EUROVELO 1 ROUTE. THE ATLANTIC COAST ROUTE

Have you heard about the project underway to allow people to cycle across Europe, along 80,000 km split into 16 routes? That’s right, your ears do not deceive you.

The EuroVelo 1 route, called the Atlantic Coast Route, is one of them, and it passes through Navarre. Upon completion, this project will join the Norwegian fjords with Portugal over 11,000 kilometres, crossing 14 UNESCO sites, 4 European seas and 6 countries.

EUROVELO 1 - NAVARRE

The Atlantic Coast Route enters Spain through the Atlantic Pyrenees in Navarre. It starts off in Endarlatsa in the north, and links up to the Way of St James. These 213 km are distributed over 5 stages, and in order to condition the first two steps, the Bidasoa and Plazaola Rail Trails have been joined by the “Ederbidea” project.

See below for more details:

  • Stage 1 - 28Km

    Irun - Endarlatsa - Santesteban

    The EuroVelo 1 route enters Navarre from Gipuzkoa via the Bidasoa Rail Trail, more specifically through the area known as Endarlatsa. It passes Bera through the Zalain-Zoko district and continues on to Berrizaun and Sunbilla before reaching Santesteban in just 5 km. This disused railway path crosses magnificent landscapes of green meadows dotted with caseríos (farmhouses), picturesque tunnels and typical villages, and even passes a few forgotten defensive bunkers.

    Just 6 km from Santesteban, you can visit the Señorío de Bertiz Natural Park, a natural treasure covering more than 2,000 ha with an extensive network of trails, and also home to a Nature Interpretation Centre and a romantic Historic-Artistic Garden with botanical species from all over the world.

    ​​​​​​​A pleasant, easy, practically flat route.

    Tourist information on the Bertiz Natural Park and surrounding area

  • Stage 2 - 53Km

    Doneztebe/Santesteban - Irurtzun

    On this stage, the route crosses 2 valleys separated by the Gorostieta pass, which marks the Cantabrian-Mediterranean watershed:

    1. Malerreka valley

    Flanked by mountains such as Mendaur sits the elegant village of Santesteban. The steepest sections are on leaving the village (a short but hard stretch) and the part by road between Oiz and the highest point of Gorostieta.

    Before continuing the route, how about stopping off along the way and relaxing at the Elgorriaga Spa? It’s just 1.5 km from Santesteban and is an ideal place to pamper yourself in a gorgeous natural setting. Another option is to visit Ituren and Zubieta, two small villages which are famous for their rural carnivals and are joined up by a riverside path.

    Back to where we were, the route passes from Santesteban through the following villages: Donamaria, with its majestic mediaeval tower, Oiz, Urroz, where the path to the idyllic Leurtza reservoirs starts, Beintza-Labaien and Saldias, and then it’s on to the top of Gorostieta, which has a rest area.

    2. Basaburua valley

    From there, the route carries on towards the Basaburua valley and passes through beautiful villages with large flower-laden farmhouses, such as: Ola, Orokieta, Erbiti, Gartzaron and Jauntsarats -the latter also known for its ancient oak trees. At the Jauntsarats rest area, you can stop to get your energy back and make the most of the swimming area. The route goes on to Ihaben, Etxaleku, Eraso and Latasa, an old Plazaola train station now repurposed as a bar-restaurant which has bikes for hire.

    Once here, the route follows the path of the Plazaola Rail Trail and reaches Irurtzun.

    See more information

  • Stage 3 - 30 Km

    Irurtzun - Pamplona

    The next part of the route, which follows the Plazaola Rail Trail, begins at the Irurtzun rest area, in the grounds of the old railway station.

    It then passes through the municipal district of Iza, where the Gulina viaduct with its 17 stone arches stands. Then after you pass the village of Sarasate, you need to bear in mind that, before reaching Erice de Iza, there is a short but steep climb of about 300 metres on a 13% slope. Once that stretch is over, getting to Sarasa is easy.

    ​​​​​​​And 9.6 km further on, you reach Pamplona, leaving Oteiza, Berriosuso, Aizoáin, Berriozar and Artica behind you as you go.

    Pamplona tourist information

EuroVelo 1 -The Atlantic Coast route- and EuroVelo 3 -The Pilgrims’ route

From Pamplona, the EuroVelo 1 route joins the EuroVelo 3 route, which comes from the Navarrese Pyrenees and passes through the legendary Roncesvalles, from which it takes the name of the Pilgrims' Route, running parallel, as it does, to the Way of St James.

  • Stage 4 - 54Km

    Pamplona - Estella-Lizarra

    From Pamplona-Iruña, EuroVelo 1 joins the EuroVelo 3 route, known as the Pilgrims' Route because it runs parallel to the Way of St James.

    The route passes through the following towns and villages: Cizur Mayor, Arlegui, Subiza, Biurrun, Úcar, Enériz, Eunate, Puente la Reina, Mañeru, Cirauqui and Estella-Lizarra.

    The routes actually only join the Way of St James in some sections, because the latter also uses secondary roads with little traffic.

    Don't miss the charming little chapel of Santa María de Eunate, the mediaeval village of Puente la Reina or the monumental city of Estella-Lizarra, three landmarks on the Way of St James that are well worth stopping for.
     

    Tourist information on Estella-Lizarra and surrounding area

  • Stage 5 - 45Km

    Estella-Lizarra - Logroño

    These are the final kilometres in the Navarrese territory before entering Rioja lands. Shortly after leaving Estella-Lizarra is the Iratxe Monastery. Further along, past the rocky castle of Villamayor de Monjardín, the route reaches Los Arcos, Torres del Río and finally Viana, which peacefully faces the horizon towards Alava and La Rioja from its place up on a hill.

    Information on the Way of St James tourist attractions in this area

The diversity of Navarre is palpable throughout the stages. From the spectacular green landscapes of the north, dotted with hamlets, along the cobbled city streets of Pamplona, to the flatter, more arid landscapes that surround the cities, with a medieval feel along the final stretch.

More information about EuroVelo 1

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