25/09/2008
Vitoria-Gasteiz, 15th
September 2008.- For the second year running, the Santa
María Cathedral Foundation and the Goiena Mountain Club have organised
four walks along with Camino de la Piedra (Stone Way), a route that
links Ajarte with the capital of Álava. The key interest of this route
lies in the fact that the stone used to build Vitoria’s Cathedral comes
from the Ajarte quarries, in the County of Treviño.
Ajarte is a small practically uninhabited village belonging to the
County of Treviño. As well as its stunning views over the nearby
Vitoria Mountains, the quarries outside the village yielded much of the
stone used to build the churches of Álava as well as the Cathedral of
Santa María.
For this reason,
last year, the Santa María Cathedral Foundation organised a walking
tour between the two locations to link the historic and artistic
interest of the Cathedral with the nearby landscape, geography and in
particular the historical routes used to transport stone to the Gasteiz
hill.
This year, the walks will be held on the following Saturdays: 20th and
27th September, and the 4th and 18th October. On each of the days,
there will be a bus to take participants to Ajarte, and from there they
will set out on a 14 km walk during which, as well as enjoying the
surroundings, they will also be provided with explanations about the
different places they pass through.
The route starts in Ajarte, where participants will find out about the
old stone quarries used as a mining resource in the restoration of
monuments. As they pass through the Ajarte Hill and the Vitoria
Mountains, they will see the old mining pits, considered archaeological
and historical heritage. The unquestionable natural value of this area
will be highlighted, pointing out the presence of shady beech trees to
the north, and turkey, gall and holm oak trees to the south.
In the area of Olarizu, they will see the Iron Age settlement of
Kutzemendi, one of the oldest settlements that bears witness to the
ancient presence of humans in Álava, as well as the Casa de la Dehesa,
with strong links to the nearby cattle grazing route, which has now
been turned into a magnificent recreation area.
Towards the end of the route, in Mendiola, participants will
discover the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, an interesting
church built in the 16th and 17th centuries, late renaissance in style
with a Latin cross design and a wonderful trabeated entrance. The walk
reaches its conclusion by the Cathedral of Santa María in Vitoria and
the city wall. Furthermore, those who finish the whole walk can visit
the Cathedral free of charge.
All those interested in taking part in this activity should reserve
their place at the Cathedral Visitors’ Centre, or by phoning 945 255
135. Tickets are €5 each except for members of the Cathedral’s Circle
of Founders Association, for whom it is free. There will be 45 places
available on each day. There will be two pick-up points in the city for
participants, who will be accompanied by monitors from the Goiena
Mountain Club: 8.30 p.m. at the Plaza de Lovaina and 8.45 a.m. by the
Mendizorroza fronton courts. Arrival at the Cathedral of Santa María is
expected at around 2 p.m.
Furthermore, and
coinciding with the Medieval Market taking place in the Historic
Quarter throughout the weekend, on Saturday 27th September there will
be a special act to commemorate the way in which stone was originally
brought from Ajarte. Starting at 12 midday, a cart pulled by two oxen
will travel the distance between Mendiola and the Cathedral of Santa
María, dragging several blocks of stone. Quite an attraction for the
thousands of people visiting the medieval market that day.