Navarra

This place has to be seen to be understood or even believed. An autonomous region steeped in history, packed with architectural and archaeological wonders and has a streak of sheer madness that breaks surface, exposing the real and uninhibited Navarrese character, once a year in a festival (the festival of the Sanfermines held between the 6th and 14th of July) of hedonistic excess and debauchery that culminates in the bull run; a mad dash, that really is for life, through streets too narrow for those who just want to watch.

The object of such unseemly haste is to avoid the sharp horns of young confused bulls who, it can be safely argued, have a justifiable case to be quite angry.

And if survival, or minimal physical harm is achieved, the happy participants go on to watch bull fights, get roaring drunk and sing maudlin songs about how sad their lot is in life – its brilliant, pure genius!

But Navarra isn’t all about mad bulls and getting tight. It also boasts magnificent architecture, picturesque villages and ancient monasteries, churches and castles. Pamplona, or Iruña, once a noble fortified citadel, now transformed into a modern industrial city that still preserves its ancient heart, is typical of this. It has been the capital city of the region since the 10th century when Navarra was a Kingdom.

Nowadays, beautiful boulevards stitch together high rise tower blocks and industrial areas that surround the ancient heart of the city, in which the Palacio de Navarra, a testament to the city’s Royal heritage (and which unfortunately can only be visited by appointment only tel: 34 948 107 000), the Plaza de Santa Maria La Real, near the city walls and the 14th century cathedral are only a taste of the wonderful heritage that the city is able to demonstrate.

The northernmost zone of Navarra is characterised by heather covered rolling hills that give way to forests of conifers and oak. The area is on the southern flank of the Pyrenees and the climate is temperate with frequent rain. The astounding natural beauty of this northern area lends itself to tranquil forest walks and serene meditation.

The valley of Roncal is particularly beautiful and its attraction is enhanced by the fame of the sheep’s cheese that is produced here. In the most eastern part of the province the Natural Park of Señorío de Bertiz, which is a magnificently conserved Atlantic forest, benefits from a climate in which extremes of temperature are rare.

Villages such as Vera de Bidasoa, which has a pretty old town and Donamaria, with the 15th century town house of Jaureguia, are well worth stopping and contemplating.

The division of Navarra is almost a natural one with the northern temperate zone giving way to a meridional and southern zone that is characterised by many contrasts; flat and mountainous areas, humidity and drought and forests and steppes.

The Ebro river, one of the largest and most powerful rivers in Spain that flows through an extensive valley to the south, makes this an important agricultural region. The many typical villages, such as Estella, dripping history because of its strategic importance along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela; Tafalla with its medieval wells; Olite with a castle dating from the 13th Century and which is now a Parador, Sangűesa with a 12th century church which is said to house the remains of Saint Román, are all stuffed with invaluable treasures.

The added bonus is the marvellous food and good wine that only helps to make a trip through Navarra one of the most testing for all the senses.

More information: http://www.turismo.navarra.es/eng/home/