Bilibio

Bilibio is a dramatic line of limestone cliffs above the Ebro river right beside Haro, and one of the oldest, most storied sites in all of La Rioja. The Riscos de Bilibio rise to about 642 metres above sea level exactly where the Ebro breaks into the region through the Las Conchas de Haro gorge — a natural gateway that has channelled traffic between the valleys and the Montes Obarenes for thousands of years.

Where does the name Bilibio come from?

Long before modern Haro existed, a settlement called Bilibio stood on these very rocks — so closely tied to the town's origins that it is still sometimes called "Haro la Vieja," Old Haro. Occupation here goes back to the Iron Age (7th–5th century BC), and later finds point to contact with the Romans. On one of the highest points of the cliffs stood a Roman hillfort known as Castellum Bilibium; a stretch of its wall survives today, built on top of the sheer, naturally defensible rock.

Why does this site matter to La Rioja's history?

Between the 5th and 10th centuries, a village called Bilibio sat on the southern flank of the cliffs, while a second settlement, San Felices, grew on the northern slope. That second name comes from the hermit San Felices de Bilibio, who lived as an anchorite among these rocks from the mid-5th to the early 6th century. Crucially for the region, he is said to have been the teacher of Saint Emilian (San Millán), La Rioja's patron saint, whose legacy is tied to the UNESCO-listed monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla. After the Muslim invasion of 714, the population gradually withdrew, and it was only in the 11th century that the inhabitants of Bilibio finally resettled in what is now Haro, laying the groundwork for the town's growth.

What can you actually see there today?

At the top of the cliffs stands the Hermitage of San Felices (Ermita de San Felices de Bilibio), tied to the hermit's legend and still the destination of an annual pilgrimage from Haro. That medieval tradition — walking up to the hermitage, attending mass, and sharing food and wine — is considered the origin of Haro's famous Wine Festival, the Batalla del Vino (Battle of Wine), held every year on 29 June. The Riscos themselves — jagged limestone formations towering over a bend of the Ebro — form one of the most recognisable landscapes of the Rioja Alta wine country, and are a favourite subject from viewpoints on both banks of the river.

How do you get to Bilibio from Haro?

The cliffs sit around 3 km north of central Haro, on the opposite bank of the Ebro, right in the heart of the Rioja Alta wine region. They make a natural side trip for anyone visiting Haro and its surrounding vineyards — pair a walk out to the rocks with time in town, known for its historic bodegas quarter and wine-making heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Haro la Vieja" mean? It's a popular nickname for the old settlement of Bilibio, regarded as the historical predecessor of modern Haro — hence "Old Haro."

Are there any visible ruins on site? Yes — remnants of the Roman castellum's wall can still be seen on one of the highest points of the cliffs, and the Hermitage of San Felices stands at the top.

What is the connection between Bilibio and the Haro Wine Festival? The medieval tradition of an annual pilgrimage to the Hermitage of San Felices, combined with mass and communal food and wine, is considered the root of today's Battle of Wine, held on 29 June.

Who was San Felices de Bilibio? A hermit who lived among these cliffs around the late 5th and early 6th centuries and who, according to tradition, taught Saint Emilian, the patron saint of La Rioja.