Start 2012

Because, in the short distance from the north to the south of Navarra (Navarre), you can enjoy a Kingdom of Diversity. Check it out for yourself.
Close your eyes, listen to the sound of the leafy beech forest of the Selva de Irati, and feel the blue cold of the mountain air of the Pyrenees on your face. Open your eyes, and listen to the magical silence that accompanies the endless earthy colours of the desert-like landscape of the Bardenas Reales.
Move your body to the rhythm of the fiestas of San Fermín, or your feet to the steady step of the pilgrims who travel the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago from Roncesvalles.
Let yourself be seduced by delightful tastes of the north such as traditional sheep's cheese and migas de pastor (literally, shepherd's breadcrumbs) or the varied produce from the market gardens along the Ebro valley: chard, artichokes or asparagus, accompanied by Navarra designation of origin wines.
Discover these and a whole range of possibilities in the ancient Reyno de Navarra (Kingdom of Navarre).

Land of Diversity

Navarre is a land of diversity. A diversity marked by a landscape of contrasts that has shaped the region's towns, villages and the character of the people over the centuries in the form of different traditions, climates and crops. Diversity where the senses blend into each other.
Caress the steep green silhouette of the Pyrenees, and see how a rolling landscape takes over as you approach the flat and arid lands of 'La Ribera', the southern part of Navarre.
Listen to the peaceful blue waters that flow down from the mountainous of the north, the freedom of the orange-coloured plains of the south, or the whisper of the sturdy walls of the monasteries and noble houses that abound in our land.
Sense the tradition and effort involved in the Pilgrim's Way as its passes through Navarre, starting at the legendary site of Roncesvalles in the north and ending at the noble town of Viana in the south-west.
Soak up the colours of the fiesta: red and white invade the Sanfermines and other festivities throughout the summer.
Make sure you try the varied gastronomy of this land: exquisite meats and tasty vegetables from the market gardens of La Ribera, accompanied by the region's excellent wines.
Let yourself be captivated by the character of its people: calm and introverted in the north and more outgoing and happy in the south.
Navarre, a small region in which you will discover great contrasts. Please allow us to invite you to experience this diversity.

Land of traditions

Navarre is a land of deep-rooted traditions that reflect the plural nature of its customs. Music, dance and gastronomy are the highlights of fiestas in the towns and villages. Pagan rites exist alongside religious traditions throughout the four seasons.
March is the month of the Javierada. Thousands of people walk in pilgrimage from Pamplona and other places in the region to the castle where Saint Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Navarre, was born in 1506.
With the arrival of the spring, Navarre is literally flooded with romerías (popular pilgrimages). Some of the most representative are those of El Yugo, Ujué, Roncesvalles and Labiano. Easter is a time of special fervour, with the best-known ceremonies being the Santo Entierro Procession in Corella and the Bajadica del Ángel in Tudela. 'The day of the Almadía' is held at the end of April or in early May to commemorate the descent of tree trunks on specially made rafts down the rivers of the Pyrenean valleys.
'Fiesta' is the key word in Navarre after the summer solstice. In Zugarramurdi they celebrate Akelarres (witches' covens), while in July Pamplona is host to the Sanfermines and many towns and villages dress up to celebrate their patron saint. Dances are king in the mountains: (the bolantes of Valcarlos, the paloteado of Ochagavía...) as are rural sports (Basque pelota, tree-trunk cutting competitions...). In La Ribera, jotas (popular folk songs) and vacas bravas (steers) top the bill. During the summer there are also ancestral traditions based on mediaeval treaties, such as the Tributo de las Tres Vacas (Tribute of the Three Cows) and the representation of the Misterio de Obanos, a passion play based on legends around the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago.
At the start of autumn, around the time of the festivity of San Miguel, flocks of sheep from the northern Roncal valley enter the Bardenas Reales in the south. When the pigeon hunting season arrives, the town of Etxalar takes on a new lease of life. November 29th is the festivity of San Saturnino, the patron saint of Pamplona, and December 3rd is the Day of Navarre and St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the region.
In winter, Sangüesa plays host to the performance of the Auto Sacramental of the Magi, a passion play. Carnivals in Navarre are a source of great ethnographic wealth, especially those held in the north in Lantz, Lesaka, Goizueta, Ituren or Zubieta. As the winter comes to an end, the long-awaited Javieradas take place.

Good food

Navarre offers visitors the taste of the past, because the region has been able to conserve the culinary tradition that makes a meal a social event.
The region's popular cuisine uses all the products that the varied landscape of Navarre offers. Some of its restaurants have achieved international recognition thanks to their balance between traditional and nouvelle cuisine, and also thanks to the excellent quality of the raw material.
Navarrese cuisine is wonderfully accompanied by its red, rose and white wines, protected by the 'Navarra' and 'Rioja' designations of origin.
Let yourself be seduced by the delights of the region's market gardens: asparagus, artichokes, chard, red piquillo peppers or pochas (succulent beans). Enjoy ajoarriero (cod in oil and red peppers), a chuletón (T-bone steak) and a variety of roast meats. And do not forget dessert: cheese, cuajada (junket), canutillos (wafers with cream) and leche frita (a type of custard, literal translation: fried milk).
Pinchos (tapas). In the Old Part of Pamplona, but also in the rest of the city, you can find this exquisite cuisine in miniature that satisfies the deep-rooted custom of ir de pinchos (going out for tapas) as an aperitif before a meal. Most bars have a wide range of pinchos to please all palates. As well as the traditional tapas, sophisticated pinchos are on offer that use the region's products as their base. A great time to visit Navarre is during the "Week of the Pincho", which is held in several places in the region sometime in March and April. Try the most innovative creations of our imaginative and sophisticated chefs.

Where one feels good

You feel good in Navarre. It is one of the Spanish regions with the best quality of life indicators and the traveller can see this in so many small details: the great care taken with the appearance of the region's towns and villages, and the level of services provided to the people.
Pamplona has three universities that teach degree courses to students from all over the world, as well as being a major research and congress centre.
The hospital system of Navarre has a good reputation and in some cases has become an international benchmark in the world of health care.
Navarre also lives in harmony with its rich natural heritage. Respect for the environment is shared by citizens, institutions and companies alike, as shown by the rise in the use of alternative energy sources and the choice of Navarre to be home to the National Centre for Renewable Energies. It also has a number of important technology centres, which drive innovation and development in the region.
A wide range of cultural activities and a rich historical and artistic heritage round off your visit to Navarre. BALUARTE, Teatro Gayarre and other cultural venues make it one of the regions with the highest number of theatres/auditoriums per inhabitant, in which a high level of investment in culture is made.
In the Kingdom of Navarre people feel good ... and this is felt by all who visit it.

Routes through history

These routes have created history and encouraged the development of traditions, If we had to mention just one in the Kingdom of Navarre, it would be the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, a route that has left an indelible mark on the customs and artistic heritage of our Community. Navarre is the entry point from France and also a crossroads of routes: the two 'French' routes of the Pilgrim's Way come down from Orreaga/Roncesvalles and Sangüesa to join in Puente La Reina, from where they lead towards Estella and leave Navarre in Viana.
Other routes with centuries of traditions are the Roman roads; those at Cirauqui and Belate are still in good condition. Navarre is also crossed by a host of small and large routes. Some go through woods and around reservoirs or link ancient caves, while others take us to dolmens, cross rivers or follow the route of old railway lines, such as the vías verdes of Plazaola and Tarazonica.
Other routes are born in the Roncal valley: the Cañada Real, a remnant of traditional transhumance, when the flocks of sheep from the Pyrenean meadows go down to the Ebro valley, and another route used by the hardy almadieros (rafters) for many years to transport timber by river from the north to the south of Navarre.
The capital, Pamplona, has a 'route' that is intense and full of tradition and fervour: the Encierro (Bull Run). Eight hundred metres along which daring souls run in front of fighting bulls during the fiesta of San Fermín from July 7th to 14th every year.

Party atmosphere

'The Fiesta of all fiestas' takes place in Pamplona. The chupinazo (inaugural rocket) on July 6th marks the start of the Sanfermines and the city's streets fill with an atmosphere of friendship amidst chaotic joy and fun. Furthermore, a whole range of celebrations take place over Navarre throughout the year. The fiestas of the north fill the streets with dances and exhibitions of rural sports, in contrast with those of the south, where steers chase the youngsters through the streets and red and white give the festivities their distinctive colour.
This is how fiestas are enjoyed in the Kingdom of Navarre, celebrations that invite you to participate in the customs of our land.

The four seasons

You can get to know Navarre at any time of the year. Whether you want a quick visit or to spend more time with us, the Kingdom of Navarre offers a wide range of attractions in every season.
Spring: the 'green thaw'
This is an ideal season to discover the splendour of the Bardenas Reales or follow the routes of old railway lines on foot or by bicycle: the Bidasoa, Plazaola or Tarazonica vías verdes (green routes). In spring the Pyrenees wake up and the snows give way to a host of colours that you can discover by climbing Mount Ori or wandering through woods such as Orgi, Urbasa-Andía, Irati or Quinto Real. It is also a time to enjoy the Easter Procession in Corella, popular pilgrimages at Roncesvalles or the delights of towns like Ujué, Olite, or Elizondo. At the table, it is the time of menestra (vegetable stew), asparagus and salmon.

Summer: the time of fiestas
In July Pamplona plunges into the fiesta of San Fermín and all the towns and villages of Navarre celebrate their festivities some time during the summer. Tudela, Tafalla, Estella-Lizarra or Sangüesa set the tone for good fun and hospitality. It is also a time to discover traditions such as the dances of Ochagavía. The summer encourages you to enjoy Nature and discover the green valleys of the north of Navarre: Roncal, Baztán and Bidasoa. Culture is present in emblematic places: The Classical Theatre Festival of Olite (next to the town's majestic castle) and the Ancient Music Week in Estella-Lizarra are two good examples of major cultural activities. At the table, the select cuisine of Navarre pays tribute to the varied vegetable dishes from the market gardens along the river Ebro.

Autumn:Navarre in shades of ochre
The Selva de Irati (Irati forest) is the best example of the thousand colours that inundate the landscape of Navarre. The Urbasa mountain range, the Aezkoa or Salazar valleys, the gorges of Lumbier and Arbaiun or the Bertiz Natural Park offer scenery that is difficult to forget. The Central Zone celebrates the start of the wine harvest and invites the visitor to artistic places such as the monasteries of La Oliva, Leire or Irantzu and historic towns like Puente La Reina, where the two main routes of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago come together. These are days for eating game, including the doves of Etxalar and a variety of dishes in which wild mushrooms, boar or pigeon are the stars.

Winter: treading virgin snow
In Navarre winter is something to enjoy. It is the time for Nordic skiing in the Roncal and Salazar valleys and to feel the healthy cold of sunny winter days while trekking. Another option is a casa rural (country house) and a good book next to the fire. Then comes New Year and Carnivals at villages like Lantz, Ituren and Zubieta, ceremonies whose origins are lost in the mists of time. The most demanding palate will enjoy alubias pochas (succulent beans) and the meats, cheeses, wines and liqueurs of Navarre.

Authentic people

The diversity and the contrasts that define the landscape and the climate of Navarre also have an effect on the people of the region.
It is seen in the architecture of the towns and villages, in their traditions, dances and rural sports; all give you a sense of the people of Navarre and the way they live.
The steep valleys of the north, influenced by the Pyrenees and an Atlantic climate, mark out the noble and quietly friendly character of the people from caseríos (farmhouses), who enjoy tranquillity, conversation and telling stories around the fire.
Heading south, the mountains give way to wide plains burnt by the sun, where people like to get out into the streets; the climate has an influence on the extroverted and open nature of the people.
The desire to share celebrations with visitors and hospitality in general are clear examples of the nature and authenticity of the Navarrese.

 

Top of de page