The beauty of La Rioja is painted in white
Due to its gastronomy, landscapes, beautiful towns and wine tradition, La Rioja is a good idea for any season of the year. In winter, the Valdezcaray ski resort in the Sierra de la Demanda is one of the main attractions. It can boast of being an inviting and very familiar residential area, suitable for children and adults, with 26 tracks of all levels.
With the closure of the slopes, the beautiful town of Ezcaray comes to life with countless shops, restaurants and tapas bars. In addition to walking through its arched streets, it is also interesting to visit the handmade blanket factory, which preserves the artisanal textile tradition that is La Rioja’s timeless heritage.
There are two other places worth stopping along the way. The first of these is San Millán de la Cogolla, where it is important to visit the famous Suso and Yuso Monasteries, both declared World Heritage Sites. Secondly, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, just 30 kilometers from Valdezcaray station, is an ideal place to stop and eat.
Our recommendation is to book a room at the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, which will allow you to take full advantage of snow sports and get to know in depth the historical center with mansions, palaces and other architectural treasures. It’s like the cathedral this accommodation stands in front of. A testimony to this town’s ancient connection with the French Camino de Santiago, this Parador is an improved version of the old pilgrim hospital (with all imaginable comforts, of course), whose original building was built by Saint Dominic in the 12th century. hosting hikers.
On any visit to La Rioja, it is imperative to devote some well-deserved time to traditional Rioja cuisine. The Parador restaurant offers options such as local vegetable stew, piquillo peppers or Rioja-style cod. Could you ask for more? Yes: of course it came by land.