Highlights for your stay include both the town’s architectural history and a specific circular hike through forests and across meadows.

Churches, Chapels and Architectural History

Menagaray is known for the parish church of San Pedro and the chapel of San Nicolás. The church dates from the 18th century; San Pedro is celebrated in Menagaray on June 29. The Christ Chapel in Mendieta also has a special connection to another religious building: its altar mensa comes from the neighboring chapel of San Nicolás de Iza. An altar mensa is the horizontal slab of an altar and therefore one component of its furnishings.

Several houses with coats of arms contribute to the architectural character of the area. The Palacio de Arecha is a Neoclassical building in Menagaray. It is distinct from the Palacio-Casa solariega in Barrio Mendieta: the square building has three floors and a small attached outbuilding for service use. Its design follows the local style of Baroque palaces. The coat of arms on the façade belongs to the Aretxabala family and was taken from the Palacio Arechabala.

Hiking and Scenery at Peregaña

Remains of an Iron Age settlement can be found on Mount Perigaña, near Menagaray. One specific way to explore the landscape is the “Peregaña desde Menagarai” circular hike. Recorded in April 2021, the route is easy, 9.05 kilometers long, includes 334 meters of elevation gain and reaches a maximum elevation of 628 meters. It passes through forest to extensive meadows on the southern slope and climbs to the summit. The Ermita del Cristo is also a named waypoint on the route. Check trail conditions and navigation before setting out; vegetation and trails can change with the seasons.

Another route listed for Menagaray is titled “Carretera Artziniega”: it is listed as Route 37 and is 97.17 kilometers long. This distance differs considerably from the Peregaña circular hike, for which elevation gain and maximum elevation are also provided. This helps put the different scales of the two route listings into perspective. Check the conditions for each route before setting out.

Accommodation and Getting There

Named accommodation options in Menagaray include Mendieta Etxea, a country house with four fully equipped apartments, and El Rincón de Aiara, a rural accommodation with five apartments. You should check the accommodation details again before booking.

The regional service between Amurrio and Respaldiza stops at Menagarai (Jauregi). A reservation is required by 8 p.m. on the previous day to connect with regular service. Before traveling, check whether the service and reservation deadline are still in effect.

For the broader travel overview: Quejana.