Navarre is an autonomous community of Spain located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It borders on the north with France, on the east and on the southeast with Aragon, on the south with La Rioja and on the west with the Basque Country.
As for the climate, it is influenced by the proximity of the Pyrenees, which cause a large difference of temperature, between the north, damper with frequent rains, and the south warmer with low precipitation.
As for the spoken language in Navarre, Castilian is the official one, as well as Basque in the northwestern part of the community. In addition, the Basque spoken in Navarre has nine dialects.
In Navarre there are two main routes of the famous French Way leading to Santiago de Compostela: one passing through Roncisvalle and the other one crosses Sanguesa. Walking on these routes on foot, by car, by bicycle or on horseback, you can see wonderful landscapes, monasteries, churches that medieval kings built to give accommodation to so many pilgrims passing through these lands.
Natural parks, caves, valleys
Navarre has an extensive Protected Natural Area Network: 3 Integral Reserves, 38 Natural Reserves, 28 Natural Enclaves, 2 Natural Recreational Areas, 13 Special Protection Zones for Birds, 14 Protected Areas for fauna and 3 Natural Parks (Señorío de Bertiz, Urbasa-Andía and Bardenas Reales, also declared World Network of Biosphere Reserve).
Moreover, you can do outdoor sports activities visiting:
- Mendukilo Cave
- Caves of Urdazubi / Urdax
- Selva de Irati
- Natural Park of Bardenas Reales
- Urbasa-Andía Natural Park, suited for nature-loving walks.
- Natural park of Señorío de Bertiz, inside it there is a botanical garden with 126 different species, from the gingkos of China to the California’s sequoias.
- Valley of Belagua
- Valley of Roncal
- Via Verde del Plazaola
- Wood Quinto Real
- Sierra de Aralar
- Valley of Aezkoa
- San Juan Xar Natural Reserve
Castles, fortresses, churches, monasteries
The Navarre community has an important historical heritage dating back to the Middle Ages, some of which are:
- Javier Castle (Javier)
- El Cerco de Artajona (Artajona)
- Church of Santa Maria de Eunate (Muruzábal)
- Monastery of San Salvador de Leyre (Yesa)
- Marcilla Castle (Marcilla)
- Fitero Monastery (Fitero)
- Monastery of Iratxe (Ayegui)
- Monastery of La Oliva (Carcastillo)
- Tulebras Monastery (Tulebras)
- Museum and archaeological Site of Andelos (Mendigorría)
- Museum and archaeological site Villa de Arellano (Arellano)
- Navarre Kings’ Palace (Estella-Lizarra)
- Royal palace of Olite (Olite)
Museums
Some museums to visit are:
- Museum of Navarre (Pamplona)
- Truffle Museum (Metauten)
- Vineyard and Wine Museum of Navarre (Olite)
- Witches Museum (Zugarramurdi)
- Ezkurdi Apiculture House Museum (Eltso)
- Ecomuseum “Vivencias de antaño” (Orísoain)
- Amaiur Mill (Amaiur / Maya)
- Castejón Museum (Castejón)
- Clock Museum (Sanguesa)
- Oil Museum (Arróniz)
- Museum of Cheese and Transhumance (Uztárroz)
Gastronomy
Mountain landscape, rivers, caves, forests and valleys favor animal breeding for meat consumption and lacteous products such as cheese. Some typical Navarre products are roast lamb, chistorra (a type of sausage), black truffle, artichokes, doc wine and oil. Typical dishes of Navarre are: ajoarriero (dried salted cod dish), artichokes with clams, canutillos stuffed with cream (sweet), lamb at chilindrón, costrada de Aoiz and cuajada (sweet).
CULTURAL TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS
Among the traditional festivals there is the carnival of Ituren y Zubieta, Lantz and the Tafalla cattle fair. Famous is the Javierada, a pilgrimage to the castle where San Francisco Javier was born. During the Holy Week there are several processions such as Santo Entierro of Pamplona, Bajada del Ángel of Tudela. A celebration of national importance is that of Sanfermines, which is celebrated in Pamplona from 6 to 14 July. Among the artistic, cultural and gastronomic programs of the community there are the Pincho Week, the Vegetables days in Tudela, the classical theater festival of Olite, the Ancient Music Week of Estella or Kultur.
The encierro is the event that precedes the bullfight, and it consist in to transfer the bulls from the fence where they are brought a few days before the show to the arena.
