La Rioja Alta is the westernmost region of the autonomous community of La Rioja. It is made up of municipalities located along the rivers Tirón, Oja and Najerilla, in the districts of Haro, Nájera, Ezcaray, Anguiano and Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
These districts are bordered to the north by the river Ebro, to the south by the Sierra de Castejón and the Picos de Urbión, to the east by the Sierra de Moncalvillo and Sierra de Camero Nuevo and to the west by the province of Burgos.
Taking into account this wonderful enclave, the Rioja Alta offers us an endless number of routes and activities to enjoy our stay as we will see in the next post. That is why we have made a small selection of rural houses in this area to make your visit to the Rioja Alta an unforgettable trip where you will always feel at home.
In addition, a trip through the Rioja Alta offers you the experience of discovering the medieval village of Briones. BrionesBriones, a medieval village of unique charm, where you will find the wineries Vivanco with the Museum of Wine Culture. An essential plan for any route in the Rioja Alta.
Where do we stay?
The perfect location of the municipalities that make up the area make the Rioja Alta a source of possibilities capable of combining nature, sport, tranquillity, gastronomy, culture, history... for all tastes and all ages.
Below we show you a series of rural houses where you can stay during your stay.
EL MESÓN DE BRIONES
http://www.elmesonbriones.es/ Teléfono de contacto: +34 941 322 178 / Travesía de la Estación 3, 26330 Briones, La Rioja.
A beautiful country house that used to be a wine inn. It is surrounded by a large garden and has its own vineyard, where you can find vines of all the different grape varieties grown in La Rioja Alta. You can rent the whole house or its 8 rooms separately, and they also have the "corner of the inn", another rural house attached to the main house.
Briones offers a very pleasant visit through its streets and monuments in this medieval town. You can visit the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the Palace of the Marquis of San Nicolás, hermitages and mansions. In June they celebrate the Jornadas Medievales (Medieval Days), a festival of National Tourist Interest. We leave for dessert its main tourist attraction: a visit to VivancoThe Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture, its wine cellars, vineyards and restaurant.
RURAL PARADISE
www.paraiso-rural.com / Contact telephone numbers: +34 662 243 932 / 655 571 500 / Calle Carretera 3. Villanueva de Cameros, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 1 hour by car
A real "paradise" located in the heart of nature, in the Sierra de la Cebollera, where you can relax with friends, as a couple or with the family, in comfortable wooden detached houses with terrace, perfectly equipped and with all kinds of services (reception, SPA, bar, restaurant, shop).
During your stay you will be able to do different activities such as cycling, hang-gliding, archery, wind-surfing, hiking, rafting, quad biking, 4×4, horse riding, mycological routes, fishing, hunting... You can also visit the caves of Ortigosa or go on the route of the castles.
THE SAINT'S INN
Contact telephone number: +34 941 204 187 / Calle Real nº2. Cañas, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 30 minutes by car
It is a three-storey building fully prepared for the enjoyment of visitors.
From here you can visit different towns such as Ezcaray, Cuzcurrita... and their magnificent castles; Nájera, Yuso and Suso, Santa María del Salvador and its monasteries; the Valdezcaray ski resort, the Botanical Garden, the Oja Greenway, street markets, etc.
VILLA LIQUIDAMBAR - The Ecological Rural House
www.villaliquidambar.es / Contact telephone numbers: +34 620 248 366 / 689 305 336 / Plaza San Blas, 10; Torrecilla en Cameros, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 45 minutes by car
This is a typical farmhouse from the end of the 19th century, located in the most populated village in the Sierra de Cameros. Divided into 2 houses with two different rooms.
We are in an ideal environment for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, mushrooming, historical, cultural and adventure routes.
MONCALVILLO VIEWPOINT
www.miradordemoncalvillo.com / Contact telephone: +34 619 777 675 / Camino del Santo, s/n; Daroca de Rioja, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 30 minutes by car
This country house has achieved the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. It also has wonderful views, given its location in the Sierra de Moncalvillo.
As we have seen in this article, you will be able to follow different routes, the Monastery Route (Yuso, San Millán de la Cogolla, Santa María la Real de Nájera, San Salvador, Santa María de Valvanera in Anguiano) and you will also be able to exercise by practising different sports and activities.
EL OLMO HOUSE
www.casaelolmo.com / Contact telephone numbers: +34 607 516 385 / 941 462 284 / Carretera de Nieva s/n; El Rasillo de Cameros, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 1 hour by car
Stone mansion with a garden of more than 1000 metres and an imposing porch from where you can enjoy the marvellous views it offers. Its location near the reservoir allows you to enjoy water sports at the El Rasillo Water Club, as well as the different routes we have mentioned above, hiking, visiting the Cebollera Natural Park, etc.
REAL VALLE EZCARAY
www.realvalleezcaray.com / Contact telephone numbers: +34 678 287 236 / 941 462 119 / Urbanización Usarena s/n; Zorraquín, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 40 minutes by car
Holiday apartment complex in Ezcaray for all nature and skiing lovers.
Spacious flats with all kinds of comforts and views of the valley, with their own car park and garden areas.
Apart from skiing, at the Valdezcaray ski resort you can also explore the most outstanding areas in the area.
CASA MABE
www.casamabe.com / Contact telephone: +34 618 287 236 / El Rasillo de Cameros, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 1 hour by car
Rural house ideal for families and groups located in the heart of the Sierra de Cameros.
Next to the Sierra de la Cebollera Natural Park and close to Logroño and San Millán de la Cogolla. It is next to the González-Lacasa reservoir, so during your stay you can enjoy water sports and even go fishing.
RURAL HOUSE "LA ILERA".
www.lailera.com / Contact telephone numbers: +34 686 501 710 / 941 324 753 / Calle Hornos 3; Casalarreina, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 15 minutes by car
This beautiful 19th century house has preserved the original structure of stone, adobe and wooden beams to create a cosy atmosphere that will make you feel at home.
It is located in the centre of Casalarreina, a town declared a historic-artistic site, so as well as enjoying and discovering all the corners of this town, you will also have the option of horse riding, hiking, visiting the most important monasteries in the region, the Romanesque Interpretation Centre and the most important wineries.
CASA RURAL EL COBIJO DE LA CALZADA RURAL HOUSE
www.elcobijodelacalzada.com / Contact telephone: +34 659 102 943 /Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 25 minutes by car
House built in the 18th century and renovated to offer you an authentic home with a living history.XVIII and renovated to offer you an authentic home with a history still alive and to offer you all kinds of activities and sports (Ojapark, paintball, sport shooting, rafting, golf, karting, hot air balloon rides...).) and immerse yourself in the world of wine (Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture), as well as enjoying the magnificent gastronomy of this land (beans with quail, with chorizo, stuffed peppers, Rioja-style cod, crayfish, lean ham with fritada, roast lamb and kid, Rioja stew, vine shoot chops...) and much more.
UGARTE COUNTRY HOUSE
www.casaruralugarte.com / Contact telephone numbers: +34 941 427 458 / 649 589 276 / Plaza Eras 8, Ojocastro, La Rioja.
Distance from Briones: 30 minutes by car
It is a house of traditional architecture that was originally a haystack. It has a rustic decoration in all the rooms, achieving a totally cosy atmosphere.
THE CALAOS OF BRIONES
www.loscalaosdebriones.com / Contact telephone number: +34 941 322 131 / Briones, La Rioja
In the town of Briones, a medieval village, we find this rural hotel located in the centre and built on a typical house with a wine cellar. It has spacious rooms with rustic decoration and where every detail has been taken care of. It also has a restaurant with dining room and a large wine cellar.
From here you will be able to visit places such as Nájera, Logroño, Bilbao, Vitoria...etc. And do any activity you can think of. But in this place where wine is a true hallmark of identity, you can't miss a visit to the Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture. A museum with 4,000 square metres and six rooms where you will be able to approach this world of sensations that is wine through its history and evolution, in five permanent rooms and one temporary room where you will be able to find millenary vessels and great works of authentic geniuses of the History of Art (Chillida, Barceló, Juan Gris, Sorolla, Genovés, Picasso, etc.) and audiovisuals with the humble aim of educating, showing, teaching and disseminating the greatness of wine.
But beyond words it is better to see it, enjoy it, feel it... like La Rioja and all its options.
Ready for the journey?
