Navarra

Map of Navarra } Map of Spain

Navarra, Pamplona

Navarra, Pamplona, the cathedral

Navarra, Pamplona, San Fermin

Navarra, Pamplona, San Lorenzo

Navarra, Pamplona

Navarra, Olite

Navarra, Olite, Royal Castle Palace

Navarra, Estella

Navarra, Estella, San Pedro de la Rua

Navarra, Estella, San Miguel

Navarra, Roncesvalles, the Colegiata

Navarra, Roncesvalles, the cloisters

Navarra, Roncesvalles

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Monumental Cities and Towns
History and Geography
Cuisine
Festivals
Itineraries that feature this region
Accommodation in this region
Others

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Navarra, in the western Pyrenees, is a region of grand and scenic landscapes showing the power and wealth of medieval times, marked today in the fortified mansions still dominating local villages. Navarra was enriched by a constant procession of pilgrims following the Road to Santiago, from its official starting point in Northern Navarra; Roncesvalles.

To the north of Navarra we find mountain ranges, woodlands and deep green valleys. And to the south the landscape is dusty and dry, baked golden brown except for patches of green from the vineyards of La Ribera. The capital of Navarra is Pamplona, world famous for its San Fermín festival better known as the Running of the Bulls.

Monumental Cities and Towns

Pamplona: home of the San Fermin festivities. Pamplona’s Town Hall is particularly lovely. See also the Churches of San Fermin and San Lorenzo, Plaza del Castillo and the Cathedral.
Olite: once home of the kings of Navarre still preserves the Royal Castle Palace and the Gothic Santa Maria church.
Estella: reminder of medieval splendour. Church of San Pedro de la Rua, Gothic Church of Santo Sepulcro and the Church of San Miguel (Romanesque doorway).
Roncesvalles: starting point of the Road to Santiago with its Colegiata, a Gothic church, the Gothic church of Santiago and the Church of Espiritu Santo.

History and Geography

The first inhabitants of Navarra left traces of their existence up to the arrival of the Romans, who laid roads and founded villas, towns and military camps. Pamplona itself was a Roman foundation, but Navarra as such did not exist until the Arab conquest and the creation of the kingdom of Pamplona, around 778. In 1512 Fedinand the Catholic invaded Navarra. Being still a kingdom and remaining so until 1839 when it lost that status.
Navarra is a one-province region bounded on the north by France, on the east by Aragon, on the west by the Basque Country, covering and area of 10,421 sq. km and has 520,000 inhabitants. Like the scenery, the crops and the climate, the towns and the popular architecture and the customs all vary in each of the different zones. Temperatures also vary depending on the zone but in general they have agreeable climate and temperatures, not too cold in winter and not too hot in summer.

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Cuisine

Gastronomy is a pleasure normally linked to festivity or leisure. Among the pride of Navarrese dishes are asparagus, Piquillo peppers served on their own or stuffed with meat or fish, game such as wild boar, and trout. Also calderetes (a stew made of lamb and potatoes) and local cheeses. Tasty beef and mutton, pork sausages, pate and duck foie. Also a large variety of milk desserts such as cuajada made from sheep´s milk and usually eaten with honey.

Festivals

July: San Fermín Running of the Bulls (Pamplona), Fiestas Patronales de Santa Ana (Tudela).
August: Annual Fiestas to the Patron Saint (Estella).

Others

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Itineraries that feature this region

Themed Spain Tours

Spain Tours by Region

Spanish Pyrenees - Navarra to Catalonia

Spanish Paradores

Historic Paradores of Northern Spain

Spanish Cities

Accommodation

Please click on the symbol to see the Spanish Hotels in this area and obtain information about each.