The French Way of St James: Pamplona-Puente la Reina

The route starts along the streets of the old part of Pamplona. After visiting the Cathedral of Santa María and heading down to the Calle Mercaderes and Calle Estafeta you will reach the Town Hall Square. Carry on down San Saturnino Street and enter the beautiful Romanesque church that gives its name to the street. The Condestable palace marks the start of the Calle Mayor street, where you will find the Ultreia - Way of St James Interpretation
Centre. The route continues towards Taconera Park and the city’s more open spaces. From Avenida Pío XII Avenue, head towards the Vuelta del Castillo, a beautiful green belt that surrounds La Ciudadela citadel.

After leaving the green area behind, you will be directed along Calle Fuente del Hierro and down towards the University of Navarre. From here follow a pavement that ascends to reach the village of Cizur Menor, where you will find some mediaeval treasures such as the Romanesque churches of San Miguel and San Emeterio. Once past the village, the route heads deeper into the countryside through fields of cereal crops, with the constant backdrop of the Perdón wind farm on the horizon marking the route. After two kilometres uphill you will reach Zariquiegui. Whilst you face the climb, above your head you will see the gigantic blades of the wind turbines turning. Once past the Perdón Peak it is worth taking off your backpack, having something to eat and taking some photos at the ‘Monument of the Santiago Way’ (1996), which depicts a group of pilgrims from different periods crossing the line of the wind turbines. The magnificent panoramic views of the Pamplona Basin and the Middle Zone are sure to impress you.

The route descends down a wide and stony path. Three kilometres further on you will reach Uterga, the fi rst village in the Valdizarbe Valley. The next destination is Muruzábal, a small village that you reach by passing through fields of cereal crops, almond orchards and vineyards. If you still have enough energy at this point, take a trip to the Romanesque church of Eunate. It adds another six kilometres to the route, but it is worth it. After overcoming the climb, you will reach Obanos.

Pass through the pointed archway of the Obanos gateway and head down a path to cross the Campanas-Puente la Reina road. From here, a trail borders the allotments of the river Robo till it reaches some hotels announcing the entrance to Puente la Reina, town whose historical complex has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, is where the two main branches of the Santiago Way converge, and where you can see the ‘Monument of the Pilgrim’.