Alava wetern valleys - Alava nature reserves - Basque Country tourism

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Basque Country Information: ALAVA Information - IN THE WESTERN VALLEYS

Two alternative ways of getting to know two of the western most parts of Alava. To the north, the Zuia and Ayala valleys, with their refreshing waterfalls and sturdy tower-houses. To the south, surprising landscapes such as that offered by Salinas de Ananal Gesaltza-Anana or the gorge running through Valderejo Nature Reserve.

ROUTE A. Leaving Vitoria-Gasteiz via the N-622 will take us to MURGIA, the most important village in the ZUIA valley and a perfect spot from which to set off into the nearby Gorbeia Nature Reserve. Not far from here (A-4416) is the often-restored 12th century Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de Oro, standing on top of a little hill affording beautiful views. Continuing along the A-2521 we will come to a side road leading to the GUJULI waterfall, a magical spot next to the Romanesque church of Santiago Apostol. This visit is particularly recommended on rainy days. Returning to the same road, we will come to ORDUNA, a Bizkaian enclave with a square named Plaza de los Fueros, which is surrounded by impressive buildings. If we've got time, from here we'll take the BI-2625 into the province of Burgos and head for the vantage point offering spectacular views of the Canon de DELlKA, impressive birthplace of the river Nervion as it proceeds to plunge over a 300metre drop. The A-625 will take us to AMURRIO and its wealth of ancestral homes. On the outskirts of this village is the campo de Zaraobe, where the valley's Juntas Generales used to meet. Leaving RESPALDIZA behind us on the A-3626, we will come to QUEJANA, birthplace of the Ayala lineage giving its name to the entire valley. There is more to be discovered on the subject of this family at the Ayala fortified palace and museum. The chapel of La Virgen del Cabello, home of the alabaster sepulchres of chancellor Pedro Lopez de Ayala and his wife Leonor Lopez de Guzmim, and the Dominican convent of San Juan Bautista with its gold-work reliquary, are a must.

Back on the A-624, we'll come to ARTZINIEGA and, in addition to a number of towerhouses, to the 16th century sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de la Encina, erected in memory of an earlier apparition of the Virgin Mary. The Museo Etnogratico is right beside this sanctuary.
We'll have to come back to Amurrio in order to rejoin the A-625 for LLODIO-LAUDIO, the second most important town in Alava as far as the number of inhabitants is concerned.
Here we will find the Museo Vasco de Gastronomia and a large park, that of Lamuza. The A-68 will take us back to VitoriaGasteiz.

ROUTE B. Likewise leaving from the capital, and after having turned onto the A-2622 in NANCLARES DE LA OCA, we will come to SALI NAS DE ANANA/ GESALTZA-ANANA which, in addition to its impressive salt pans, also offers a series of impressive emblazoned houses.

Having passed through TUESTA, with its Romanesque temple of La Asuncion and its magnificent doorway, and ESPEJO, with its several tower-houses, we will come to two turn-offs from the A-2622, one on either side of the road. The right-hand turning will take us to the sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Angosto, while to the left is VILLANANE, home of the Varona tower-house which, despite the fact that it now serves as a monastery, still has a moat, battlements, watch-towers and a number of other defensive elements.
The A-2622 and A-4338 will take us to LALASTRA, and the information centre for VALDEREJO NATURE RESERVE, where we will find a limestone gorge with a number of waterfalls and pools.

	More Alava Information
Alava Wine of Alava Amid the reservoirs Vitoria city Vitoria on foot

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