French-Aragones Route

After crossing the Sangüesa bridge, follow the road to Pamplona and take the diversion to Rocaforte. A few metres further along you will find a path that ascends steeply to reach Rocaforte.

The route takes us through crop fields, vineyards and olive groves below a wind farm to the Aibar Peak. From this point you will need to pace yourself because there are a dozen kilometres or so between valleys and mountains fi lled with wild pines until you reach the next town, Izco.

One of the attractions along this stage is that it gives us a more accessible but equally beautiful alternative route. Instead of taking the diversion to Rocaforte, I was recommended to go to Liédena. The itinerary continues along the Greenway  that follows the tracks of the former Irati railway, snaking along the Lumbier Gorge, an impressive pass with vertical cliff faces that tower up to 150 metres at their highest point. From the village of Lumbier, the route heads towards the villages of Nardués and Aldunate until it enters Izco.

The final part of this stage passes through an oak forest that opens out at Monreal, which in the past was the hunting residence of the Kings of Navarre. The village can be entered via a Gothic bridge which leads to a labyrinth of cobbled streets. The Calle del Burgo street is particularly outstanding, with its carefullytended homes.

After winding through the streets of Monreal, the route leaves the village along a path that heads down to the river Elorz. It follows the riverbank and climbs upwards along a trail to Yárnoz. From Yárnoz, and following the former pilgrimage route, you will reach Otano along a path that adapts as well as it can to the changing terrain of the mountain range.

The route continues through the uninhabited Ezperún, at the foot of an abandoned quarry, until it reaches Guerendiáin, a well-tended village with monumental houses adorned with geraniums, and decorated with numerous references to the Santiago Way. Tiebas with its ruins of its 13th century castle. After crossing through the village, take the path that runs parallel to the AP-15 motorway. You can avoid the motorway thanks to two underground walkways located near one of its links.

Head towards Muruarte de Reta, and before reaching this small village, take the minor road that will take you to Olcoz.

The route goes around the village of Olcoz and descends, giving us marvellous views over the Valley of Valdizarbe. Five kilometres further on we reach Enériz, a great spot for getting our strength back. What awaits us after Enériz is one of the treasures of the Pilgrim’s Route on its journey through Navarre: the Romanesque hermitage of Santa María de Eunate. The origins of this original and mysterious 12th century church are not clear.

The final stretch of the route takes us to Obanos, a location marked by the Santiago Way and the legend of San Guillén and Santa Felicia. From here, we take the track that leads to Puente la Reina and its 11th century bridge.