THE PYRENEES

From the large stretches of land covered by beech trees and fir trees in the Irati Woods to the thousand-year-old oak trees in Orgui, the Pyrenees boast majestic views: the depth of the Foz de Arbayún flown over by vultures, the historical collegiate church at Roncesvalles.

Images soften as we reach the Baztán and Ulzama Valleys, where the culture of the “caserío” (typical farmhouse from the Basque Country and Navarre) still remains and the traditions as well as the ancient trades are preserved.

THE PAMPLONA AREA

Pamplona, Navarre’s capital also known as the city of the three boroughs (boroughs = districts), is a city of the past with three thousand years of history, but also and above all it is a city for the future, as we can tell from places like the Baluarte (TN: bastion) where cultural events are held (Hall and Auditorium) and the CIMA (Applied Medical Research Centre), devoted to research on health sciences. It is a quiet, pleasant city, the first one in the Way of Saint James, which once a year turns white to celebrate the FIESTA.

 

THE MIDDLE REGION

Visiting this region at the very heart of Navarre is like opening a History book. At every step you come across fortresses, palaces and castles, monasteries and walled towns which tell us about their strategic importance during the Middle Ages.

This is a pleasant landscape, dotted with vineyards, olive trees and cereal fields which precede the plains of the Ebro Banks in the south of Navarre.

 

THE EBRO BANKS

This is a land of sun and, rich vegetable gardens and orchards, watered by the Ebro River and it is the cause for an excellent gastronomy, at the same time contrasting with the neighbouring semi-desert area of the Royal Bardenas.

However, the dryness of this landscape has nothing to do with its people, who are extrovert and cheerful as their several festivals and popular traditions show.