LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY
The town of Labastida is located between the southern slopes of the Sierra de Toloño and the River Ebro, to the south of the province. It belongs to the Cuadrilla of the Rioja Alavesa.
Its main communications route is the A-124, "Camino de Rioja Alavesa", stretching from the junction with the N-I at Armiñón as far as Logroño. In addition, it communicates with the A-68 Bilbao - Zaragoza motorway via Haro. Among the outstanding population centres in the area, the principal ones are Haro, for its importance and proximity, and Laguardia, as the capital of the Cuadrilla.
The historical centre of Labastida is spread over the southern and western slopes of the hill of La Mota, where the first fortified centre of the town was found, around the Castle, which is now the Hermitage del Santísimo Cristo. Successive extensions of the town occupied the plains at the foot of the hill, predominantly towards the south and west, following the route of the road from Armiñón to Logroño.
    HISTORIC EVOLUTION AND URBAN STRUCTURE

HISTORY		  
Due to its location, it was a fortification of great importance in the Middle Ages. There is no written document concerning the foundation of Labastida; it was possibly founded in the 12th century, as were other defensive settlements in the area and it belonged to the Crown of Navarre until the early 13th century.
Because of the fierce struggle against Alfonso VIII of Castile to defend the Navarrese Kingdom from Castilian expansionism, a line of fortifications was created along the length of the "Sonsierra Navarre", grouping together the castles of Labraza, Laguardia, San Vicente, Labastida, Buradón and Treviño, amongst others.
San Vicente, Labastida, Buradón and Treviño, amongst others.
On the 20th of March 1242, Fernando III of Castile confirmed the charter of Labastida, referring to that of Treviño, which had been in possession of one since the time of King Sancho of Navarre. This charter was endorsed by successive Kings of Castile.
In 1370, Enrique II of Castile gave the town over to his Head Victualler, Don Diego Gómez Sarmiento, thus giving Labastida an "ennobled" status. Two families possessed this nobility throughout the town's history, the Sarmientos and the Silvas, with the titles of Counts of Salinas and Dukes of Híjar respectively.
The beginning of the 18th century was prosperous, but towards the end of the century, the economic decline of Labastida began and continued throughout the 19th century. None of the attempts to improve the infrastructure of the communications with Labastida came to fruition except for the railway that linked Miranda De Ebro to Zaragoza, passing through Haro.
Finally, a boost in the development of Labastida came with the 60s, and the proliferation of second residences.
URBAN GROWTH  
From the current remains, it is not possible to determine whether the urban layout was made according to a plan or provincial ordinance, as was the case with other walled towns. The urban layout, in any case, is simpler: a mere alignment of the path or street that runs from east to west along the hillside.
In the 11th to 13th centuries, Bastida was a fortress situated upon high ground, crowned by a castle, today the Hermitage del Cristo, on whose southern slopes first the area of La Mota, and later that of El Olmo, grew up. Both quarters were based around the Plaza del Olmo, triangular in shape and without clear architectonic characteristics: it was a free space, used as a market, a forum or a sports area for the middle-class inhabitants of the town. The western end of the Plaza del Olmo belonged to the Jewish Quarter, which was of some importance until the expulsion of the Jews in 1492; subsequently it was left uninhabited and its remains have since disappeared.
In the 16th century, after the conquest of Navarre by Castile, the town lost its military nature and the lower parts of the town began to be developed. The areas of El Olmo and La Mota began their decline and came to be occupied by the less well-to-do. The Plaza and Calle Mayor came into being, giving rise to the first expansion of the town.
At the start of the 17th century, the parochial church was inaugurated. The "golden age" of Labastida began: during the 17th and 18th centuries, the town developed around the axis formed by the streets of Larrazuría, Mayor and Frontín; Baroque emblazoned buildings were constructed, the streets were paved and work was carried out on the water supply. In 1711, the Plaza Mayor was extended, giving it its current appearance. The Larrazuría arch was built and work was begun to erect the Town Hall. At the same time, the decline set in.
The next important alteration in the urban structure of Labastida was not until the 20th century; from the 1960's onwards, the demand for dwellings as second residences led to a spectacular urban growth towards the south, which continues to the present day.
Three parts can therefore be distinguished within the historical centre of Labastida:
a high part, of medieval origin, made up of the areas of La Mota and El Olmo;
the first renaissance expansion, coming about in the 17th century after the town gave up its function as a fortress; a Baroque area, organised around the axis formed by the streets Larrazuría - Mayor - Frontín, which was developed during the 17th and 18th centuries, coinciding with the most prosperous period of Labastida.
TYPES OF BUILDING  
For each one of the phases of development of Labastida there is a corresponding type of building: The common Bastida medieval house, with a 3-4 m façade and a depth of between 5 and 10 m. It adapted to the steeply sloping ground, having one entrance from the lower street to the ground floor and another at the rear which gave access to the upper floor or hayloft.
The middle-class renaissance house, standing upon a typical plot with 8 to 12 m frontage and a maximum depth of 40 m. The arrangement of the staircase caused it to be distributed in two 'wings'.
The Baroque mansion house, upon a detached plot of land or shared with one other house. Built in dressed stone in the Baroque Rioja style.

Hermitage del Santo Cristo: Erected upon the former fortress, the walls that it is supported by give it the appearance of an acropolis. Two periods in its construction can be made out: Romanesque and Gothic. The early Romanesque temple went up to where the existing cross vaults begin, the apse having disappeared. Its construction shows its origin as a fortress. The noteworthy feature of this part is the main door, from the 11th or early 12th century. The Gothic section is shown on the outside by two windows in the northern and southern façades and on the interior by the groin vault with its star-shaped cross ribs.
The building is completed with a regular-shaped sacristy covered with a hemispherical dome.
The access ramp was built in 1749, although the balustrade is much more recent, being from 1917.

Parochial Church of La Asunción: Three different sections can be identified, according to the stages of construction.
The central body dates from the 16th century: it consists of a single nave with five aisles, measuring 51.50 m long, 16.60 m wide and 19.80 m high. The portal at the side entrance is in the Renaissance style
The new sacristy, in a Baroque style, was built during the 18th century. Its ground plan is octagonal, with two floors.
The bell tower, 52 m high, is situated at the other end of the building; it is somewhat later than the sacristy and although it too has an octagonal plan, it bears no relation to it.
The church is pending restoration, especially the sacristy, where the vegetation, despite its having recently been removed, has seriously eroded the walls.

Town Hall: Detached Baroque building of a rectangular plan; it consists of two floors erected upon a false platform. Its construction began in 1732.
The main façade on the Plaza de la Paz has an arcade consisting of two bodies with three arches in each; it was crowned with a pediment that has since disappeared.

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