Castles and fortresses (1)

You are in the heart of the Kingdom of Navarre, very close to the birthplace of its patron saint, Saint Francis Xavier. The route starts from the town of Sangüesa and takes the Way of St James to the charming castle of Javier, the home of the saint. Return to Sangüesa and head for Aibar, passing through the interesting village of Rocaforte. On the way to Ujué, ascend to Gallipienzo Viejo, where you can enjoy spectacular views. Then comes the hardest stretch, leg-breaking terrain leading to the mediaeval village of Ujué with its cobbled streets, crowned by the imposing church of Santa María.

Having reached this milestone, you begin a long descent through arid land. You can shorten the route to 118 km by taking the road between Ujué and Murillo el Fruto. Otherwise, carry on to Carcastillo, where the Monastery of La Oliva stands. There you will find one of the most interesting stretches, along the banks of the Aragón river and crossing the Roman bridge of Gallipienzo until you reach Cáseda and tackle the last few kilometres on favourable terrain.