Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón

The town of Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón is situated in the north of La Rioja and takes its name from the river that flows through it. It is a pretty locality that previously belonged to the province of Burgos.

In the town, the castle of the Velasco, from the 15th century, is one of the most prominent places. It is located on the riverbank and is a fortress enclosed by a wall that features a tower. This fortress utilised the waters of the Tirón River for its moat.

The church of San Miguel Arcángel is also located next to the river, in the main square of Cuzcurrita; it is the most important baroque temple in all of Riojan religious art. Its facade with curved lines is a clear example of the 18th-century taste for dynamism in art.

There are two sister hermitages in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón: that of Our Lady of Sorejana and that of Our Lady of Tironcillo. The first one is located in the upper part of the river and is of Romanesque and Gothic style. The hermitage of Our Lady of Tironcillo is also located next to the river, but downstream. It is a baroque architectural work. To reach them, you must walk along various paths that showcase the wonderful natural environment in which they are situated.

One of the most emblematic monuments of Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón is el Rollo, the last vestige of Cuzcurrita's past as a lordship. This column is located on Monte el Bolo and was a punishment instrument of the lord of the town, who placed the heads of the executed on the pinnacle that crowned the pillar. This cruel form of punishment was abolished in the 19th century.