Labastida/Bastida

Labastida was a walled enclosure of the Kingdom of Navarre until 1200 when it became part of the Crown of Castile. Still today we can enter through the arch of Larrazuria or the Elm to its medieval quarter.

In it, you can find numerous stately homes, mansions, wide thresholds, beautiful religious buildings and the largest number of manor houses emblazoned with stone masonry of Rioja Alavesa.

In the Calle Mayor stands out the house of Manuel Quintano, who introduced Bordeaux winemaking techniques in Spain in the 18th century.

The origin of its name, Bastida, already indicates the warrior past of the village. The archaeological remains found in the vicinity reflect an early human presence in the area.

In the vicinity of Labastida/Bastida on high crags and near the watercourses, are located about a thousand Necropolis of the ninth and tenth centuries.

For a long time, it experienced all kinds of vicissitudes as it passed from Navarrese to Castilian hands, being one of the most important strongholds of both kingdoms. Sancho el Fuerte granted it privileges and Sancho el Sabio walled the town, founding the Santo Cristo fortress-temple there.

In 1200 it passed into the hands of Castile, which curiously made Labastida the only town in the Rioja Alavesa with a charter thanks to King Ferdinand III of Castile.

In the XVII-XVIII centuries Labastida/Bastida lived its most glorious years with an important artistic and economic splendor. Reflection of them are the palaces and emblazoned houses that we find in the town. During these centuries, the town reached 3000 inhabitants.

Gateway to Rioja Alavesa, it is today a modern municipality, where history, wine, gastronomy, nature and traditions coexist.