Ausejo: Churches, Castle and Landscape Throughout the Year
Accommodation in Ausejo
Ausejo is best discovered through its churches, the remains of the Castillo and the changing cultural landscape. The buildings tell stories of different centuries; festivals and the market provide specific dates to help plan your trip. The surrounding wine country also changes its appearance with the seasons.
Church and Castle: Traces of Different Eras
The Iglesia parroquial de Santa MarĂa dates from the 16th century. After being damaged by the earthquake of 18 March 1817, it was rebuilt around 1840. Stone from the Castillo de Ausejo was also used to repair the parish church after the earthquake. Inside, the church preserves Baroque, Neoclassical and Romanesque Revival works from the 17th and 18th centuries. Its construction, rebuilding and collection of artworks therefore belong to different historical periods.
On the hill where Ausejo is spread out, two round towers and sections of wall remain visible from the Castillo de Ausejo. The hill also contains a branching network of traditional wine cellars and caves that were once inhabited. The visible castle remains thus stand alongside traces of earlier ways of living and working.
Hermitages and Building History
The Ermita Virgen de la Antigua is two kilometres from the town centre. The Baroque building dates from the 17th century, while the devotional image is a Gothic sculpture from the 14th century. The image is therefore older than the chapel. The different periods and styles give the hermitage a distinctive place in art history.
The Ermita del Crucifijo has a different building history. Originally, it was a cross-shaped 16th-century structure with four buttresses and a star-ribbed vault supported by round arches. The ribs of this type of vault are arranged in a star shape; here, it rested on round arches.
Seasons in the Cultural Landscape
The landscape around Ausejo also changes throughout the year. In late winter, almond trees blossom while the cereal fields are green. In spring, colourful gardens and orchards come into view. In summer, the cereal fields turn golden; in autumn, ochre-coloured poplars stand alongside green and reddish vineyards. Travellers weighing up different times of year will find clear contrasts between blossom, green fields, summer gold and autumn colours.
Viticulture is also part of the local trade: some of the grape harvest from Ausejo is marketed through the San Miguel cooperative winery. The vineyards in the landscape are thus connected to a specific local wine-producing operation.
Festivals, Pilgrimage Route and Weekly Market
Two dated festivals are among the recurring local traditions. On 3 May, a pilgrimage takes place in Ausejo to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Antigua, where the fields are blessed. On 24 June, Ausejo celebrates the San Juan festival in the Parramera neighbourhood with traditional bonfires. Check the festival dates locally before your trip. The Camino Jacobeo del Ebro also passes through the municipality of Ausejo.
Every Wednesday morning, the village square hosts a market with stalls selling fresh food, household goods and clothing. As the weekly schedule may change, check the market day locally before your trip. The market and festivals provide specific dates to plan around, while the churches, castle remains and landscape reveal Ausejo’s cultural character and seasonal changes.
Discover more destinations: San Millán De La Cogolla, ArrĂşbal, Igea, Santurde De Rioja, Alcanadre, San Vicente De La Sonsierra, Baños de RĂo TobĂa, Laguna De Cameros
For the broader travel overview: La Rioja.
