Señorío de Bertiz: feel the heartbeat of the forest

In Donamaria, 8 kilometres from Bertiz, there stands an enigmatic Gothic tower. Elegant and austere, it still has the defensive features of the typical mediaeval towers found in Navarre and is one of the best examples of civil architecture from the period still standing. The tower is well known because the first two floors are in stone, while the next two are made of wood. A stop well worth the trouble, that’s for sure.

The Elgorriaga spa makes the most of the medicinal mineral water from its spring, which has the highest level of salinity in Europe, to offer a generous thermal spa menu. A circuit which includes pool, saunas, relaxation area and a unique space, the flotarium, where you’ll experience the same degree of buoyancy as in the Dead Sea.

All in an enviable natural setting where you can go for walks, get to know the surrounding area and try some of the delicious local food.

Marking the end of winter and the onset of spring, the carnivals in the pretty villages of Ituren and Zubieta have become symbols of how Navarre's rural carnivals and ancestral rituals have survived.

The stars of the event, the joaldunak and the bear, aim to scare away evil spirits and awaken nature with the huge cowbells they carry on their backs, creating a harmonious sound that can be heard throughout the valley; a magical moment.

But carnivals aside, these villages are well worth a visit or a walk along the Water route trail.

Here’s a second idea brimming with nature and sweet aromas.

Just 15 kilometres from Bertiz, in the village of Zubieta, stands a very special mill which has been operating for two centuries and still grinds corn in the traditional way today. The tour reveals all the secrets of milling and the traditions of the valley, including its ancestral carnivals. And you can also buy flour and other products in the shop.

A trip that transports you to times past amidst greenery that smells of the Pyrenees and tastes of freshly made talo (corn flatbread).

Zubieta Mill is one of these places that seems to be frozen in time. The mill owner still uses their hands and ancient tools to grind wheat and corn. Want to experience life as a hard-working miller and make your own cake?

Known as "Navarre’s little Venice" for its numerous bridges, water courses and fountains, Lesaka also stands out for its beautiful and well-kept architecture, the monumental Church of San Martín de Tours and for the dances performed on the parapets lining the river on the day of San Fermín.

Etxalar is a charming, peaceful village surrounded by mountains and forests, and is famous for conserving an ancestral method for capturing pigeons with nets. Strolling through its streets is like travelling back in time, with houses brimming with history and a garden outside the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción boasting a fine collection of ancient funerary stelae. On the banks of the Tximista river stands the Gaztelu tower house, a mediaeval construction which served as an armoury in the days of the Kingdom of Navarre.

The village was even awarded a National Tourism Award for the beautification and enhancement of villages thanks to its well-kept architecture and quaint charm.

The picturesque district of Altzate, with its strikingly well-kept houses, is one of the highlights of this elegant village. Other places worth a visit include the neoclassical council building with its portico formed by six stone arches, Casa Itzea, where the Baroja family lived, and the church of San Esteban. Go to see the beautiful stone bridge of San Miguel that separates Bera from Lesaka, the site of an important battle in the War of Independence.