15/09/2008
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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. 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.