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Carlism Route

This itinerary evokes the history of Carlism, a strong movement in Navarre In the 19th century that left its mark on many places in the region. The route demonstrates in situ the main events of the Carlist period.

In 1830 Fernando VII enacted the Pragmatic Sanction, which repealed the Law of Succession to the effect that if they King had no male heir his eldest daughter would inherit the throne. This measure excluded Prince Carlos María Isidro from the succession. Even before the death of Fernando VII a party in favour of the prince was set up (Carlists, or Traditionalists) and another group in favour of Isabel, the first-born of the King (Isabelinos, or Liberals).

The Isabelinos wanted liberal reforms along the lines of the French and Industrial Revolutions. The Carlists defended the old regime, the privileges and the influence of the Catholic Church and the restoration of the fueros (Charter). A large part of the population of Navarre took up this cause under the slogan Dios, Patria y Rey (God, Country and King) and intense wars ensued.

  • First Carlist War (1833 - 1840): after the death of Fernando VII, Carlist uprisings began that were gradually put down by the Liberals' army. It was a guerrilla war that was restricted to controlling small strategic enclaves. The major events took place in the area around Estella, which General Zumalacárregui stood out as a military strategist. His death, and the exhaustion of the Carlist movement led General Maroto to negotiate with Espartero and sign the Treaty of Vergara (1839) that put an end to the war.


  • Second Carlist War (1846-1849): in Navarra the persistence of Carlism was evident, and the movement did not hesitate to rise up again in defence of the fueros when urged by Carlos VI. When this pretender to the throne died Carlism split because Juan III, (the other son of Carlos V) was a Liberal. A large number of Carlists joined the moderates and others formed a neo-Catholic group.


  • Third Carlist War (1872-1876): Carlism received a boost with the new Pretender Carlos VII, a active and determined man who was very much in tune with the new circumstances. There was no longer a desire to return to the old regime, although the defence of religion and vindication of the Charter were still the pillars of his programme. By the end of 1875 the situation of the Carlists in Navarre had become unsustainable; they were almost without resources and lost the fort of San Cristóbal near Pamplona. In 1876 Martínez Campos conquered the Carlist capital, Estella, although the Carlists fought bravely until the end. They finally retreated and crossed the border into France.
The Carlism Route sets out to show the visitor the sites where the Liberals and Carlists fought and met in the 19th century, mainly located in the north and centre of Navarre, where conspiracies, negotiations, confrontations and military training took place.

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