El Club · Briones

The Chapel of San Juan, also known as the Chapel of Santo Cristo de los Remedios, is an urban chapel located in Briones, in La Rioja. It is situated within the town’s historic district and is associated with the local devotion to Cristo de los Remedios. It is a church with a central plan, featuring an octagonal layout inscribed within a rectangle, which gives it a unique architectural design within La Rioja’s religious heritage. The current building dates from between 1737 and 1748 and is attributed to master builder Juan Bautista Arbaizar, with the collaboration of Ignacio de Elejalde. Given its chronology and its altarpieces, the building reflects an 18th-century architectural style, featuring Baroque elements and Rococo altarpieces at the apse. The exterior stands out for its curved forms, cylindrical buttresses, and linteled façade with mixtilinear moldings between Corinthian columns. Also notable are the large central dome and the bell gable crowning the complex—features that reinforce its monumental character despite its modest scale. The chapel stands on the site of the former church or chapel of San Juan Bautista, whose patron image is preserved on the façade in a niche. Inside, there are documented altarpieces, paintings, and carvings from the period, as well as the seasonal veneration of the Cristo de los Remedios, which is deeply rooted in the religious celebrations of Briones.

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is the parish church of Briones, in La Rioja, located in the main square of the historic district, very close to the coordinates indicated. It is a large stone-built church with a hall-style floor plan and three naves of equal height, featuring an octagonal apse with three sections, making it one of the town’s most notable heritage landmarks. It was built in the 16th century, and the main structure reflects the style of the Catholic Monarchs and the Renaissance, with late Gothic elements evident in the star-ribbed vaults and pointed arches. The apse had already been completed by around 1521; later, stonemasons Miguel de Ezquioga and Juan Martínez de Mutio worked on the project during various phases of construction. Among its heritage features, the Baroque tower—added in the 18th century—and the interior structure of three naves with clustered cylindrical pillars stand out. The church was designated a Site of Cultural Interest in the Monument category, confirming its significance within La Rioja’s religious heritage. In addition to its artistic value, the building continues to serve as an urban and religious landmark in Briones, framing the town square and the town’s monumental complex.

The Sonsierra Viewpoint from Briones is an elevated vantage point located in the upper part of the municipality of Briones, in La Rioja, at an elevation of approximately 80 meters above the Ebro River. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view that takes in the Sonsierra, the Rioja Alavesa, the Toloño and Peñacerrada mountain ranges to the north, and the Demanda to the south. The landscape is characterized by extensive vineyards that hug the meander of the Ebro River—known as the Curva de Briones—creating a natural backdrop of great beauty. From the observation point, you can see the silhouettes of the surrounding mountain ranges, the meanders of the Ebro, and the vast palette of reddish and golden hues that the vineyards take on in the fall. Briones’s privileged location—designated a Historic-Artistic Site for its medieval fortified layout—turns nearly the entire town into a natural balcony offering spectacular views. The viewpoint is located on Acera del Medio Street, in the upper part of the town, allowing visitors to completely unwind in the heart of the Haro region. This spot is recognized as one of the best viewpoints in La Rioja for admiring the vineyards, especially in the fall. Its significance is further enhanced by Briones’ inclusion on the list of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages and by its protected status as a Historic-Artistic Site. The best time to visit is in the fall, when the vineyards display their full spectrum of colors, and the best time of day is in the late afternoon, when the light highlights the contours of the landscape.

The Palace of the Marquis of San Nicolás is a stately home and one of the finest examples of Baroque civil architecture in La Rioja. It stands in Briones, La Rioja, on the Plaza de España, and is located in the town’s historic center, which has been designated a Historic-Artistic Site, further enhancing its significance within the town’s monumental landscape. It was commissioned by Don Esteban de Francia, the second Marquis of San Nicolás, and is considered an 18th-century structure. The façade was completed in 1755, according to the date inscribed on the upper balcony, and its construction is attributed to master builder Ignacio de Elejalde, following the design of Juan Bautista Arbaizar. Its chronology and authorship place it among the most representative civil buildings in the region. The building features a very orderly composition, with three symmetrical sections and three facades articulated by superimposed pilasters. Notable features include the large eaves supported by stone corbels and the Baroque decoration of acanthus leaves, shells, rocaille, and broken moldings in the openings. It also retains two facades, one facing Plaza de España and the other facing La Cerca, the latter being more austere. In the 20th century, it began to serve public functions and eventually housed the Briones City Hall; following a restoration completed in 1996, it continues to serve as a municipal headquarters and exhibition space. Additionally, the building is known for housing the so-called “Haunted House,” which is linked to the Ethnology Section of the Museum of La Rioja.

The Path to the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs is a short hiking trail in Briones, La Rioja, designed as a local walking route that connects the town center with its surrounding farmland. The trail starts in the town and climbs up to the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs, through a landscape that transitions between vineyards and farmland—a characteristic feature of the Rioja Alta region. From the trail, you can see the farm fields, the hillside terrain on which Briones is situated, and sweeping views of the municipality’s natural and rural surroundings. The town is situated on a hill about 80 meters high, with its northern slope dropping down toward the Ebro River—a topographical feature that helps illustrate the relationship between the settlement and the valley. The main appeal of the route lies in interpreting the landscape and connecting with the region’s winemaking tradition. The chapel, built in the 16th century of ashlar masonry and designed with a hall-style floor plan in the Isabelline Gothic style, is part of the municipality’s network of hiking and nature trails, which is closely linked to the wine-growing landscape of Rioja Alta. The best time to visit is in spring and fall, when the weather is milder and the vineyards display their most intense colors.