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Forest
of Irati |
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 Of
great natural and ecological importance, Irati
is considered one of the largest beech-fir
forests in Europe and is a great nature attraction
all year round. An interesting range of fauna,
on a par with the quality of the Forest... |
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Dances
of Otsagabia |
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 The
dances of Otsagabia have been maintained for
many generations. The ritual dance cycle consists
of four interesting, highly expressive, stick
dances, as well as a handkerchief dance and
a jota.
The eight “danzantes”
led by the “Bobo”... |
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Shepherds
and transhumance |
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 Salazar,
like Roncal, was an exemplary, transhumant
sheep-farming valley. Before the winter set
in, shepherds used to take their flocks of
“rasa” sheep to the Bardena
in Navarre's southerly, Ribera region, following... |
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Santa
María del Campo |
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 This
church is in Navascues and is a stunning,
stone-crafted example of XII-century, rural
Romanesque. Influenced by architecture found
in nearby Jaca, its solitary position beside
the river... |
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Forest
of Irati |
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A
large area of land (17,195 Ha) of which 75%
is woodland. It spreads over a mountain-protected
basin between the Valleys of Salazar and Aezkoa
(Navarre), Cize (Basse Navarre) and Larrau
(Soule). It has long been used for livestock,
timber and hunting.
Of great natural and ecological importance,
it is considered one of the largest beech-fir
forests in Europe and is a great nature attraction
all year round. An interesting range of fauna,
on a par with the quality of the Forest, can
be found in Irati: deer, wild boar, martens,
Pyrenean frogs, black woodpeckers. The landscape
is a permanent succession of small events:
the explosion of green in spring, pastureland
for livestock in the summer, the many colours
of autumn, the silence of winter, occasionally
swathed in snow...
There are numerous walks and tracks to cover
on foot or mountain bike, as well as climbs
and places to do winter sports (snowshoes,
cross-country skiing on marked courses on
Abodi, etc.), which mean that the area can
be enjoyed all year round. The reservoir of
Irabia, in the heart of the Forest, highlights
the beauty of the area.
There are also 16 marked tracks. Carefully
chosen, walking these paths is one of the
best ways to discover its secrets. Most of
them are suitable for all age groups.
Irati can be reached from Aezkoa via Orbaitzeta
and from Salazar via Otsagabia.
The tourist information offices in Otsagabia
and Orreaga/Roncesvalles (all year round)
and Garralda (tourist season) can help with
any queries.
During the tourist season, there are also
information points in Irati itself at Arrazola
and V. de las Nieves.
Different parts of the Forest have different
nature protection status, such as ZEPAs (Special
Bird Protection Areas), INTEGRAL and NATURAL
RESERVES, the creation of a LIC, Place of
Community Interest, currently in progress.
The Irati has a harmonisation and rationalisation
plan for all its resources and activities:
tourism, hunting, farming and the timber trade.
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Dances
of Otsagabia |
|
|
|
The
dances of Otsagabia have been maintained for
many generations. The ritual dance cycle consists
of four interesting, highly expressive, stick
dances, as well as a handkerchief dance and
a jota.
The eight “danzantes”
led by the “Bobo” (The
Fool) perform an old ritual full of symbolism
every 8th of September before the Chapel of
the Virgen de Muskilda.
The repertory consists of four stick dances
called “Emperador”, “Katxutxa”,
“Danza” and “Modorro”,
a handkerchief dance “el Pañuelo”
and the “Jota”. The “Pasacalles”
as a means of movement from one spot to another
is also worthy of mention. These ritual dances
have been maintained for as long as history
remembers and have survived the test of time.
The first written document referring to the
performance of the eight “danzantes”
and the “bobo” at Muskilda
dates from 1695. These performances are now
considered among the most emblematic dances
in Navarrese folklore. |
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Shepherds
and transhumance |
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| Salazar,
like Roncal, was an exemplary, transhumant
sheep-farming valley. Before the winter set
in, shepherds used to take their flocks of
“rasa” sheep to the Bardena
in Navarre's southerly, Ribera region, following
a tradition more than eight centuries old.
These journeys of almost 80 km, conducted
on foot, always followed the same path: the
Salazar sheep trail. The journey went from
Remendia-Adoain-Aibar-Gallipienzo-Murillo
El Fruto. The owner of the flock led his sheep,
then came the head shepherd, followed by the
younger shepherds and a host of children,
who went along to help and learn. |
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Santa
María del Campo |
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| This
church is in Navascues and is a stunning,
stone-crafted example of XII-century, rural
Romanesque. Influenced by architecture found
in nearby Jaca, its solitary position beside
the river and a clump of poplars only enhances
its beauty all the more. It has a single nave
divided into three sections and a semicircular
apse, with a square, central tower with geminate,
semicircular windows. From the outside, the
building is a gem of frugal harmony. |
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