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| Esteribar, Erro, Auritz-Burguete,
Orreaga-Roncesvalles and Luzaide-Valcarlos: five
destinations with a whole lot to offer. They are
not to be missed. |
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Orreaga-Roncesvalles |
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 A
natural pass through the Pyrenees since the
darkest ages of history, Orreaga/Roncesvalles
is an emblematic location of epic proportions.
This is where tradition has it that the Vascons
defeated the French army of Charlemagne... |
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Pilgrims'
Road to Santiago |
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 Some
refer to the discovery of the tomb of the
apostle Saint James as a means by which to
mark the beginning of one of the most significant
ventures of western culture, the Pilgrims'
Road to Santiago de Compostela. The route,
however... |
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Quinto
Real and Sorogain |
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 Quinto
Real belongs to the Valleys of Erro,
Baztan, Esteribar and Alduides. Deer, wild
boar and foxes abound. Birds complete |
| Sorogain constituye un
ambiente espléndido para la relajación,
para dar suaves paseos... |
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Eugi
reservoir |
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 The
Eugi reservoir, together with the village
of the same name, which rests on its shores,
forms a magnificent nature spot. It is located
at the head of the River Arga next to the
beautiful forest of Quinto Real... |
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Orreaga-Roncesvalles |
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A
natural pass through the Pyrenees since the
darkest ages of history, Orreaga/Roncesvalles
is an emblematic location of epic proportions.
This is where tradition has it that the Vascons
defeated the French army of Charlemagne. Orreaga-Roncesvalles
is an outstanding architectural complex –religious,
secular, domestic- located in beautiful setting.
A centre was set up at Orreaga-Roncesvalles
to aid and accommodate pilgrims following
their hard climb up the mountainside and put
them on their way towards their destination,
almost perceptible in their hearts, of the
still-distant tomb of the apostle. Even though
more than 700 kilometres still remain, with
the pass and the Pyrenees behind them, Orreaga-Roncesvalles
represents the last stretch of the Road for
pilgrims. The historical and symbolic power
of this artistic complex means that pilgrims
consider it the second most important point
on the Road to Santiago after the Cathedral
in Santiago de Compostela itself.
The small, simple, Gothic chapel next to the
Silo of Charlemagne is the only building in
Orreaga-Roncesvalles dedicated to St James
(Santiago). It preserves a unique ingredient,
the bell from the old Chapel of Ibañeta,
whose chimes used to give hope to pilgrims
climbing the north face of the Pyrenees. Pilgrimage
to Santiago de Compostela is, together with
the Carolingian world, the mainstay of Orreaga-Roncesvalles. |
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Pilgrims'
Road to Santiago |
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Some
refer to the discovery of the tomb of the
apostle Saint James as a means by which to
mark the beginning of one of the most significant
ventures of western culture, the Pilgrims'
Road to Santiago de Compostela. The route,
however, traces a path already used by the
Romans: the road to Finisterre.
The discovery of the sepulchre was a transcendental
event which bewildered and deeply moved the
inhabitants of Mediaeval Western Europe. Since
then, the Navarrese Pyrenees have been an
obligatory passing point for thousands of
pilgrims from Europe on their way to Galicia
to honour the apostle.
This constant flow of people from all kinds
of social and geographical backgrounds led
to great cultural and artistic, as well as
economic wealth for Navarrese villages over
the centuries.
Churches, monasteries, chapels and hospitals,
many of which still stand today, were built
along the road and foreign artists were employed
in many cases.
The cultural and artistic beauty of the Road
to Santiago is only complemented by the beauty
of the nature spots it crosses: thick beech
and oak woods, fields, ferns, mountains and
river sources constitute an authentic paradise
for nature lovers.
The Road from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port heads
towards the Pyrenees along two different routes: |
- The High Road, Napoleon's
Road or the Road of the Passes of Cize over
the hills of Lepoeder or Bentartea. It follows
the route of the old Roman, Bordeaux-Astorga
road, some sections of which are still visible
today and which marked the communications
structure of the area.
- The Low Road or the Road
of the Defile: climbs up the valley to Ibañeta. |
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Quinto
Real and Sorogain |
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|
 Quinto
Real belongs to the Valleys of Erro, Baztan,
Esteribar and Alduides. Deer, wild boar and
foxes abound. Birds complete the long list
of animals found in this leafy forest: the
black woodpecker, the white-backed woodpecker,
the woodcock, eagles, honey buzzards, vultures
and lammergeiers.
The rutting season is without doubt the
most important event at the beginning of
autumn in the woods of Quinto Real. A magical
moment, the stags seek does to mate and
preserve the species. During this period,
the stags suffer incredible stress, wandering
around all night long without worrying practically
at all about eating. They begin their thunderous
bellowing and wailing at twilight, beckoning
the does and marking their territories.
At dawn, the deer gather in clearings, where
the stags wage war under the attentive gaze
of the does. A winner, who shall mate with
all of the does, emerges from the fight.
The loser, weak and humiliated, leaves the
area to return once recovered to try to
win the post.
The name of Quinto Real (Royal Fifth) dates
from the Middle Ages: in the XIII century,
the Kings of Navarre received the fifth
part for use as pastures and a source of
timber.
The Valley of Baztan can be reached from
Quinto Real via the pass of Artesiaga, as
can Alduides via Urkiaga.
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| Sorogain
(Valley of Erro) is a wonderful place
to relax, take gentle walks or climb a mountain
without too much difficulty. It is a magnificent
corner where time would seem to have stopped:
a broad, green carpet surrounded by beech
trees, oak trees and mountainside. In the
background and in all its majesty, Mount Adi
appears to keep eternal watch over a paradise
where leafy woods, fields and river come together
to form an unforgettable landscape. Sorogain
is the common-land home to animals from the
Valleys of Erro and Baigorri, and festivals
are held to celebrate the "marking"
of the livestock. Several dolmen sites are
scattered over the pastures to remind you
of the area’s pastoral prehistory. Sorogain
has a recreational area set in surroundings
of great beauty, complete with tables, benches
and stone barbecues. |
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Eugi
reservoir |
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| The
Eugi reservoir, together with the village
of the same name, which rests on its shores,
forms a magnificent nature spot. It is located
at the head of the River Arga next to the
beautiful forest of Quinto Real. Inaugurated
in 1971, the reservoir has a capacity of 21
hm3. The beauty of the area and the proximity
of the beech woods mean that it well deserves
a visit. |
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