Ausejo can be explored from several perspectives: through its churches and historic buildings, its recurring local festivals, and its cultural landscape, whose colours change throughout the year. This gives you a choice when planning your trip between architectural history, landscapes and specific dates. If you are planning a short stay, you can choose a focus based on the time of year and your personal interests, without giving equal weight to every theme.

Churches, Chapels and Architectural History

The Iglesia parroquial de Santa María dates from the 16th century. After being damaged by the earthquake of 18 March 1817, it was rebuilt around 1840. Among the works preserved in the parish church are Baroque, Neoclassical and Romanesque Revival pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Several periods of history are therefore represented in this building: its construction, the later works of art and its 19th-century reconstruction.

Two round towers and sections of wall from the Castillo de Ausejo can be seen on the hill on which Ausejo spreads. After the 1817 earthquake, stone from the Castillo was used to repair the parish church. The castle and church are thus also linked through their building history: material from one structure was used to rebuild the other. The hill is also home to an extensive system of traditional wine cellars and caves that were once inhabited.

Two other religious buildings offer different points of interest. The Ermita Virgen de la Antigua is a Baroque building from the 17th century, located two kilometres from the town centre. Its statue of the Virgin is a Gothic sculpture from the 14th century. The building and the statue therefore date from different centuries. The Ermita del Crucifijo, meanwhile, was originally a cross-shaped building from the 16th century. Its features include four buttresses and a ribbed star vault supported by rounded arches.

Landscapes Through the Seasons

The season also changes the impression made by the cultural landscape. In late winter, almond trees blossom while the grain fields are green; in spring, colourful gardens and fruit groves come into view. In summer, the grain fields turn golden. In autumn, ochre-coloured poplars and green and reddish vineyards add to the scene. When comparing travel times, late winter offers blossoms and green fields, in contrast to the golden summer landscape; autumn adds the colours of poplars and vineyards to this changing palette.

Winegrowing is evident not only in the landscape. Some of the grape harvest from Ausejo is marketed through the local San Miguel cooperative winery. The theme of wine can therefore be viewed from two perspectives: as part of the seasonal landscape and as a local industry.

Traditions and Dates

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, the Parramera neighbourhood celebrates the San Juan festival with traditional bonfires. The two dates represent different local customs: the pilgrimage is associated with the blessing of the fields, while the San Juan festival is marked by its bonfires. If you would like to plan your trip around a festival, check the dates locally in advance.

The market in the village square offers another regular point of reference: it takes place every Wednesday morning and features stalls selling fresh food, household goods and clothing. You should also check this date locally before your visit, as the weekly schedule may change. The Camino Jacobeo del Ebro passes through the municipality of Ausejo. This adds a regional pilgrimage connection to the local pilgrimage traditions, without confining the route to the town centre.

Discover more destinations: Albelda De Iregua, Villamediana de Iregua, Villalobar De Rioja, Lumbreras, Torrecilla En Cameros, Galilea, Santo Domingo De La Calzada, Almarza De Cameros.

For the broader travel guide: La Rioja.