Free walking tours in Argómaniz and what to see

Must-sees

Argómaniz is a small district of the municipality of Elburgo, in the Llanada Alavesa, about 12 kilometres from Vitoria-Gasteiz. The village sits on a rise and is presided over by the Larrea palace, a stately mansion with an arcaded façade and the family coat of arms, a Parador since 1978. During the Peninsular War it was occupied by French troops, and tradition has it that Napoleon passed through before the Battle of Vitoria. From its esplanade you can see the plain with the Gorbea in the background.

The church of San Andrés, Renaissance in origin with a Baroque tower, is the other sight in the village. Around it are small Portuguese oak woods among cereal fields and quiet farm tracks for walking or cycling, and a couple of kilometres away is a Romanesque chapel on a hilltop. The Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir and the Estíbaliz sanctuary are very close.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Argómaniz: it is a very small place, quickly explored on your own. The practical plan is to combine it with Vitoria-Gasteiz, where you will find free tours and guided visits of the medieval old town. Day trips also leave from the city to the wineries of Rioja Alavesa and other places in the province, such as the Añana salt valley.

How long to spend

The village itself takes an hour: the palace from outside, the church and a stroll through the streets. Add the walk to the chapel and some time in the countryside and allow half a morning. Most people use it as a quiet base for a weekend in Álava, with a day in Vitoria, another at the reservoirs and, if time allows, a trip to Rioja Alavesa.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Argómaniz is very limited and essentially comes down to the Parador, in the palace itself. For more choice, the villages of the Llanada and the area around the reservoirs have rural houses and farm stays. Vitoria-Gasteiz, a quarter of an hour's drive away, has far more hotels and apartments, letting you dine in the old town and return to the countryside the next day.