Monasterio of Irache

A pilgrims' hospice, university, military hospital, religious college and, in the future, a Parador. These are the different functions that the Monastery of Iratxe has performed down the years, which have turned it into one of the most important monumental completes in Navarre. 

The Benedictines started building in the second half of the 11th century on top of another older one from the 8th century. 

A tour of the Romanesque church (12th century), the Plateresque cloister, the Herrerian-style tower and other sections built between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries will give you an insight to the history of this monumental construction, which has been uninhabited since  1985.

Colegiata Church of Roncesvalles

The Pyrenean enclave of Orreaga/ Roncesvalles in the north-east of Navarre near the French border, represents a milestone on the Pilgrim's Way and is home to one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture on the Iberian Peninsula: the Colegiata de Santa María (St. Mary's Collegiate Church). 

The descent from the Ibañeta mountain pass, on the road from Luzaide/Valcarlos brings us to this old hostel/hospital, built at the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century to take care of pilgrims following the Pilgrim's Way after crossing the Pyrenees.www.sanferminbalconies.com

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Alterpiece of San Miguel de Aralar

This is an exceptional example of mediaeval European imagery; it has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. Attributed to a workshop in Limoges, this 12th-century Romanesque altarpiece is on display behind a grass screen on the high altar of the church of the Sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar.

Thirty-seven enamel panels make up a singular collection of figures, harmonically arranged on a gilded metal plate 2 metres wide and 1.4 metres higth.

The absence of medals and small sections of arches remind us that 'Erik the Belgian', an international art thief, stole a large number of pieces of this exceptional work in 1979 Fortunately, almost all of them have been recovered over the years.

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St. Mary of Eunate

This Church 's one of the loveliest and most evocative churches on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela: the church of Our Lady of Eunate (1170), a simple, unique and mysterious building.

It stands in solitude just before you reach Puente la Reina in the middle of a flat, open landscape which takes on the colour of sunflowers in summer. Its octagonal layout and the cloister that surrounds it differentiate it from any other Romanesque church.

The continuing mystery about its origin and its unsettling interior have aroused great interest in this church, which has been a pilgrims' hospital, a funeral chapel, a beacon and guide for walkers, a place of Christian worship and a telluric sanctuary for those seeking esoteric powers.

Come and be fascinated by its enigmatic geometry and breathtaking interior, and try to guess the meaning of its name in Basque: "one hundred doors". 

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The Royal Palace of Olite

The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) of Olite, the seat of the Court of Navarre until its union with Castile (1512), was one of the most luxurious mediaeval castles in Europe. A 12th-century German traveller wrote his impressions in his diary, now conserved in the British Museum in London: "Surely there is no king with a more beautiful castle or palace and with so many gilded rooms".

Looking at its majestic profile and the elegance of its whimsical towers, it is not hard to imagine oneself back in the mediaeval era and to feel the life of the Court in a palace that was richly decorated and had exotic gardens and even a zoo! Jousts and tournaments were held here, as were pelota games and even bullfights. Olite evokes that past today, in which it became the seat of the Court during the reign of King Carlos III 'el Noble', during its annual Mediaeval Fair.

The Royal Palace of Olite is proof of the splendour of the Court that Olite hosted during the Middle Ages. This historic town is located in the Central Zone of Navarre, 42 kilometres south of Pamplona. Declared a National Monument in 1925, it covers one-third of the old part of the town and is considered one of the most interesting Gothic complexes in Europe.

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Bertiz Natural Park

The Señorío de Bertiz estate belongs to the municipality of Oieregi and 'border' with the Etxalar and with the Baztán Valley.  Although its origins go back to the end of the 14th century, its present splendour is due to the last Lord of Bertiz, Pedro Ciga, who donated the estate to the Government of Navarre in 1949. The regional government declared it a Natural Park shortly after.

There are several paths of different length and gradient that allow you to appreciate the finer points of this Atlantic wood. If you prefer, specialist guides can take you to unforgettable spots while they tell you amazing stories about mythological figures. Explore this Atlantic wood, where a damp microclimate, free of frosts, has created an elegant and exuberant natural environment.

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Castle of Javier

A silhouette of crenelated towers cuts the horizon, welcoming your arrival at the Castle of Javier, the birthplace of San Francisco Javier (St Francis Xavier), patron saint of Navarre, religious missions and tourism in Spain.

The fortress stands on a rock outcrop 8 kilometres from Sangüesa in the Central Zone of Navarre. Every year in early March the castle is the destination of thousands of people from all over Navarre in the popular pilgrimage known as the Javierada.

Cross the drawbridge and enter a world of towers, dungeons, machicolations, embrasures and arrow slits, enabling you to get to know the place where Francis Xavier was born (1506) and lived. He was later the co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and one of the most universal missionaries.

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The Irati Forest

The Irati Forest is the second largest and best preserved beech and fir forest in Europe, an immense green mantle of some 17,000 hectares that is still in an almost unspoiled state. Standing among the western Pyrenees of Navarre, the Irati Forest is accessed from the picturesque villages of Ochagavía and Orbaitzeta and is a natural treasure in which you can find the protected areas of Mendilatz and Tristuibartea and the Lizardoia Integral Reserve.

Sit down in the heart of the forest and enjoy communing with nature; let yourself be enveloped in a silence broken only by the wild rushing of water between beeches and firs. Admire the crystalline currents of the river Irati that turn turquoise in the Irabia reservoir and listen out for the elusive sounds of the fauna and stroll across the soft blanket of grass that covers the Irati Forest. The scent of the woods will impregnate itself in your skin.

In Navarra´s County there are a lot of baby girls named Irati. In 2013 was the most popular name among the baby girls born in this year.

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Navarre, the Arbaiun Gorge

The Arbaiun Gorge, at the bottom of the Pyrenean valley of Salazar, between Lumbier and Romanzado, is the longest and most stunning of all the gorges in Navarre. The river Salazar has cut the rock away over the centuries, giving rise to an unparalleled spectacle. Imposing vertical walls run for almost 6 kilometres.

A diverse and peculiar vegetation grows inside the gorge providing a variety of seasonal colours of great beauty. On its rocky outcrops there is a huge colony of griffon vultures, which you can see flying if you lean out over Arbayún from the viewpoint at Iso. This immense natural wealth has led to the Arbaiun Gorge being declared a Nature Reserve and also a Special Protection Area for Birds.

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Urdazubi/Urdax´s Caves

    80 kilometres away from Pamplona is the small Pyrenean village of Urdazubi / Urdax with many attractions : Medieval Bridges, Manor Houses, and Ancient Buildings such as the Romanesque Monastery of San Salvador as well as some Prehistoric Caves. Ikaburu´s, the only open to the general public sits under the green pastures of  Navarra few miles from the coast and right in the border with France.

This cave was originated around 14,000 years ago thanks to the continue erosion of Urtxuma´s River. The only way to discover and enjoy this cave galleries is if you have a guided tour.

    

Formerly these caves were occupied by Rebels, Smugglers, Bandits, Witches and Monks. It´s Stalactites and stalagmites could tell hundreds of stories.

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Witches Museum

History is such that the memory of Zugarramurdi will always be associated with the Inquisition; in the Middle Ages about thirty women from the village were tried or punished in a ruthless way. Why? Jealousy? Political or cultural differences? Many efforts have been made to try and clarify what happened back then. On the one hand, the isolated north of Navarre encouraged the conservation of theories of devil worship and natural remedies that could have been confused with witchcraft. On the other, the struggles between clans (agramonteses and beaumonteses) favoured envy between the two major noble family factions that led to many false accusations.

The museum, located in the old hospital of the village not far from the famous cave, deals with the world of witchcraft and portrays the society of Navarre in the 17th century, with all its myths and legends.

The route begins with a general presentation of the area of Xareta (Sara, Ainhoa, Urdazubi/Urdax and Zugarramurdi), showing the green-hued landscape that was home to the magical world of witches and covens. The visitor can then enjoy a film titled "La caza de brujas" (witch hunt), which sets out to cast some light on the process of the Inquisition in 1610.

On the first floor we can discover the birth of the myth called María Ximilegui. Although she took part in covens after her arrival in Zugarramurdi she later repented and told the authorities what went on every night. That is how the biggest witch hunt ever conducted in Spain began.

The second floor contains the myths, the matriarchal society of the time and the figure of the herbalist. A series of exhibitions and audiovisuals reveal the ancestral wisdom of the women of the time, who used the power of nature to apply remedies to illnesses and evils.

After learning about the history, there is nothing better than a visit to the cave of Zugarramurdi that was home to those unbridled rituals and feasts. Let your imagination fly. The festivities are revived every year on 18th August, when the zikiro-jate is held, a collective meal whose star is roast lamb on a stake.

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Navarre, Mendukilo Cave

At 31 kilometres from Pamplona, in Larraun´s Valley is the Astitz council, few minutes away from Lekunberri´s Village. There you can visit the Mendukilo´s Cave, in the depths of Aralar´s Mountain Chain. For many years it has only been accessible to speleologists and currently is accessible to the general public.

If you want to get away from the bustle of the San Fermin Festival, their Running of the Bulls, the Bullfights and the crowd this is a good place to visit. Some scientists believe that the subsoil is from the sixth continent, tranquil, quiet, and full of mysteries!  

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Navarre, Orgi's Foret

Only 25 kilometers away from Pamplonais Orgi´s Forest. It is a wet oak  forest. Unfortunately, these kinds of forest are very scarce nowadays as they a very unique ecological imprint and, Orgi´s forest is a good example of them.Orgi is a Community Mountain * of 77 hectares belong into the Lizaso´s Council. After centuries of heavy exploitation it’s currently under going a process of natural regeneration. Orgi´s Forest is declared a Recreational Natural Area in 1996, being the first protected area in Navarra to this category. Since then they host a pilot project for public use while in nature.

Most of the children knowthis forest as they visit with their schools.

* Community Mount means that its exploitation belongs to the locals who live in that area. Back in the old times, the benefits of this exploitation were were divided among its neighbours.

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