Miranda de Ebro, the beautiful Spanish crossroads

Welcome to Miranda de Ebro, a city that has always been at the border, nowadays between La Rioja, Basque Country and Castile and Leon. Plus, it is surrounded by a very diverse landscape because it is also located at the border of the two main climates of Spain. Moreover, the river Ebro crosses it, and its ancient bridge made it the core of northern communications, leaving a huge patrimony for us to enjoy. So do not miss Miranda de Ebro, the beautiful Spanish crossroads!

A bit of history

We do not know precisely when Miranda de Ebro was founded, but we are sure that it existed already in the 8th century. Two hundred years later, a bridge was built to cross the Ebro, which automatically turned Miranda de Ebro into the perfect place to trade. Many kings understood this and conceded the city the possibility to celebrate local fairs that attracted many artisans. So, Miranda de Ebro grew and grew. 

In the 14th century, a mighty castle was built, becoming the perfect spot to fight wars. On the worst side, I will tell you that Miranda de Ebro hosted the last concentration camp in Spain. It closed only in 1947! It was open for 10 years, under the assessment of the nazis. There were only Spanish inmates at the very beginning; by 1941, they had either been released or taken to other places. Then, the foreign ones started to arrive. Why Miranda de Ebro? Because of its great connections by train and road with the north, especially France. Then, in 1943, it became clear to Franco that Germany would lose the war, so he started to distance himself from them. As a result, he began to free the prisoners, who were in terrible conditions. The runaway nazis were also hosted here, but they had special treatment: a swimming pool, etc. Also, they were provided false identities to continue their journey to South America and start a new life. If you want to learn more about this part of the local history, you can visit the Interpretation Centre, where you will have everything explained, plus documents from that time. On the site it was built, only a few remains remain from this shameful period. 

Raimundo Porres Civic Centre, Miranda de Ebro

Av. República Argentina, 93, 09200 Miranda de Ebro, Burgos, España

What to do

First things first: visit the fortress. The main building was destroyed, but the walls are still there, as well as some towers. Plus, from the top of the castle, you can admire the botanical garden and a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape. 

Miranda de Ebro Castle

Entrada por CIMA (Centro de Interpretación de Miranda Antigua, C. San Francisco, 10, 09200 Miranda de Ebro, Burgos, España

Walking downhill, you can admire ancient, elegant residences. Many nobles inhabited this city, and their houses can boast that they hosted a royal presence. Others lived darker episodes, like the murder of a famous general. If you have time, you can visit and learn what happened in those houses: Cadenas, Urbina, Don Lope… They are not for rent, but if you look only 8 km further, you can spend the night in a dwelling full of history: Casona Indiana. It is very popular, so if this one is full, no problem: there is yet another historical building nearby, Arganzón Plaza, right at the core of La Puebla de Arganzón, a cute historical town not far from Miranda de Ebro.

If you like religious buildings, you have come to the right place. At Miranda de Ebro, you can find the Espiritu Santo Church, the oldest one in town. It already existed in the 11th century, but what we see today are the works of many centuries. The most interesting parts are the apse and the façade from the 13th century. 

Of course, there are other churches and convents. Unfortunately, some of them are not in good shape. When the French invaded Spain, they were first stopped here, and when they finally entered Miranda de Ebro, they destroyed many buildings. One that has been preserved, and you absolutely have to visit, is the Santa Maria Church. Renaissance style, very beautiful, it hides a creepy/interesting story inside. You will find a mummy exhibited for the people to see. Legend says it belongs to a guy that died in the 14th century, killed with a bag full of sand (!) that his brother, out of envy, threw at him from a roof. He was buried twice elsewhere, but the two times the Ebro collapsed and took his incorrupt corpse to this church. It is no doubt in a great state! So, according to an 1812 document, the local priest decided to satisfy the Ebro’s will and give him his final rest in this church. 

If you like to hike, once again, you have come to the perfect spot. One of the ramifications of the Camino de Santiago passes here - the Via de Bayona. Also, La Rioja is only a few kilometres away, and while you are here, you should not miss the chance to visit the Spanish more famous wineries. This tour combines vineyards sightseeing, wine tasting, a visit to a winery and a Riojan lunch - and I dare you to finish it, Riojan people have a huge stomach! 

A beautiful landscape, an even more beautiful city centre, a place full of history and easy to access.  Think no more and visit Miranda de Ebro, the beautiful Spanish crossroads!