KINGDOM OF NAVARRE by Turismo Reyno de Navarra

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To the north, Navarre shares a 100-mile-long border with France. To the south, it borders on La Rioja and Zaragoza province, to the east Huesca and Zaragoza, and to the west, Gipuzkoa and Araba/ Ă lava. Navarre covers 10,421 km2 and is made up of four main areas: the Pyrenees, the Pamplona Basin, the Central Zone and La Ribera (the southern area along the Ebro valley). Its population is over 620,000, of which about half live in the capital, Pamplona, and other large towns around the city. Other cities are Tudela, the second largest in Navarre and capital of La Ribera, and Estella-Lizarra, SangĂźesa and Tafalla, all in the Central Zone.

Location

FRANCE

SPAIN

Pamplona

NAVARRE

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The Pyrenees: forests, mountains and valleys The Pyrenees rise up in the north of Navarre in an area that has seen warriors, shepherds, pilgrims, kings, heroes and smugglers over the centuries. They form a landscape of high peaks and deep valleys, shady woods and large, open meadows, gorges and historic livestock trails. The Pyrenean mountain range falls away gradually from east to west. From the border with Aragon to the coast of the Bay of Biscay, the Continental climate becomes Atlantic and the landscape changes along the way. From the imposing rock faces of Larra and the extensive beech and spruce forests of Irati, via the Collegiate Church of Orreaga/Roncesvalles, the landscape softens as it drops down to the Baztan-Bidasoa valley and the imposing plateaux of Aralar, Urbasa and AndĂa.

The Pyrenees

The Pyrenees.

The Pamplona Basin: history, tranquillity... and festivities Pamplona is the political, administrative, economic and cultural centre of Navarre. Well-known thanks to the fiesta of Sanfermines and the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, the ancient walled city now extends across the plain of the river Arga and joins up with the surrounding towns to form an urban sprawl that is home to a quarter of a million people. In addition to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attractive historic centre, the traveller will find Pamplona a dynamic place with a great variety of architecture, excellent shopping, large parks and many bars and cafeterias to meet.

Pamplona basin

Pamplona. The Citadel and Baluarte.

The Central Zone: villages, castles and monasteries The Central Zone oozes history, evoking monarchs, abbots, fortresses, castles, and palaces. The centuries slip by here in the wind, clouds, gentle hills, vineyards and cereal fields, and the earth itself. The Central Zone has a variety of different areas that are crossed from east to west by the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela: the area around SangĂźesa (also called Baja MontaĂąa, literally, "Low Mountains"), the central part that includes Olite and the Valdorba, and Tierra Estella to the west. There are several places here that retain the mark of their mediaeval origin, thanks to their enormous importance during the history of the ancient Kingdom of Navarre.

The Central Zone

Artajona.

The Ribera: landscapes and market gardens along the river Ebro La Ribera is a happy, welcoming place, an area of wide plains with a market gardening tradition that goes back to the Arabs. The products of the area are the basis for a gastronomy that is unique in the world. La Ribera is also home to the natural park of Bardenas Reales, a desert-like area declared a Natural Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO. The capital of La Ribera, Tudela, evokes its foundation by the Arabs and the Jewish community with its beautiful cathedral (built between the 12th and the 18th centuries) that stands on the site of an ancient mosque, and in nearby towns such as Corella jewels of Baroque and Renaissance architecture are to be found.

La Ribera

Bardenas Reales.

Why Navarre?

Discover Navarre

Royal Palace of Olite.

Navarre is varied, historical, and natural. It is a peaceful, diverse place, linked to the Sanfermines and the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela. Navarre is worth getting to know well, which is why the traveller should take his or her time to discover it. As if it were a person, Navarre has a thousand faces: a mixture of historical heritage, gastronomy, hospitality, different landscapes, mountains, peace, tradition, folklore, modernity...

Fern. Baztan Valley.

Sunflowers.

The Kingdom of The Four Seasons The Source of the Urederra.

Navarre is reflected in nature and wears its best clothes in each season. The Pyrenees of Navarre choose green in spring, a deep, satiny green that invites you to walk as long as possible, with time to let yourself be carried away by the smell of the damp earth. Navarre turns to fiesta time with the arrival of the summer. A season that reaches its most intense moments in San FermĂn. In autumn, Navarre turns to the colour ochre to dress its enormous Pyrenean woods, its viewpoints and vineyards. In winter, the highest peaks of the Pyrenees contrast with the green of the valleys. Tread fresh snow and look for new colours, new seasons.

Royal and General Archive of Navarra.

Bardenas Reales.

Beech forest in autum.

Beech forest in winter.

Routes through

History

Lodosa. Roman bridge.

Routes are means of communication between people, but also an echo of history and culture. The Pilgrim's Way has two main routes in Navarre: the one that enters through Luzaide/Valcarlos and Orreaga/Roncesvalles and heads for Pamplona, and the other (from the Aragonese Pyrenees) that passes through Sangüesa and the Monastery of Leyre. The two routes join at Puente La Reina and continue towards the delightful town of Estella-Lizarra, then on to Los Arcos, Torres del Río and Viana. In Navarre, there are several paths such as the Vias verdes (green routes) or the Cañada Real (Royal Livestock Trail), the last vestige of transhumance in Navarre and is still used to move flocks of sheep and goats from the Pyrenees to the Bardenas Reales.

Santa María de Eunate.

Bardenas Reales. Paso de la Ralla.

A land of Tradition

Navarre speaks to you through tradition, music and dance, with special dances like the “jota”, “makildantza”, “zortziko”, “ezpatadantza” and “paloteados”. Celebrations linked to religious tradition: the 'Javierada' to the castle at Javier, the 'Misterio de Obanos', the “Misterio de los Reyes” (Mystery of the Three Wise Men) in Sangüesa. Easter is felt with special fervour in places such as Corella, Cabanillas or Tudela, with the ceremonies of the “Volatín” and the “Bajada del ángel”. Furthermore, in Burgui, its worth enjoying the celebration of the Día de la Almadia. Some of these festivities have recently been declared a Festivity of National Interest.

Cortes. "Paloteado".

Ochagavía. "Bobo".

Ujué. Pilgrimage.

Partyng big time The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fiesta of all fiestasâ&#x20AC;? takes place in Pamplona. On July 6th the festivity of San FermĂn begins, including encierros (bull runs) and corridas (bullfights), processions of ornamental giants and dwarves, and a general feeling of being together in the middle of a festive and happy chaos. Navarre is home to a great number of festivities throughout the year; from the Carnivals to celebrations with bulls and sports based on rural activities.

Pamplona. Encierro.

Joalduna.

Authentic people Traditional values still live on in Navarre, day to day. Ways of life are assumed and passed on from generation to generation quite naturally. A way of life that retains an element of loyalty to history and to places, creating a feeling that you are in the presence of authentic people. This is why the visitor does not feel there is anything artificial in the way people in rural areas are. The desire to share celebrations with the visitor is another clear example of the natural and generous outlook the Navarrese have on life and festivities.

Leitza. Rural sport.

Lantz. Carnival.

The kingdom of

Good cuisine Navarre gives the taste of the past back to the visitor because it has been able to preserve a gastronomic tradition that makes eating a social event. Popular cuisine is based on all the products that the varied landscape of Navarre provides. The region's restaurants have won international prestige thanks to the quality of the raw materials. Chefs from Navarre are among the most prestigious in the world of Nouvelle Cuisine. From its market gardens come asparagus, artichokes, red 'Piquillo' peppers or pochas (succulent white beans) as starters. For the second course, T-bone steaks, roast meats, fish and ajoarriero (salted cod in a sauce with peppers and oil), and for dessert, cheese, junket, canutillos (wafers with cream), home-made custard or leche frita (literally, "fried milk"). Let yourself be seduced! Navarrese cuisine has an excellent ally in its red, rosé and white wines. Covered by the "Navarra" and "Rioja" Designations of Origin.

Cheeseboard (by courtesy of ICAN).

Pamplona. Paseo de San Lorenzo.

Wherever you feel

Good

Piquillo peppers .

Navarre is one of the regions with the highest quality of life indicators in Spain. Three universities offer degree courses to students from all over the world, in addition to promoting research and congresses. The recognised prestige of its hospital system has meant that Navarre has become an international benchmark in the field of health care. Navarre lives in harmony with its varied natural heritage. Citizens, institutions and companies all make a commitment to respect the environment, as is shown by the rise of the renewable energy sector.

Pacharán (by courtesy of C.R. Pacharán).

Pamplona. Centro de Investigación Médica aplicada.

Asparagus.

Pamplona. Yamaguchi Park.

Suggestions for discovering Navarre

Navarre,

a land of diversity

Pyrenees. Malloas.

12 La Ribera. Bardenas Reales.

Navarre is really worth a long stay. It is a peaceful place, with a variety of landscape and cultural heritage that can be enjoyed all year round.

These cultural and natural attractions are always within easy reach, because distances in Navarre are never very great. So, we would like to offer the traveller the chance to discover Navarre and its essential features.

Estella-Lizarra. San Pedro de la RĂşa.

Beech forest.

OchagavĂa (by courtesy of Publicaciones).

Day1 Pamplona, capital of the ancient kingdom. Strolls through history and life. The echo of the Sanfermines.

Pamplona is a modern, hospitable city with much evidence of its medieval past, carefully looked-after buildings and a great variety of cultural attractions and gastronomy. The capital of Navarre, located on the Way of St. James, has welcomed arriving pilgrims through the centuries at the La Magdalena bridge, an ideal starting point for a stroll along the city walls. From the north, the Portal de Francia leads into the old quarter of the city and the Gothic cathedral of

reveals interesting buildings such as the church-fortresses of San Nicolás and San Saturnino, the old city walls,and the Interpretation Centre of the Fortifications, the Museum of Navarre and the Palace of the Kings of Navarre, which now houses the General Archives

The transition from Old Iruña to modern Pamplona takes place in the green belt formed by the parks of La Media Luna, La Taconera and La Vuelta del Castillo. The last-named is linked to the old Citadel. On the site of one of its old bastions the modern 'Baluarte' Congress Centre and Auditorium has been built. Yamaguchi park, where the city's Planetarium is located, is in the modern part of the city to the west.

Pamplona. The City Walls.

Santa María La Real, built in the 12th and 15th centuries. A neoclassic façade dominates the entrance to the church, whose highlight is its Gothic cloister in the French style. A stroll through the Old Part of the city

of Navarre. The there is the Chapel of San Fermín in the church of San Lorenzo, the Pablo Sarasate Museum, the City Hall with its Baroque façade, the Cámara de Comptos (the only civil Gothic building in the city) and the Plaza del Castillo, at the heart of the city. This square surrounded by porches has a number of café terraces, including the well-known Café Iruña. Pamplona and its Old Part are inextricably linked to the Sanfermines and the encierro (Bull Run). The Sanfermines, which became a synonym for the word fiesta thanks to the novelist Ernest Hemingway, attract thousands of revellers from all over the world between July 6th and 14th every year. Nevertheless, on any day of the year you can stroll along the streets where the runners and bulls challenge each other: Santo Domingo, City Hall Square, Mercaderes and Estafeta, and then on to the Bullring.

Pamplona. Town hall.

The towns and village around the capital -the area known as the Cuenca (basin) of Pamplona- also offer interesting features to the visitor. In Huarte, the Centre of Contemporary Art, the house-museum of the sculptor Jorge Oteiza is located in Alzuza; it is a modern building designed by the architect Sáenz de Oiza and is home to the extensive work of the sculptor and conserves the rooms where he lived and worked for many years. The Pamplona basin also holds a number of jewels of Romanesque architecture such as the churches in Gazólaz or Cizur Menor.

Gastronomy Pamplona presents the visitor with all the typical products of Navarrese cuisine, although we would make a special mention to the lamb from the Pamplona basin and dishes with bull meat during the Sanfermines. Other typical products of the capital and the surrounding area are chorizo,

relleno (black sausage without the blood), milk coffee sweets, txantxigorri cakes and coronillas (flaky pastry with cream in the centre). Make sure you try some pinchos (tapas), wines and liqueurs in the bars of the Old Part, or enjoy the traditional poteo (aperitif) before and after lunch.

Events Pamplona is inevitably associated with the Sanfermines, Spain's most international fiesta. The bull runs and bullfights, the peñas (social clubs that provide most of the animation in the streets), the chupinazo (inaugural rocket), the procession in honour of San Fermín, the dianas (band music and dancing at sunrise) and the gigantes (papier-mâché giants) all turn the city into a non-stop party from noon on July 6th to midnight on the 14th. The Carnival is also celebrated in the Pamplona basin and the surrounding area. The best known and most imitated Pamplona. San Saturnino.

Pamplona. Encierro.

of all the carnivals in Navarre is the one held in the small village of Lantz, just 20 kilometres north of Pamplona. There is a whole host of characters: Miel Otxin, Ziripot, the txatxos, the zaldiko, the arotzak, and the popular zortziko dance.

Day2 The Way of St. James I: starting at Orreaga/Roncesvalles (Roncesvaux), the mythical entry point of the route towards Pamplona.

Navarre is the northern 'gate' of the Way of St. James. The three main routes in Europe (the Via Turonense, which started in Paris, the Via Lemovicense, from Vezelay, and the Via Podense, which began in Le Puy) join in the nearby French locality of Ostabat and enter Navarre at Luzaide/Valcarlos, a pretty border town in the Pyrenean valleys. The route climbs up to the Ibañeta pass, on whose summit is a new hermitage dedicated to San Salvador and the monument to Roldán (Roland) and a monolith commemorating the Battle of Roncesvalles, in which Charlemagne's troops were defeated by the Vascons in 778. Going over the Ibañeta pass southwards you reach the Collegiate Church of Orreaga/ Roncesvalles, which was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Its outstanding feature is the church of Santa María with its beautiful Gothic wood carving of the Virgin Mary and its 17th-century cloister, the chapel of the Holy Spirit, the 12th-century ‘Charlemagne's silo’ or the church of Santiago (St James) Going south the Pilgrim's Way passes through the delightful Pyrenean villages of Auritz/ Burguete and Aurizberri/ Espinal, with their imposing and wellkept houses. Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles (inside).

Orreaga / Roncesvalles in winter.

Events Luzaide / Valcarlos.

Approaching Pamplona, we find a medieval bridge, basilica and hospitalinn of the Holy Trinity at Arre, and the road then leads on to Villava and Burlada as far as Pamplona. You enter the Old Part of the city across the beautiful bridge of La Magdalena and the Portal (gate) de Francia (also known as ZumalacĂĄrregui after a Carlist general) at the feet of the restored city walls.

One of the traditions of Luzaide/Valcarlos is the dance of the bolantes, which is held on the first Sunday of Easter. The dancers interpret spectacular and acrobatic hundredyear-old dances dressed in striking clothes. RomerĂas (popular pilgrimages) to Orreaga/Roncesvalles, which are always held on Sundays, date from the 12th century. In Spring every year the Collegiate Church welcomes pilgrims from the northern side of the Pyrenees, Luzaide/ Valcarlos, the valleys of Erro, Arce, Oroz Betelu and Aezkoa, and Pamplona.

Gastronomy

Villages such as Auritz/Burguete and Aurizberri/Espinal have preserved ancient traditions such as the bonfires of San Juan (June 23rd) or a food fair in September.

This area of the Navarrese Pyrenees offers the visitor varied cuisine, the highlights being game, beef and lamb dishes, patĂŠs and desserts such as cheese or cuajada (junket).

In Sorogain a traditional ceremony of livestock branding is held in May and September that brings people from both sides of the border together in an excellent festive atmosphere.

Cheese.

Day3 Way of St. James II: Pamplona to Viana. Puente La Reina, the crossroads.

The Way of St. James leaves the Pamplona basin at Cizur Menor and, after crossing the El Perdón pass, enters the area known as Valdizarbe. The church of Santa María de Eunate stands in the municipality of Muruzábal, near Obanos and Puente La Reina. Eunate, a church of mysterious origin, is a beautiful and original Romanesque structure with an octagonal shape surrounded by a curious ring of arches that are separate from the church. In Puente La Reina, where the routes from Orreaga/Roncesvalles and the Tolosana (or Egidiana) route from Somport come together, do not miss

Puente la Reina (Queen’s Bridge).

the Church of the Crucifix and a walk along the Rúa Mayor (high street), where the Church of Santiago is also worth a visit. The Pilgrim's Way leaves Puente La Reina across the beautiful Romanesque bridge over the Arga that gives the town its name (literally, Queen's Bridge). Just off the main road to Estella-Lizarra is the reservoir at Alloz, where a variety of water sports can be enjoyed. Estella-Lizarra, which was awarded its own fuero (charter) in 1090, has many buildings of interest such as the Palace of the Kings of Navarre, the church of San Pedro de la Rúa, the house of Fray

Diego de Estella, the church of San Miguel or the basilica of Nuestra Señora (Our Lady) del Puy. Not far away to the south-west is the Monastery of Iratxe, whose highlights are the Romanesque church that was begun in the 12th century and a large 17th-century building in the Herrerian style. North of Estella-Lizarra (near Abárzuza) a road leads up to the Monastery of Irantzu, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey beneath the karstic range of hills known as the Sierra of Urbasa. A housemuseum has been built on the Raso (flat plain) of Urbasa that evokes the

way of life of the shepherds and charcoal burners who used to live in the area. At the entrance to the Natural Park of Urbasa and Andía on the road from Olazti-Olazagutía there is an Information Centre on the park. A number of signposted routes mean that you can visit the area on foot or by bicycle; you will find rocky outcrops, beech forests, underground streams and shepherds' huts. In the south of Estella-Lizarra, in Arellano, is located the Roman city of “Las Musas”. Returning to the Way of St. James the next stop is Los Arcos, a town that conserves a number of gates in its old walls and has Renaissance and Baroque buildings as well as the imposing church of Santa María and the Navarre Motor Racing Circuit. In Sorlada, just a few kilometres from Los Arcos, stands the basilica of San Gregorio Ostiense, a Baroque church in honour of the patron saint of fields and crops.

Events Every two years in summer there are representations of the Misterio de Obanos, a passion play and festivity that has been declared of National Tourist Interest. It tells the life and legend of San Guillermo and Santa Felicia, in which professional actors take part alongside many of the people from Obanos. Estella-Lizarra. Capital.

Torres del Río holds one of the treasures of Romanesque architecture in Navarre: the church of the Holy Sepulchre. From there, a road leads up to the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Codés, which stands at the foot of the mountain range of the same name. The last town on the Way of St. James in Navarre is Viana, a monumental town with a fortified main square and narrow streets. Its most striking building is the church of Santa María, a churchfortress in whose atrium the remains of Caesar Borgia lie.

Churches such as the Basilica of El Puy in Estella-Lizarra, San Gregorio Ostiense or the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Codés in Torralba del Río are the destinations of many romerías (popular pilgrimages) every year. Viana is the only place in Navarre that has murgas de carnaval, groups of residents in fancy dress who sing humorous or protest songs on Carnival Sunday; the tradition dates back to the 16th century.

Gastronomy Tierra Estella is one of the areas of Navarre with the greatest variety of gastronomy, with dishes such as red peppers, asparagus, roast suckling pig or cheeses from Urbasa (with Idiazabal designation of origin), and desserts and sweets such as alpargatas (flaky pastries), rocas del Puy (chocolate with almonds) or pastas (tea cakes) from Viana. The area also produces excellent wines, many of them belonging to the Navarre and Rioja designations of origin.

Torres del Río. Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Sierra de Urbasa.

Day4 Selva de Irati, the second largest beech-fir forest in Europe. Salazar and Aezkoa valleys.

At the top of Salazar and Aezkoa valleys (in the north-east of the Navarrese Pyrenees) lies the Selva of Irati, the second largest and best preserved beech-fir forest of Europe, after the Black Forest of Alemania. This spectacular forest invites you to stroll along the paths around the Irabia reservoir, climb up to the megalith site of Azpegi or the Roman tower of Urkulu (1,438 metres above sea level) and listen to the sounds of the animals or the endless rushing of water. Irati also has rest and picnic areas.

Irati Forest. Irabia reservoir.

Ochagavia.

Events

Abaurrepea / Abaurrea baja.

Ochagavía, one of the prettiest villages in the Navarrese Pyrenees, is the entry point to the Salazar valley and the Selva de Irati. It is a charming place, with its medieval bridge, narrow cobbled streets and well-kept houses on both sides of the river Anduña. Four kilometres from the village lies the sanctuary of Our Lady of Muskilda, a 12th-century Romanesque hermitage.

Ochagavía also has a Nature Interpretation Centre with information on the ecosystems of the valley and its way of life and traditions. On the road to Larrau 13.5 kilometres from Ochagavía are the Nordic skiing slopes of Abodi, which start from the old customs post at Pikatua. To the west of the Selva de Irati, very close to Orreaga/ Roncesvalles, is the welcoming and charming Aezkoa valley. It has the largest number of conserved hórreos (outdoor granaries) in Navarre together with streets, houses and spots of great beauty, such as the ruins of the old munitions factory at Orbaizeta, built on the site of an ancient medieval foundry.

Gastronomy The gastronomy of these Pyrenean valleys is a faithful reflection of its lifestyles, characterised by game, beef and lamb, mushrooms, dairy-based desserts and cheese.

Ochagavía. Chapel of Muskilda. Dancers.

Old munitions factory of Orbaitzeta.

The ritual dances in honour of the Virgin Mary of Muskilda, near Ochagavía, are one of the oldest ancestral rites in the Navarrese Pyrenees. They are performed every year on September 8th (Nativity of the Virgin Mary). Eight dancers dressed in white holding bells and castanets dance with a harlequin called “el Bobo” (the idiot). Every spring the nine villages in the Aezkoa valley participate in the romería to the Virgin Mary of Orreaga in nearby Roncesvalles. The cortège is highly colourful, with cross-bearers, grieving women, children with flowers and the mayors and young people dressed in the typical costume of the valley.

Day5 Baztan valley. An evergreen land of noblemen. Caves of Zugarramurdi and Urdazubi/ Urdax. The Baztan valley is a land of noblemen, indianos who returned after making their fortunes in the Americas, smugglers, shepherds and pilgrims who travelled to Santiago along the alternative route that crosses the valley. Baztan is an evergreen valley with an

Baztan valley.

Atlantic climate and is also the largest municipality in Navarre, covering 374 square kilometres, 15 towns/villages and dozens of caserĂos (farmhouses) that dot a landscape of cultivated fields, woods, and meadows in which livestock graze. There are several medieval

palaces and noble houses in the valley, all of them well kept and of great beauty. The visitor to Arrraioz is met by the haughty figure of the Palace of Jauregizarrea, a tower of medieval origin with a wooden platform at the top. The

Txuri eta beltz. Relleno.

Elizondo, game dishes, charcoal-grilled lamb, steaks, txuri ta beltz (a typical black sausage from Navarre), mushrooms, pâté, liqueurs, cheese and junket.

Arizkun. Santxotena-Museum.

road to Ziga leads up to the belvedere of the Baztan, which offers excellent views over the area. The commercial and administrative centre of Baztan is Elizondo, with its noble houses, palaces and monumental and religious buildings. Baztan has interesting museums such as the ethnographic museum dedicated to Jorge Oteiza (Elizondo), the Santxotena sculpture museum (Arizkun) or the Witches’ museum (Zugarramurdi). It also has delightful spots such as the Xorroxin waterfall (Erratzu), the dolmens of Izpegi and the megaliths of ErratzuAldudes. On the way to the border with France, a road at the top of the Otsondo pass leads to Urdazubi/ Urdax, where you

can see a mill, a monastery and the spectacular caves of Ikaburu. A guided tour reveals beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites and the flowing waters of the Urtxuma, a stream that runs through the caves. Las caves of Urdazubi/ Urdax are linked by road or a signposted path to those of Zugarramurdi, which history and legend have always associated with witchcraft.

Gastronomy Baztan also stands out for its gastronomy, with special mention for the chocolate and confectionery of 23

Urdazubi / Urdax. Cave (inside).

Events Elizondo is well-known for its fiestas and livestock fairs, particularly the Day of San Antón (January 17th), when a cow is walked through the streets and then raffled, and the “Baztandarren Biltzarra” or brotherhood fiesta of the valley, which takes place in July with a procession of floats, a handicraft fair and the mutildantza.

Day6 Señorío de Bertiz, a beautiful natural park, and the Bidasoa valley, an ethnographical paradise.

famous one hundred years ago. The nearby village of Zubieta has recovered an old mill by the river (built in 1785); it has been converted into an eco-museum. Inside there are three working mills that grind wheat and corn, plus an ethnographic exhibition with characteristic features of the area. In Donamaria the highlight is the

lakes built in the middle of a magnificent beech wood. The road to France takes you to Sunbilla, with its three-arched stone bridge; Etxalar, a village of fine houses where pigeon hunting is elevated to the status of art; Lesaka, where the dantzaris dance the makil dantza every July 7th on the stone parapet running along the

Zubieta. Mill (inside).

The Señorío de Bertiz is a 2,040hectare natural park where oak, alder, beech and chestnut woods abound. It has a charming garden full of exotic species from all parts of the world and a Nature Interpretation Centre where the visitor can learn about the area's rich natural heritage. Nowadays it belongs to the Government of Navarre and has become a leisure area and a starting point for hill walks. The road from Bertiz to the province of Gipuzkoa runs along the river Bidasoa, through the Regata del Bidasoa. From Doneztebe/ Santesteban a road leads up to Leitza along the valley of the river Ezkurra via Elgorriaga. This locality, well known to mushroom hunters has recovered the spa that made it

Bertiz. Señorío.

Jauregia house-tower, a typical noble tower of the 15th century with a wooden platform. From Urrotz you can reach the natural area of the reservoirs of Leurtza, two small 24

river Onín; and Bera, home of the Baroja family. Most of these places are linked by a flat 27-kilometre route that follows the old Bidasoa railway line.

Events

Donamaria. Jauregia house-tower.

Gastronomy Wood pigeon and other game dishes stand out in the varied gastronomy of the valley, which includes the prized Bidasoa salmon, duck-based products, piperropiles (pepper cakes) and the canutillos (wafers with cream) dessert from Sunbilla.

Ioaldunak.

Ituren and Zubieta are two villages joined by the mid-winter celebration of one of the most genuine and best known carnavales in Navarre. Every year the zanpantzar (or orjoaldunak) cowbell carriers- and their colourful cortège chase away evil spirits. Also of interest is the Carnival of Lesaka, with its zaku zaharrak, that of Arantza, interpreted by the mozorroak (young people), and that of Bera, which has two different parts: zíngaros (gypsies) and caldereros (tinkers) and the procession of the iñudek eta artzaiak. On July 7th the “makil dantza” is performed on the stone parapet along the river in the Sanfermines of Lesaka.

Etxalar. Church and steles.

Day7 Sierra de Aralar and the Leitzaran and Ultzama valleys. Walks through natural green settings.

At the foot of the majestic Sierra of Aralar lies Lekunberri, a town with several traditional houses with ashlars on their corners and elegant windows and coats of arms on their façades. The town centre is located around the parish church of San Juan Bautista, an 18th-century building with a single nave and a circular header. From Lekunberri it is easy to reach the Vía Verde del Plazaola, a 'green route'

along the old railway line of the same name that used to link Pamplona and Donostia-San Sebastián. You can travel from Mugiro to Andoain along this route by bicycle or on horseback or on foot. The road that goes up to the Sierra de Aralar also starts in Lekunberri. Aralar is great karstic massif that runs between

is the cave of Mendukilo, a 60-metre long and 20-metre high cavity that reveals three spectacular chambers with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. At the top of the sierra, at 1,341 metres above sea level, is the Sanctuary of Aralar, a small church with three naves

Astitz. Mendukilo Cave.

Navarre and Gipuzkoa and offers excellent excursions for mountaineering and trekking enthusiasts. In Astitz The Orgi Forest.

rounded off by three semi-circular apses. A Baroque image of San Miguel is kept in the chapel, and the 12th-

You should not leave the Ultzama valley without trying its excellent sheep's milk cuajada (junket) or - in the autumn the prized hongo beltza (black mushroom).

Events

Aralar. Altarpiece.

century Romanesque altar piece is considered one of the best enamel works in Europe. The area around the sanctuary offers delightful views of the Arakil valley below and the Sierra of AndĂa opposite. The sanctuary can also be reached by a track that runs up from the Arakil valley, where the socalled 'dolmens route' lies. On the way to Leitza, with its grey-blue stone arched church, stop off in the pretty villages of Uitzi and Gorriti, both of which have imposing noble houses. The Kornieta windpark, reached along a track that starts at the Usategieta pass, provides spectacular views of the area with meadows, woods and livestock against a background of mountain peaks. In the green Ultzama valley, reached from Pamplona along the N-121-A road (turning left at Ostiz onto the NA 411), lies the Orgi wood, an 80-hectare oak grove more than 4,000 years old that has been converted into a Recreational Nature Zone with a view to combining the maintenance of the area's natural wealth with leisure activities.

Gastronomy The most typical product of the valleys near Aralar is sheep's cheese; it is sold under the Idiazabal designation of origin, which is shared by Navarre and Gipuzkoa. Other outstanding products are cold meats, beef and lamb, and cider.

In Altsasu/Alsasua the main fiestas are Santa Ă gueda (February 5th), in which young people take the leading role; the carnavales, with its traditional character the momotxorro; the popular pilgrimage to the hermitage of San Pedro (June 29th); and the livestock fair in September. On the last Sunday in August Uharte Arakil is the scene of the Artzai Eguna (Day of the Shepherd), which includes sheepdog trials and a cheese-making competition. In Leitza the dance of the ingurutxo on August 10th is a much-loved tradition in which the entire town dances in the streets as part of its fiesta. The ingurutxo, which is danced by couples, is the biggest group dance in Navarre.

Kaiku, junket and nuts.

Day8 Sangüesa and the surrounding area. The Castle of Javier and the Monastery of Leyre. The Roncal valley.

Sangüesa stands on the Way of St. James on a land of ancient medieval frontiers that has been crossed by many peoples. Its most emblematic monument is the Romanesque façade of the church of Santa María. Other highlights are the church of Santiago, noble houses such as those of the Príncipe of Viana and the Vallesantoro family, or the convents of the Carmelites and San Francisco. Just 5 miles from Sangüesa stands the Castle of Javier, the birthplace of San Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Navarre and one of the most important missionaries in Christianity. Between 1541 and 1552 he visited many places in Africa, Asia and Oceania, acting as a cultural bridge between the West and the Orient. The origin of the castle goes back to the 10th and 11th centuries; its latest and most magnificent restoration was completed in 2005. Very close by is the Yesa reservoir, a water sports centre, and the Monastery of San Salvador de Leyre, built in the foothills of the mountain range of the same name in a beautiful spot with spectacular views. It was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the remains of an old pre-Romanesque church. Its highlights are its Romanesque crypt and the 'Puerta Speciosa', a perfect 12th-century Romanesque portico. In Lumbier it is worth visiting The Interpretation Centre for the gorges of Arbaiun and Lumbier. It provides The gorge of Lumbier.

(succulent beans), its home-made cold meats or glorias de yema (made with egg yolk and sugar). Roncal is the paradise of traditional sheep cheese making (it has its own designation of origin) and migas de pastor (literally, 'shepherds' breadcrumbs').

Events

Burgui. Almadías.

interesting information on the natural environment of these impressive gorges cut into the rock by the force of water. In both gorges it is worth stopping to observe the birds of prey that nest there, particularly the majestic flight of the griffon vulture. Further north, on the border with France and Huesca, lies the Roncal valley, with seven beautiful towns and villages where some of the most peculiar traditions of Ujué. Migas de pastor.

Navarre are maintained. You can get to know them through a visit to the Museum del Almadía (raft museum) in Burgui, the house-museum of the tenor Julián Gayarre (Roncal), “La Casa de la Memoria” (Isaba), the Cheese museum (Uztárroz), and the Nature Interpretation Centre (Roncal). The Roncal valley is rounded off to the north by the Belagua valley and the Reserve of Larra, where cross-country skiing is practised. From here you can climb mountain peaks such as the Mesa de los Tres Reyes (2,422 m), Anie (2,507 m) or Ukerdi (2,248 m).

Every year on January 6th Sangüesa puts its heart into the representation of the Misterio de Reyes, one of the five passion plays conserved in Spain. Many people from the town take part, especially children. The Roncal valley is also the scene of two rituals that attract hundreds of visitors. Since 1992, between the end of April and early May, Burgui is home to the Día del Almadía (Day of the River Raft), with a five-kilometre descent of the river Esca by traditional wood-carrying rafts that used to follow the rivers from the north of Navarre to Zaragoza and on to Tortosa (on the Mediterranean). The Tributo de las Tres Vacas (Tribute of the Three Cows) has been held almost uninterruptedly since 1375 every July 13th on the border stone at La Piedra de San Martín, 1,760 metres above sea level. In this fiesta the mayors of the French valley of Baretous hand over three cows to their counterparts from the Roncal valley in a curious ceremony. It arose from an ancient agreement that put an end to continuous border disputes over grazing and water rights for livestock.

Gastronomy Sangüesa. Church of Santa María la Real. Façade.

Sangüesa's architectural attractions are complemented by its rich gastronomy, with a special mention for pochas 29

Monastery of Leyre. Crypt.

Day9 Olite. A medieval town, a jewel of royal dynasties. Monastery of La Oliva, fortresses and walled towns. The Central Zone of Navarre is a land of fortresses and castles built by the monarchs of Navarre in defence against the Arabs and neighbouring kingdoms. Just five kilometres south of Tafalla, the main town of the area, lies Olite, the seat of the Court of Navarre in the era of Carlos III. The town maintains its structure of medieval streets lined with noble houses and Renaissance and Baroque palaces. The most outstanding monument in Olite is the Royal Palace; its oldest part was converted into a Parador Nacional (heritage hotel) some years ago. The Palacio Nuevo, the idea of Carlos III and Leonor de Trastámara, was built in the French Gothic style, with all the sumptuous features of the best French palaces of the time. The spectacular Palacio Real and the beautiful churches of Santa María and San Pedro are joined by another major attraction in Olite: the Vine and Wine Exhibition Centre, which is located in a 17th-century palace. Wineries and cooperatives in the area are open all year round for guided visits and winetasting sessions.If we continue along the road to Ujué, we first pass through San Martín de Unx, which has a picturesque medieval centre and a beautiful Romanesque crypt in the church of San Martín de Tours. In Ujué you will find an old part with narrow cobbled streets that lead up to the Olite. Castle.

fortress-church of Santa María, which was built in a number of stages and styles over the centuries. Do not leave Ujué before trying the migas de pastor (shepherd's breadcrumbs) and almendras garrapiñadas (honey-coated almonds). To the south lies the Laguna de Pitillas, a large wetland that has been declared a Natural Reserve. It has a bird observatory with graphic and audiovisual materials. A few kilometres

Mendigorría is located the ruins of the Roman city of Andelos. Another area that preserves the essence of the medieval era is La Valdorba, a pleasant area north-east of Tafalla that consists of villages with buildings of character and delightful Romanesque architecture, stone crosses, funeral stones, churches and houses with coats of arms on their façades.

Monastery of La Oliva.

Artajona for its turrón del royo (a kind of nougat) and Tafalla for its caramelos de piñones (pine nut sweets).

Events

San Pedro de Echano. Olóriz (Valdorba).

further south is the Despoblado de Rada, a walled enclosure on top of a hill that was destroyed in the 16th century. In Carcastillo, make sure you stop off at the Monastery of La Oliva, an impressive architectural ensemble that includes a 12th-century Cistercian church, a Gothic cloister and the abbot's residence. Going north-west from Tafalla, take the NA-6030 road to Artajona, famous for its Cerco (walls) built between 1085 and 1109. The Cerco de Artajona still conserves 9 of the 14 original battlement towers and two of the original gates to the town. Inside the walls stands the church-fortress of San Saturnino, built in the 13th century with a beautiful Gothic portico. A 3.6-kilometre-long signposted track leads to the dolmens of Portillo de Enériz and La Mina. It is worth driving up to Berbinzana and the yacimiento de las Eretas, a fortified village from the Iron Age (7th century B.C.). Near

Gastronomy Olite is the wine capital of Navarre and is home to a Wine Museum. Excellent grape harvests are collected all over the area, which has well-known bodegas (wineries) that can be visited. Ujué is well known for its almendras garrapiñadas (honey-coated almonds),

Every year in November Artajona plays host to a carrera de layas, a spectacular event in which the youngsters from the town demonstrate their skill in a race with farming implements that replaced the traditional plough and were used into well into the 20th century. Tafalla has two livestock fairs every year, the most important being at the start of February and whose origins go back to 1419. It also welcomes a large number of visitors for its festivities in August, with a traditional Subida a la Salve (religious procession) and bull runs in the streets. The romerías to Ujué in the month of May, especially the one that starts in Tafalla, are the oldest and best attended popular pilgrimages in Navarre. Many villages from the surrounding area organise pilgrimages to the sanctuary of the Virgen Morena (Dark Virgin Mary). In Olite a Festival of Classical Theatre is held between July and August, and a Fiesta de la Vendimia (grape harvest festival) in early September.

Day10 La Ribera - the southern part of Navarre Bardenas Reales, a desert-like landscape. Tudela, a city of three cultures: Arab, Jewish and Christian. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the Parque Natural de las Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert area covering 42,500 hectares where erosion has carved out a landscape of high plains, hillocks and gullies that contains three Natural Reserves: el Rincón del Bu, las Caídas de la Negra and (to the north) the Natural Reserve of Vedado de Eguaras. You can cross Las Bardenas on foot or horseback and by bicycle or car. All the routes are well signposted, whichever means of transport you choose. Two of the best views of Las Bardenas are from the Alto de Aguilares and from the bird of prey observatory at the Balcón de Pilatos, which can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. The main city in La Ribera, and the second most important in Navarre, is Tudela. It was founded by the Arabs in the 9th century and remained under the control of Islam until 1119, when it became part of the Navarre-Aragon kingdom. Arabs, Christians and Jews lived together here for 400 years; a stroll through the city reveals many examples of this rich cultural heritage. As well as its Baroque and Renaissance palaces, the highlight is the Cathedral, declared a National Monument. It was first built in 1180 on the site of an old mosque, and its major features are a tower from the end of the 17th century and the façades of the Virgin

Mary, Santa Maria and the Final Judgement. Inside, the Romanesque cloister conserves some decorative elements from the old mosque. Other places of interest in Tudela are the Plaza de los Fueros (the central square), the Muñoz Sola Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Marquis of Huarte, the bridge over the River Ebro, the church of La Magdalena, the Palace of the Marquis of San Adrián and various other buildings of interest.

La Ribera offers much more, however. Fitero is home to a Cistercian monastery, the first one built in the Iberian Peninsula. It is an architectural jewel from the Middle Ages and was declared a National Monument in 1931. Fitero also has a well known spa. The Vía Verde del Tarazonica is a 'green route' that covers the 22 kilometres between Tudela and Tarazona (Zaragoza province) along an old railway line. Near Arguedas is Senda Viva, a theme

Vegetables of Tudela (by courtesy of Ayto. de Tudela).

park with over 200 species of animals in semi-captivity and attractions and shows for all the family. Other places of interest are Corella, where the town centre reveals a wealth of churches, convents, palaces and noble houses, and Valtierra, which has recovered some old caves in the hills behind the town as rural accommodation. Between Mélida and Caparroso stand the ruins of the castle and walls of the Despoblado de Rada, dominated by the renovated 12thcentury church of San Nicolás.

Gastronomy La Ribera of Navarre and Tudela are synonymous with excellent cuisine. The Ebro runs through the area so the land along the river is extraordinarily fertile and covered with market gardens. La Ribera produces high-quality vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, chard, crisp lettuces, spinach, etc. These can all be found in the area's restaurants, with a special mention for the most typical dish, menestra, which is prepared from a variety of vegetables. La Ribera also has a wide variety of confectionery and excellent red and rosé wines with designation of origin.

Bardenas Reales.

honour of Santiago (St James) and Santa Ana with a varied programme, the highlight being the lively Revoltosa dance around the bandstand in the centre of the city’s main square. Dancing is considered important in La Ribera, as illustrated by the paloteados (dances with sticks) that are common to a number of towns, such as Cortes.

Events The carnavales in La Ribera have peculiar characters: zipoteros in Tudela, zarramuskeros in Cintruénigo or zarrapoteros in Cascante. Of particular note are the very ancient Easter Procession in Corella and the massively attended ceremonies of El Volatín and the Bajada del Ángel (festivities declared to be of National Tourist Interest) at Easter in Tudela or the arrival of transhumance livestock from the Pyrenean valleys in the Bardenas Reales. In July Tudela celebrates its fiesta in Green Route of Tarazonica.

Tudela. Descent of the Angel.

The kingdom of

the four seasons Spring: the green melt Spring is an ideal season for walking, nature-based sports such as canoeing, rafting, fishing or cycle trekking. It is also a time to enjoy the Easter festivities. On the table you will find menestra, asparagus and salmon. The gorge of Lumbier. AlmadĂas.

Autumn: Navarre in ochre If autumn sits well on Navarre, the Irati forest is the best example of the beauty of its woods. This can be best appreciated from the peaks of the Urbasa mountain range or the viewpoint over the gorge of Arbaiun. It is a time for walking, excursions on foot or hunting, for collecting and tasting wild mushrooms (which can be found over large areas of Navarre), and for observing the start of the grape harvest in the Central Zone. In autumn, game products such as doves or boar are prepared with tasty sauces.

Irati Forest. Beech forest.

Whether you decide to spend three or four days or a whole week with us, Navarre offers attractions in spring, summer, autumn and winter, seasons with different colours and flavours.

Summer: party time If you really want to have a good time, Pamplona is the ideal place to be at the beginning of July for the Sanfermines. However, other places such as Tudela, Corella, Tafalla, Estella-Lizarra or SangĂźesa have fiestas that highlight the happiness and hospitality of the people of the Navarre. The summer is the time for cycle and foot trekking, swimming, horse riding and visiting monuments and enjoying cultural programmes. It is the season to enjoy fresh salads and the select Navarrese cuisine in general.

SanfermĂn. PaĂąuelada.

Winter: treading fresh snow Winter is something to be enjoyed. It is a season of Nordic or cross-country skiing and snow racketing in the Roncal and Salazar valleys. Or the carnivals whose origins are lost in the mists of time, such as those of Lantz, Zubieta, Ituren or Altsasu/Alsasua, all of them unique examples of rural festive tradition. In winter the most discerning palates will appreciate the excellent red beans, meats, cheese, desserts, wine and liqueurs from Navarre. Skiing in Belagua.

Holidays with peace and quiet Those who like to flee from the madding crowd and prefer tranquillity and relaxation will find a large number of places in Navarre where it is still possible to enjoy a slow and pleasant rhythm of life in close contact with nature. In the green Pyrenean valleys, the Pamplona Basin, the Central Zone or La Ribera, wherever you decide to choose a quiet spot there is always an opportunity to enjoy walks, cycle rides, gentle sports, spas, nearby towns, scenic spots, churches or monasteries. Lekaroz.

Culture in nature In Navarre culture and nature blend, join up, become one other and merge. It is almost impossible to envisage one without the other. In the Pyrenees, the collegiate church of Orreaga/ Roncesvalles, the witches' caves of Zugarramurdi, the church of San Miguel de Aralar or the hórreos (granaries) of Aezkoa valley.

The Pamplona Basin combines contemporary and historic manifestations, from the Centre of Contemporary Art in Huarte, the museum dedicated to the work of the sculptor Jorge Oteiza in Alzuza, or the church in Gazólaz, to the artistic jewels of the Museum of Navarre or the nearby General Archive and the cathedral of Pamplona. The Central Zone is dotted with important structures and charming villages: the monumental town of Sangüesa, the castle of Javier, the monastery of Leyre, Ujué, Eunate, Puente La Reina, the Royal Palace of Olite, Estella-Lizarra, and the monasteries of Irantzu and Iratxe. In La Ribera, Tudela, Corella and the monasteries of La Oliva and Fitero.

Monasterio de La Oliva. Rose window.

Oteiza Museum.

Monastery of Leyre.

The Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela in Navarre

in Navarre

The Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela in Navarre has two main routes and several secondary trails. The route most used by pilgrims is the one that enters Navarre at Luzaide/Valcarlos, the Ibañeta pass and the astonishing collegiate church of Orreaga/Roncesvalles. After passing through Auritz/Burguete, Erro and Esteribar, the route reaches the Pamplona Basin. The other main route crosses the Pyrenees in Aragon (to the east) and passes such jewels such as the church of Santa María in Sangüesa, Leyre and Eunate. Both routes join at Puente La Reina, whose Romanesque

bridge leads pilgrims towards the monumental town of EstellaLizarra and on to the monastery of Iratxe, Los Arcos, Torres del Río and Viana. Among the secondary routes we would highlight the one that runs through the Baztan valley, such as the Ebro route.

Auritz / Burguete.

Monument to the Pilgrim. “El Perdón” mountain range.

Orreaga / Roncesvalles.

Navarre is... rural Tourism Rural accommodation in Navarre stands out for its quality and specialisation. Staying in the countryside brings you closer to a way of life that adapts to the rhythm of nature, the country and its livestock, harvesting and sowing. You can find all this under forty minutes from Pamplona airport and the quality of the services that characterises our capital city. Country houses (either individual or group bookings), apartments, campings hotels with charm in delightful scenic spots, accommodation for agrotourism... Rural accommodation in Navarre sets out make its guests at home and improve the quality of life in the rural world. This is evidenced by around fifty establishments that have the “Q” for quality tourism.

Rural House.

Congresses, conventions and incentive travel

Pamplona, salĂłn Baluarte. ( by courtesy of Baluarte)

Navarre is an ideal place to hold a congress or a business meeting. It has excellent facilities like 'Baluarte' Congress Centre and Auditorium, one of the biggest in Spain. Navarre also has a wide variety of hotel accommodation, high-quality cuisine, and the international level infrastructures of its prestigious universities. The fact that the entire territory of Navarre is easy to reach, and distances inside it are not great, make it the ideal place for incentive travel and company meetings.

Sanfermines

The Universal fiesta

Pamplona, square Baluarte. (by courtesy of Baluarte)

The fiestas of San FermĂn are a universal myth thanks to Ernest Hemingway, and to thousands of people every year let themselves go and enjoy this singular festivity to the full. The fiesta, in honour of the patron saint of Pamplona, starts on 6th July and the daily bull runs and bullfights drive the street party until the 14th. The Sanfermines could also be a unique opportunity to get to know Navarre by combining a few days of hard partying with relaxation.

Poster Javier Ciga (detail). 1920.

Encierro de SanfermĂn.

And also...

Naturally, sport Practising sport in Navarre is a way of getting to know the region and experiencing its natural environment: walking, trekking, and mountain biking or cycling along the roads where the five-times winner of the Tour de France, Miguel Induráin, trained to be a topclass rider. You can follow routes on foot or on a bicycle at any time of the year thanks to

numerous signposted paths. There are a number of perfect places in Navarre for climbing, parapenting, caving nordic or cross-country skiing, practising water sports, horse riding, or playing golf in a variety of natural settings. If you would like to enjoy these activities there are specialist companies that can help you organise a trip to your requirements.

Navarre, the birthplace of St Francis Xavier In the highest part of the village of Javier, 5 miles from Sangüesa in central Navarre, the silhouette of the Castle of Javier rises. In 1506 St Francis Xavier was born here, one of the most universal of all missionaries, co-founder of the Company of Jesus (the Jesuits) and patron saint of Navarre. The origins of the castle date back to the end of the 10th century, when a lookout tower (the ‘Homage tower’) was built. Its strategic location on the

border between the kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon enhanced its fortress status, and the different sections of the castle were gradually built around the tower. The castle has undergone a number of reconstructions, the last in 2005, and nowadays it is one of the few castles that conserve its defensive features such as loopholes and embrasures.

Castle of Javier.

Navarre is Nature Mountain range Andía. San Donato.

Navarre is a paradise for nature lovers and ecotourists. Almost 50% of its territory is catalogued as a type of natural reserve. Navarre has 3 Natural Parks, 2 Natural Recreational Reserves and some protected areas. Among the striking places in “natural Navarre” we could stand out the Irati forest, the gorges of Arbaiun and Lumbier, the mountain ranges of Urbasa, Andía and Aralar, the

oak grove of Orgi, the caves of Ikaburu-Urdax, Zugarramurdi, Mendukilo and the 'Vía Verde del Plazaola' in the Pyrenees. Green Pamplona, with its Arga river park, the Citadel and Yamaguchi park. In the Central Zone, do not miss the lagoons at Pitillas and El Bordón and in La Ribera you have the Bardenas Reales, the 'Vía Verde del Tarazonica'. Ecotourism. The gorge of Lumbier.

Urederra.

A land of wine The ancient kingdom has two top-line Designations of Origin: Navarra and Rioja. It is not surprising that wine culture in Navarre has strong roots, inviting the visitor to delve deeper and enjoy activities such as the vendimia (grape harvest), wine-making, enology and tasting. The bodegas (wineries) of Navarre open their doors and combine wine-tasting

sessions with cultural courses, routes or guided tours.

Tempranillo grape (by courtesy of C.R.D.O. Navarra).

Winery Señorío de Otazu.

Studying in Navarre Pamplona. UPNA. Campus (by courtesy of UPNA).

Each year thousands of students from all over the world come to Navarre to extend their knowledge and live in a region that offers them a rich cultural and educational experience. The Universidad Pública de Navarra, the University de Navarra and other prestigious centres also offer summer courses, Spanish and Basque language courses and widely recognised postgraduate courses.

Pamplona. Universidad de Navarra.

Pamplona. UPNA.

Pamplona. UPNA. Library (by courtesy of UPNA).

Bird watching Navarre is one of the best bird watching areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Up to 246 species have been catalogued. The lagoons at Pitillas or Las Cañas are two of the most popular places with the general public, although the more serious bird watchers are familiar with dozens of other sites such as the gorges of Arbaiun and Lumbier and mountain passes such as Ibañeta and Etxalar. For more information: www.birding.navarra.es birding@navarra.es Goose.

Etxauri. Birdwatching.

Heron.

NA 1515-2018 (June 2018)

CY CMY