Embark on the Way of St James in style

Your first stop is a small village where the influence of the Way of St James lives alongside an epic past, for it was on the surrounding slopes that Charlemagne's troops were defeated by the Vascones in 778. Don’t miss the exhibition centre, where they explain everything about one of the important battles of the Middle Ages.
The landscape is lush and rugged, and if you are passing through on certain dates, Easter Sunday for instance, you can watch the dances of the Bolantes, one of the village’s best-known hallmarks.

A well-preserved example of French Gothic architecture at a privileged spot in the Navarrese Pyrenees. Walking around the beautiful cloister, admiring the colourful stained-glass windows in the apse and visiting the tomb of Sancho the Strong are all musts on the French route.

And the pilgrims’ mass, the blessing at the end of which is given in as many languages as there are visitors from different countries present, is often packed.

You’re going to fall in love with this historical site, the place where Charlemagne suffered his greatest defeat at the hands of the Vascones.

Two linear villages with Pyrenean houses to die for. Ernest Hemingway described this as the wildest damn country in the Spanish Pyrenees. And it wasn’t easy to make an impression on Hemingway!

The cemeteries in both villages are curious. The symbolism of their layouts, the funeral steles they contain and the peace they transmit make them well worth a visit.

The administrative centre of the Esteribar Valley is known for its famous mediaeval bridge. Legend has it that animals that walk around its central pier are protected from rabies. That’s why it’s popularly known as the Rabies bridge.

Ahh, the capital. 
Elegant, walled and very green, Pamplona is well worth stopping off to see. History, art, good food and hospitality all await you here any time of the year. 
You probably already know about its biggest attractions — the Cathedral, Plaza del Castillo, the Taconera park, Calle Estafeta, the Citadel — and have heard about its engaging historical quarter, tasty pintxos and wealth of cultural life.

• Virtual 3D tour of the Way of St James in Pamplona

An overlook, 770 metres above sea level, with outstanding views of Pamplona and the Pyrenees to the north, and cornfields and medieval villages to the south. 

The view comes with an interpretation panel explaining the history of the site and the Monument to the Way of St James, a life-size sculpture bearing the words: Where the way of the wind meets the way of the stars. Pretty, isn’t it?

A majestic bridge that instantly transports you to the Middle Ages. One of the most graceful bridges on the Way of St James. This is where the two branches of the French Way meet before following the same route to Santiago.

And you also have the chance to see the layout of a typical linear town and enjoy the lively atmosphere there, with all the hustle and bustle of so many pilgrims.

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The Romanesque and ‘Way of St James’ city par excellence, with architectural gems around every corner. Here you will find palaces, like the Palace of the Monarchs of Navarre, noblemen's houses, mediaeval churches — like San Pedro de la Rúa, with its enigmatic Solomonic column in the cloister —, convents, bridges and beautiful squares. 

Our recommendation: take your time to enjoy the place; it’s one of the most charming towns in Navarre.

Imagine a drinking fountain that spouts both water and wine. Strange, right? Well, you’ll find one here: the famous double-spouted fountain next to the Irache winery.

The monastery is a set of buildings from different eras — medieval, Baroque, Renaissance — surrounded by vineyards that you just have to see.

A stunning building in a mixture of styles — late Romanesque, early Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque —, all fruit of the changes in tendencies over the time it took to build and renovate the church between the 12th and 18th centuries. 

Don't miss the organ, with its painted wooden pipes: a true visual delight in one of the most beautiful churches in Navarre.

A small church with a barrel-vaulted roof that’s sure to surprise you. The octagonal ribbed dome is the church’s most beautiful and original feature, bar, perhaps, its 13th-century figure of Christ.

Enjoy its verticality and harmony, and feel peace invade your spirit.

The last stop on this branch of the Way of St James and the resting place of César Borgia. 

Don’t miss the church’s magnificently carved door, a fine example of the splendour of the Spanish Renaissance, to bring the route to a close. 

A Site of Cultural Interest that exemplifies the transition between Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The church’s doorway is one of the pinnacles of Romanesque art in Spain. If you have time to get hold of a tour guide, we strongly recommend you do so. You’re going to enjoy it twice as much.

And while you’re there, a walk around Sangüesa is sure to surprise you, because its streets are home to beautiful, well-preserved noblemen’s houses, churches and convents.

A dainty church with an octagonal floorplan built in the second half of the 12th century. It has an original open atrium and a portico with 33 arches.

The church has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest and is the source of numerous myths and legends, all fuelled by its origins as a Knights Templar building.

We cannot conclude our description of this route without pointing out that within 15 kilometres of Sangüesa you can find two gems of Navarre’s architectural heritage and one of its natural marvels, all three of which are well worth taking a detour to admire. They are:

8.5 kilometres from the Way of St James, departing from Sangüesa.

The birthplace of San Francisco Javier, the patron saint of Navarre, is an impressive mediaeval fortress visited every year by thousands of Navarros on the Javierada pilgrimages in March.

The castle’s drawbridge welcomes you into a construction with towers, dungeons, machicolations, embrasures and loopholes which transport you back to olden times of religion and war.

12 kilometres from Sangüesa.

The former refuge of kings and bishops, this austere Romanesque building is a hymn to meditation and spirituality.

Marvel at the 11th-century crypt, admire the lavishly decorated Porta Speciosa and feel Gregorian chants touch your soul.

All in an idyllic setting surrounded by peaceful greenery.

14 kilometres from Sangüesa.

This monument sculpted by nature is one of the wildest landscapes in Navarre. Home to birds of prey, foxes and badgers, this beautiful gorge with vertical walls standing 300 metres tall is the result of the passage of the River Irati.

Declared a nature reserve and very well conserved, the Gorge of Lumbier invites you to stroll along the Rail Trail or just relax beside the cool waters of the river.

A 14,000-year-old cave carved by the River Urtxuma. The guided tour opens up a world of stalactites, stalagmites, bandits, insurgents and akelarres (witches’ covens).

Put on a jacket and open your eyes wide to enjoy this experience in the bowels of the earth to the full.

Starting from the mill, there is a pleasant 1.5-kilometre walk past farmhouses which crosses the pond and channel before reaching the mythical monolith on Mount Gaztelu, once the site of one of the castles of the old Kingdom of Navarre, of which now only a few ruins remain. The monument reminds us that Amaiur/Maya was the last focal point of resistance against the conquest of Navarre, back in 1522. The village has a museum, on the castle and its archaeological remains.

This picturesque village boasts a restored mill where you can buy flour, see how it’s made and try some delicious, freshly baked talos (corn flatbread). 

An open-air space reserved for art in which the artist Xabier Santxotena pays tribute to Basque mythology and introduces you to the Agotes, an ethnic group native to the village and marginalised for centuries.

Get ready to find out just how creative wood carving can be.

The administrative centre of the valley, Elizondo is a charming town in which stone and water come together to play leading roles. Strolling down its streets past the imposing houses that line the way and trying the town’s famous chocolate with hazelnuts is a great way to have a relaxing time.

And if you're a fan of the writer Dolores Redondo, you’ll love the guided tour of the locations that feature in her successful Baztan Trilogy.

This legendary cave carved into the hillside is just 8 kilometres from the caves of Urdazubi/Urdax. It’s easy to imagine the akelarres (witches’ covens) which so enraged the Holy Inquisition and saw several women accused of witchcraft and condemned to death by fire.

And if that piques your curiosity, don’t fail to visit the Witch Museum, just 400 metres away in the village of Zugarramurdi.

This spectacular green space with its fine botanical garden and several walking trails is just 7.5 kilometres off the Baztan route, departing from Irurita. More than 2,000 hectares of plethoric nature which will imbue you with peace and positive feelings.

Cortes is the southernmost town in Navarre, and its history has been shaped by its position on the border with Aragon. Proof of this is its impressive 12th-century castle, which you just have to see. Its current appearance, more stately than military, is the result of several restorations. Inside, there’s an interesting collection of paintings from different periods as well as the permanent exhibition of the Alto de la Cruz de Cortes archaeological site. And in the castle’s old vegetable garden, there’s now a park with ducks, geese, swans and a curious life-size chessboard.

If you had to choose the place on the different routes of the Way of St James that pass through it that best represents the cultural melting pot that is Navarre, then that would probably be Tudela.

The second city in importance after Pamplona, Tudela is one of the most important cities of Islamic origin in all Europe. It has a Jewish quarter and important Christian monuments, such as the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa María, which is a building not to be missed.

Other musts include the 360-metre long bridge over the River Ebro with its 17 splendid ogival arches and Plaza de los Fueros, the social hub of the city.

One last recommendation: don’t leave Tudela without trying the delicious vegetables grown there. They’re a cut above the rest!

14 kilometres from the Way of St James, departing from Tudela.

A semi-desert landscape, unique in northern Spain, which we can only urge you to visit.

The park, a wild, fascinating place, declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, is, despite its inhospitable appearance, home to great natural treasures.

Enjoy the arid beauty of this magnificent Natural Park, whose magic and allure will seize your imagination.

13 kilometres from the Way of St James, departing from Tudela.
Another first on the Iberian peninsula. This is the first Cistercian monastery built for women, and there are still nuns living here.

A clear example of the austerity of the Order of Cistercians, which inspires seclusion in every corner. Walking beneath the ribbed vault of the cloister and a visit to the Sacred Art Museum are sure to bring you an agreeable feeling of serenity.

The Sakana valley is a long corridor bounded by the sierras of Urbasa and Aralar, sheltering around thirty villages interspersed with green meadows and oak and beech woodlands. The magnificent Romanesque sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar is to be found in the sierra of Aralar.

The valley offers rich pasturelands on which horses and cows peacefully graze, as do the Latxa sheep, whose milk is used to make the much sought-after D.O. Idiazabal cheese, which is often served with honey and walnuts. Don't miss the opportunity to try this delicacy! As well as the delicious pintxos of txistorra (a fresh paprika sausage) and the tasty beef steaks. Yet another end-of-stage incentive!

This monastery, which came under the cathedral of Pamplona in the Middle Ages, is a beautiful example of rural Romanesque art in Navarre, with a single nave floor plan. Standing in an exceptional natural setting, it was a key stopping point on the Roman road, to allow walkers to regain their strength and it even functioned as a pilgrims' hospital in the 10th century. Roman remains as well as the typical scallop shells of the Way of St James have been found at the monastery.

It also has a house for spiritual retreats.

There's a whole range of accommodation on offer in the 30 villages along the Sakana Way, so you're sure to find just the right place for you. You can stay at one of the country holiday homes that are so typical of this area, or tourist hostels, hotels and even campsites. Click here to check out all the accommodation options.

And, for a midday or evening meal, visit the restaurants in the valley and treat your taste buds to the mouth-watering local products grown in the market gardens or raised in the fields.

And if you need to get here or to go back to your place of origin at the end of your route, there's no problem as this valley is really well-communicated. More info here.