Villarroya brings together the landscape of the La Rioja Biosphere Reserve with traces of past land use and a distinctive rural heritage. The Carrascal de Villarroya is a 264.4-hectare holm oak forest on the southern slope of the Sierra de Yerga and one of the few remaining traces of La Rioja’s former dehesas. The forest contains both standing and fallen deadwood, as well as microhabitats on the trunks of large trees. These conditions support, among other things, the presence of the beetle Limoniscus violaceus, classified as endangered.

Holm oak forest, hiking and night skies

The Encina de Villarroya, also known as the Encina de Mario, is another of the village’s notable natural features: it is included on the list of La Rioja’s 60 notable individual trees. Holm oaks and planted pines grow in the El Carrascal recreation area. To reach it, take the road from Villarroya to Grávalos; at the end of the holm oak forest, turn right. Road conditions and signage may change, so it is advisable to check for updates before setting out.

One specific hiking option is the Ruta de la Encina de Villarroya. It is an easy route, 1.61 kilometres long, and takes about 35 minutes on foot from the LR-123 road. This gives you a manageable time frame for the walk; trail conditions may vary.

Wildlife in the El Carrascal recreation area includes the European hare, garden dormouse, weasel, partridge, ocellated lizard and marbled newt. These species give a sense of the area’s ecological diversity, although sightings are not guaranteed. Villarroya also has a special connection to the landscape for anyone interested in the night sky: the village is considered one of the suitable places for stargazing in the La Rioja Biosphere Reserve area. In July 2012, this area became the first destination in Spain within a protected area to be certified by the Fundación Starlight. Night-sky visibility depends on the weather.

Traces of work and history

Villarroya’s history is also linked to mining. Coal was mined here until 1968, when the last coal mines closed. The Ruta de las Neveras, which includes Villarroya’s restored snow wells, reflects another way of making use of resources.

The Paseo de las Bodegas was developed in 2009, converting former livestock shelters into family wine cellars. Other local examples of traditional building methods include livestock shelters for goats and sheep, including enclosures dug into the rock. The apiaries used for honey production also showcase traditional building techniques: they were built from masonry, adobe bricks and gypsum.

The Abejera de Villarroya is located in a cave in a cliff above a stream in the Carrascal. The specific setting of the cliff, stream and cave makes it a distinctive ethnographic feature of the area, alongside the snow wells, wine cellars and livestock shelters.

Things to consider when planning

The parish church of San Juan Bautista is one of Villarroya’s tourist attractions. Check current visiting arrangements before you go.

The Yacimiento de mamíferos del Cuaternario de Villarroya is also located near the village. This classic palaeontological site has a diverse Villafranchian vertebrate fauna. Its fossils include finds from 11 carnivore species, 7 even-toed ungulate species and 2 odd-toed ungulate species. Important for planning: no tourist or recreational activities should take place at the site; access is off-trail, with no path. It should therefore not be treated as an excursion destination.

Discover more destinations: Calahorra, Azarrulla, Villoslada de Cameros, Grañón, Ollauri, Castroviejo, Castañares De Rioja, Arenzana De Abajo

For the broader travel overview: La Rioja.