Navarra
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Sangüesa,
the Castle of Javier, the Monastery of Leire and the Roncal valley.
Sangüesa stands on the Way of St. James
on a land of ancient medieval frontiers that has been crossed by many
peoples. Its most emblematic monument is the Romanesque façade of the
church of Santa María. Other highlights are the church of Santiago, noble
houses such as those of the Príncipe of Viana and the Vallesantoro family,
or the convents of the Carmelites and San Francisco. Just 5 miles from Sangüesa stands the Castle of Javier, the birthplace of San Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Navarre and one of the most important missionaries in Christianity. Between 1541 and 1552 he visited many places in Africa, Asia and Oceania, acting as a cultural bridge between the West and the Orient. The origin of the castle goes back to the 10th and 11th centuries; its latest and most magnificent restoration was completed in 2005. Very close by is the Yesa reservoir, a water sports centre, and the Monastery of San Salvador de Leire, built in the foothills of the mountain range of the same name in a beautiful spot with spectacular views. It was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the remains of an old pre-Romanesque church. Its highlights are its Romanesque crypt and the 'Puerta Speciosa', a perfect 12th-century Romanesque portico. In Lumbier it is worth visiting The Interpretation Centre for the gorges of Arbayún and Lumbier. It provides interesting information on the natural environment of these impressive gorges cut into the rock by the force of water. In both gorges it is worth stopping to observe the birds of prey that nest there, particularly the majestic flight of the griffon vulture. Further north, on the border with France and Huesca, lies the Roncal valley, with seven beautiful towns and villages where some of the most peculiar traditions of Navarre are maintained. You can get to know them through a visit to the Museum del Almadía (raft museum) in Burgui, the house-museum of the tenor Julián Gayarre (Roncal), the Cheese museum (Uztárroz), and the Nature Interpretation Centre (Roncal). The Roncal valley is rounded off to the north by the Belagua valley and the Reserve of Larra, where cross-country skiing is practised. From here you can climb mountain peaks such as the Mesa de los Tres Reyes (2,422 m), Anie (2,507 m) or Ukerdi (2,248 m). Gastronomy Sangüesa's architectural attractions are complemented by its rich gastronomy, with a special mention for pochas (succulent beans), its home-made cold meats or glorias de yema (made with egg yolk and sugar). Roncal is the paradise of traditional sheep cheese making (it has its own designation of origin) and migas de pastor (literally, 'shepherds' breadcrumbs'). Events Every year on January 6th Sangüesa puts its heart into the representation of the Misterio de Reyes, one of the five passion plays conserved in Spain. Many people from the town take part, especially children. The Roncal valley is also the scene of two rituals that attract hundreds of visitors. Since 1992, between the end of April and early May, Burgui is home to the Día del Almadía (Day of the River Raft), with a five-kilometre descent of the river Esca by traditional wood-carrying rafts that used to follow the rivers from the north of Navarre to Zaragoza and on to Tortosa (on the Mediterranean). The Tributo de las Tres Vacas (Tribute of the Three Cows) has been held almost uninterruptedly since 1375 every July 13th on the border stone at La Piedra de San Martín, 1,760 metres above sea level. In this fiesta the mayors of the French valley of Baretous hand over three cows to their counterparts from the Roncal valley in a curious ceremony. It arose from an ancient agreement that put an end to continuous border disputes over grazing and water rights for livestock. Navarre Autumn fair in Doneztebe/Santesteban Doneztebe/Santesteban Food, agriculture and livestock fair in the Malerreka valley. Following tradition and coinciding with the festivity of San Martín, the town of Doneztebe/Santesteban celebrates its Autumn fair on Saturday 11 November. Local artisans and others from the Baztán Valley, Bidasoa District and Cinco Villas will set up their stalls and sell their products in Doneztebe/Santesteban. Cheese, honey and apple cider are for sale in addition to other products, such as wool garments and wooden utensils. At the same time, there will be a livestock fair where local farmers can buy and sell their animals. Visit this town in the Malerreka Valley, surrounded by the Mendaur mountains and admire the area’s typical constructions and its 18th century town council. You can also stay for lunch and enjoy the benefits of the game food fair. You will also be close to the Cinco Villas district, and have the opportunity to visit the five towns that comprise it: Arantza, Lesaka, Igantzi, Etxalar and Vera/Bera de Bidasoa. Señorío de Bertiz and the Bidasoa valley The Señorío de Bertiz is a 2,040-hectare natural park where oak, alder, beech and chestnut woods abound. It has a charming garden full of exotic species from all parts of the world and a Nature Interpretation Centre where the visitor can learn about the area's rich natural heritage. Nowadays it belongs to the Government of Navarre and has become a leisure area and a starting point for hill walks. The road from Bertiz to the province of Guipúzcoa runs along the river Bidasoa, through the Regata del Bidasoa. From Doneztebe/Santesteban a road leads up to Leitza along the valley of the river Ezkurra via Elgorriaga. This locality, well known to mushroom hunters, will shortly recover the spa that made it famous one hundred years ago. The nearby village of Zubieta has recovered an old mill by the river (built in 1785); it has been converted into an eco-museum. Inside there are three working mills that grind wheat and corn, plus an ethnographic exhibition with characteristic features of the area. In Donamaria the highlight is the Jauregia house-tower, a typical noble tower of the 15th century with a wooden platform. From Urrotz you can reach the natural area of the reservoirs of Leurtza, two small lakes built in the middle of a magnificent beech wood. The road to France takes you to Sunbilla, with its three-arched stone bridge; Etxalar, a village of fine houses where pigeon hunting is elevated to the status of art; Lesaka, where the dantzaris dance the makil dantza every July 7th on the stone parapet running along the river Onín; and Bera, home of the Baroja family. Most of these places are linked by a flat 27-kilometre route that follows the old Bidasoa railway line. Gastronomy Wood pigeon and other game dishes stand out in the varied gastronomy of the valley, which includes the prized Bidasoa salmon, duck-based products, piperropiles (pepper cakes) and the canutillos (wafers with cream) dessert from Sunbilla. Events Ituren and Zubieta are two villages joined by the mid-winter celebration of one of the most genuine and best known carnavales in Navarre. Every year the zanpantzar (or orjoaldunak) -cowbell carriers- and their colourful cortège chase away evil spirits. Also of interest is the Carnival of Lesaka, with its zaku zaharrak, that of Arantza, interpreted by the mozorroak (young people), and that of Bera, which has two different parts: zíngaros (gypsies) and caldereros (tinkers) and the procession of the iñudek eta artzaiak. On July 7th the “makil dantza” is performed on the stone parapet along the river in the Sanfermines of Lesaka. Pamplona and surroundings Pamplona is a modern, hospitable city with much evidence of its medieval past, carefully looked-after buildings and a great variety of cultural attractions and gastronomy. The capital of Navarre, located on the Way of St. James, has welcomed arriving pilgrims through the centuries at the La Magdalena bridge, an ideal starting point for a stroll along the city walls. From the north, the Portal de Francia leads into the old quarter of the city and the Gothic cathedral of Santa María La Real, built in the 12th and 15th centuries. A neoclassic façade dominates the entrance to the church, whose highlight is its Gothic cloister in the French style. A stroll through the Old Part of the city reveals interesting buildings such as the church-fortresses of San Nicolás and San Saturnino, the old city walls, the Museum of Navarre and the Palace of the Kings of Navarre, which now houses the General Archives of Navarre. The there is the Chapel of San Fermín in the church of San Lorenzo, the Pablo Sarasate Museum, the City Hall with its Baroque façade, the Cámara de Comptos (the only civil Gothic building in the city) and the Plaza del Castillo, at the heart of the city. This square surrounded by porches has a number of café terraces, including the well-known Café Iruña. Pamplona and its Old Part are inextricably linked to the Sanfermines and the encierro (Bull Run). The Sanfermines, which became a synonym for the word fiesta thanks to the novelist Ernest Hemingway, attract thousands of revellers from all over the world between July 6th and 14th every year. Nevertheless, on any day of the year you can stroll along the streets where the runners and bulls challenge each other: Santo Domingo, City Hall Square, Mercaderes and Estafeta, and then on to the Bullring. The transition from Old Iruña to modern Pamplona takes place in the green belt formed by the parks of La Media Luna, La Taconera and La Vuelta del Castillo. The last-named is linked to the old Citadel. On the site of one of its old bastions the modern 'Baluarte' Congress Centre and Auditorium has been built. Yamaguchi park, where the city's Planetarium is located, is in the modern part of the city to the west. The towns and village around the capital -the area known as the Cuenca (basin) of Pamplona- also offer interesting features to the visitor. The house-museum of the sculptor Jorge Oteiza is located in Alzuza; it is a modern building designed by the architect Sáenz de Oiza and is home to the extensive work of the sculptor and conserves the rooms where he lived and worked for many years. The Pamplona basin also holds a number of jewels of Romanesque architecture such as the churches in Gazólaz or Cizur Menor. Gastronomy Pamplona presents the visitor with all the typical products of Navarrese cuisine, although we would make a special mention to the lamb from the Pamplona basin and dishes with bull meat during the Sanfermines. Other typical products of the capital and the surrounding area are chorizo, relleno (black sausage without the blood), milk coffee sweets, txantxigorri cakes and coronillas (flaky pastry with cream in the centre). Make sure you try some pinchos (tapas), wines and liqueurs in the bars of the Old Part, or enjoy the traditional poteo (aperitif) before and after lunch. Events Pamplona is inevitably associated with the Sanfermines, Spain's most international fiesta. The bull runs and bullfights, the peñas (social clubs that provide most of the animation in the streets), the chupinazo (inaugural rocket), the procession in honour of San Fermín, the dianas (band music and dancing at sunrise) and the gigantes (papier-mâché giants) all turn the city into a non-stop party from noon on July 6th to midnight on the 14th. The Carnival is also celebrated in the Pamplona basin and the surrounding area. The best known and most imitated of all the carnivals in Navarre is the one held in the small village of Lantz, just 20 kilometres north of Pamplona. There is a whole host of characters: Miel Otxin, Ziripot, the txatxos, the zaldiko, the arotzak, and the popular zortziko dance. La Ribera: Bardenas Reales, Tudela, and the Monastery of Fitero Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the Parque Natural de las Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert area covering 42,500 hectares where erosion has carved out a landscape of high plains, hillocks and gullies that contains three Natural Reserves: el Rincón del Bu, las Caídas de la Negra and (to the north) the Natural Reserve of Vedado de Eguaras. You can cross Las Bardenas on foot or horseback and by bicycle or car. All the routes are well signposted, whichever means of transport you choose. Two of the best views of Las Bardenas are from the Alto de Aguilares and from the Balcón de Pilatos, which can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. The main city in La Ribera, and the second most important in Navarre, is Tudela. It was founded by the Arabs in the 9th century and remained under the control of Islam until 1119, when it became part of the Navarre-Aragon kingdom. Arabs, Christians and Jews lived together here for 400 years; a stroll through the city reveals many examples of this rich cultural heritage. As well as its Baroque and Renaissance palaces, the highlight is the Cathedral, declared a National Monument. It was first built in 1180 on the site of an old mosque, and its major features are a tower from the end of the 17th century and the façades of the Virgin Mary, Santa Maria and the Final Judgement. Inside, the Romanesque cloister conserves some decorative elements from the old mosque. Other places of interest in Tudela are the Plaza de los Fueros (the central square), the Muñoz Sola Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Marquis of Huarte, the bridge over the River Ebro, the church of La Magdalena, the Palace of the Marquis of San Adrián and various other buildings of interest. La Ribera offers much more, however. Fitero is home to a Cistercian monastery, the first one built in the Iberian Peninsula. It is an architectural jewel from the Middle Ages and was declared a National Monument in 1931. Fitero also has a well known spa. The Vía Verde del Tarazonica is a 'green route' that covers the 22 kilometres between Tudela and Tarazona (Zaragoza province) along an old railway line. Near Arguedas is Senda Viva, a theme park with over 50 species of animals in semi-captivity and attractions and shows for all the family. Other places of interest are Corella, where the town centre reveals a wealth of churches, convents, palaces and noble houses, and Valtierra, which has recovered some old caves in the hills behind the town as rural accommodation. Between Mélida and Caparroso stand the ruins of the castle and walls of the Despoblado de Rada, dominated by the renovated 12th-century church of San Nicolás. Gastronomy La Ribera of Navarre and Tudela are synonymous with excellent cuisine. The Ebro runs through the area so the land along the river is extraordinarily fertile and covered with market gardens. La Ribera produces high-quality vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, chard, crisp lettuces, spinach, etc. These can all be found in the area's restaurants, with a special mention for the most typical dish, menestra, which is prepared from a variety of vegetables. La Ribera also has a wide variety of confectionery and excellent red and rosé wines with designation of origin. Events The carnavales in La Ribera have peculiar characters: zipoteros in Tudela, zarramuskeros in Cintruénigo or zarrapoteros in Cascante. Of particular note are the very ancient Easter Procession in Corella and the massively attended ceremonies of El Volatín and the Bajada del Ángel (festivities declared to be of National Tourist Interest) at Easter in Tudela or the arrival of transhumance livestock from the Pyrenean valleys in the Bardenas Reales. In July Tudela celebrates its fiesta in honour of Santiago (St James) and Santa Ana with a varied programme, the highlight being the lively Revoltosa dance around the bandstand in the centre of the city’s main square. Dancing is considered important in La Ribera, as illustrated by the paloteados (dances with sticks) that are common to a number of towns, such as Cortes. Navarre Mushing in Roncal Roncal Ability and pride at the Navarre Sled Dog Championship. A sport of arctic origin, mushing has now arrived in Navarre, more specifically in the Roncal Valley. The Navarre Dry Land Mushing Championship will bring together mushers and sled dogs in the Mata de Haya forest in Belagua (Isaba) on 11 and 12 November. The first two rounds will be held at 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, respectively. The third round will begin at 10.00 am Sunday and the award ceremony will be held at 1.00 pm. This beautiful, spectacular sport has its origin in the early 20th century, during the gold rush in Alaska and Canada, when French settlers used dog sleds to transport both people and goods. The term mush is purportedly an English mispronunciation of the word used by French sled drivers to get their dogs to run: marche. During the Navarre Championship, Alaskan Malamutes, Alaskan Huskies and Siberian Huskies will take their mushers on wheeled sleds towards victory. Don’t miss this show of strength and skill in a setting of supreme beauty: the Navarrese Pyrenees. This is an excellent opportunity to breathe the pure air of the Roncal Valley, an area dotted with enclaves that emanate history, ancestral traditions and genuine ways of life. Isaba, Garde, Roncal, Burgui… ; make this weekend a Pyrenean weekend… |
Locality: YESA
Address:
Monasterio de San Salvador de Leyre
Zone: The
Central Zone
Style:
Romanesque
Centuries of
construction: IX
Visiting hours:
De lunes a viernes de 10:15 a 14:00 y de 15:30 a 19:00. Sábados,
domingos y festivos, de 10:15 a 14:00 y de 16:00 a 19:00. En
invierno, de lunes a viernes cierra a las 18:00 y los sábados,
domingos y festivos, a las 18:30. Cantos gregorianos: de lunes a
sábado, a las 7:30, 9:00, 19:00 (jueves 19:30) y 21:10. Domingos
y festivos, a las 8:00, 12:00, 19:00 y 21:00. Maitines: a las
6:00, recitado.
Price of the visit:
Tarifa normal: 1,95 euros. Niños: 0,50 euros. Grupos: 1,65 euros
pax
Teléfonos:
948884150 - 948884011
Fax:
948884230
Located at 50 kilometres from
Pamplona and 16 from Sangüesa the foot of the mountain range
that gives it its name, the monastery of Leire contains
magnificent treasures such as an 11th-century crypt, a Gothic
church vault and the Porta Speciosa, a beautiful Romanesque
portico from the 12th century. There is an atmosphere of peace
and serenity that calms the spirit and helps you to reflect and
be at peace with yourself. The austere architecture expresses a
large part of history, culture, art and thought in its walls and
wonderful natural surroundings invite you to walk and meditate.
As well as all this, moving Gregorian chants and conversations
with the Benedictine monks are some of the things that will stay
in your mind after a visit to the monastery of San Salvador de
Leire, one of the most attractive and enchanting monuments in
Navarre. It is the tomb of most of the ancient monarchs of
Navarre, and every year in summer it is home to the award
ceremony for the Príncipe de Viana prize, whose patron is Prince
Felipe of Spain.
Navarre
The Saviour in Falces
Four days of feasting dedicated to the
town’s patron saint. From Thursday 9 November to Sunday 12 November, the town of Falces on the banks of the Arga will organise numerous activities to celebrate the feast of The Saviour, its patron saint. The festivities will begin with the rocket launched at noon from the Basilica of the Saviour of the World, located on the town’s highest point, followed by a mass in honour of the town’s patron saint. After this, there will be street music with dulzaina players and comparsas (similar to krewes). A procession of giants and 'big-heads' will take place on Friday at 7.00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday at 1.00 pm. The feasts provide a good opportunity to taste some of the best samples of Navarrese cuisine. Pochas (fresh white beans) will be served on Friday at 11.00 am at the Plaza de los Fueros. On Saturday at 10.30 am there will be a tasting of migas (breadcrumbs sautéed with garlic) from Falces. Falces is a town in Navarre’s Ribera Region, located between Tudela and Tafalla, somewhat closer to the latter. This is the perfect occasion to visit the medieval town of Olite, only twenty minutes away. You can enjoy a walk along the narrow streets of Olite and admire its stone mansions with coats of arms and, of course, its famous medieval castle,
Castle Olite Olite, Ujué, Monastery of La Oliva, and Valdorba Four days of feasting dedicated to the town’s patron saint. From Thursday 9 November to Sunday 12 November, the town of Falces on the banks of the Arga will organise numerous activities to celebrate the feast of The Saviour, its patron saint. The festivities will begin with the rocket launched at noon from the Basilica of the Saviour of the World, located on the town’s highest point, followed by a mass in honour of the town’s patron saint. After this, there will be street music with dulzaina players and comparsas (similar to krewes). A procession of giants and 'big-heads' will take place on Friday at 7.00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday at 1.00 pm. The feasts provide a good opportunity to taste some of the best samples of Navarrese cuisine. Pochas (fresh white beans) will be served on Friday at 11.00 am at the Plaza de los Fueros. On Saturday at 10.30 am there will be a tasting of migas (breadcrumbs sautéed with garlic) from Falces. Falces is a town in Navarre’s Ribera Region, located between Tudela and Tafalla, somewhat closer to the latter. This is the perfect occasion to visit the medieval town of Olite, only twenty minutes away. You can enjoy a walk along the narrow streets of Olite and admire its stone mansions with coats of arms and, of course, its famous medieval castle, the best example of civil gothic architecture in Navarre. La Ribera: Bardenas Reales, Tudela, and the Monastery of Fitero Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the Parque Natural de las Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert area covering 42,500 hectares where erosion has carved out a landscape of high plains, hillocks and gullies that contains three Natural Reserves: el Rincón del Bu, las Caídas de la Negra and (to the north) the Natural Reserve of Vedado de Eguaras. You can cross Las Bardenas on foot or horseback and by bicycle or car. All the routes are well signposted, whichever means of transport you choose. Two of the best views of Las Bardenas are from the Alto de Aguilares and from the Balcón de Pilatos, which can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. The main city in La Ribera, and the second most important in Navarre, is Tudela. It was founded by the Arabs in the 9th century and remained under the control of Islam until 1119, when it became part of the Navarre-Aragon kingdom. Arabs, Christians and Jews lived together here for 400 years; a stroll through the city reveals many examples of this rich cultural heritage. As well as its Baroque and Renaissance palaces, the highlight is the Cathedral, declared a National Monument. It was first built in 1180 on the site of an old mosque, and its major features are a tower from the end of the 17th century and the façades of the Virgin Mary, Santa Maria and the Final Judgement. Inside, the Romanesque cloister conserves some decorative elements from the old mosque. Other places of interest in Tudela are the Plaza de los Fueros (the central square), the Muñoz Sola Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Marquis of Huarte, the bridge over the River Ebro, the church of La Magdalena, the Palace of the Marquis of San Adrián and various other buildings of interest. La Ribera offers much more, however. Fitero is home to a Cistercian monastery, the first one built in the Iberian Peninsula. It is an architectural jewel from the Middle Ages and was declared a National Monument in 1931. Fitero also has a well known spa. The Vía Verde del Tarazonica is a 'green route' that covers the 22 kilometres between Tudela and Tarazona (Zaragoza province) along an old railway line. Near Arguedas is Senda Viva, a theme park with over 50 species of animals in semi-captivity and attractions and shows for all the family. Other places of interest are Corella, where the town centre reveals a wealth of churches, convents, palaces and noble houses, and Valtierra, which has recovered some old caves in the hills behind the town as rural accommodation. Between Mélida and Caparroso stand the ruins of the castle and walls of the Despoblado de Rada, dominated by the renovated 12th-century church of San Nicolás. Gastronomy La Ribera of Navarre and Tudela are synonymous with excellent cuisine. The Ebro runs through the area so the land along the river is extraordinarily fertile and covered with market gardens. La Ribera produces high-quality vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, chard, crisp lettuces, spinach, etc. These can all be found in the area's restaurants, with a special mention for the most typical dish, menestra, which is prepared from a variety of vegetables. La Ribera also has a wide variety of confectionery and excellent red and rosé wines with designation of origin. Events The carnavales in La Ribera have peculiar characters: zipoteros in Tudela, zarramuskeros in Cintruénigo or zarrapoteros in Cascante. Of particular note are the very ancient Easter Procession in Corella and the massively attended ceremonies of El Volatín and the Bajada del Ángel (festivities declared to be of National Tourist Interest) at Easter in Tudela or the arrival of transhumance livestock from the Pyrenean valleys in the Bardenas Reales. In July Tudela celebrates its fiesta in honour of Santiago (St James) and Santa Ana with a varied programme, the highlight being the lively Revoltosa dance around the bandstand in the centre of the city’s main square. Dancing is considered important in La Ribera, as illustrated by the paloteados (dances with sticks) that are common to a number of towns, such as Cortes. Sierra de Aralar and the Leitzaran and Ultzama valleys. At the foot of the majestic Sierra of Aralar lies Lekunberri, a town with several traditional houses with ashlars on their corners and elegant windows and coats of arms on their façades. The town centre is located around the parish church of San Juan Bautista, an 18th-century building with a single nave and a circular header. From Lekunberri it is easy to reach the Vía Verde del Plazaola, a 'green route' along the old railway line of the same name that used to link Pamplona and San Sebastián. You can travel from Mugiro to Andoain along this route by bicycle or on horseback or on foot. The road that goes up to the Sierra de Aralar also starts in Lekunberri. Aralar is great karstic massif that runs between Navarre and Guipúzcoa and offers excellent excursions for mountaineering and trekking enthusiasts. In Astita is the cave of Mendukilo, a 60-metre long and 20-metre high cavity that reveals three spectacular chambers with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. At the top of the sierra, at 1,341 metres above sea level, is the Sanctuary of Aralar, a small church with three naves rounded off by three semi-circular apses. A Baroque image of San Miguel is kept in the chapel, and the 12th-century Romanesque altar piece is considered one of the best enamel works in Europe. The area around the sanctuary offers delightful views of the Arakil valley below and the Sierra of Andia opposite. The sanctuary can also be reached by a track that runs up from the Arakil valley, where the so-called 'dolmens route' lies. On the way to Leitza, with its grey-blue stone arched church, stop off in the pretty villages of Uitzi and Gorriti, both of which have imposing noble houses. The Kornieta windpark, reached along a track that starts at the Usategieta pass, provides spectacular views of the area with meadows, woods and livestock against a background of mountain peaks. In the green Ultzama valley, reached from Pamplona along the N-121-A road (turning left at Ostiz onto the NA 411), lies the Orgi wood, an 80-hectare oak grove more than 4,000 years old that has been converted into a Recreational Nature Zone with a view to combining the maintenance of the area's natural wealth with leisure activities. Gastronomy The most typical product of the valleys near Aralar is sheep's cheese; it is sold under the Idiazabal designation of origin, which is shared by Navarre and Guipúzcoa. Other outstanding products are cold meats, beef and lamb, and cider. You should not leave the Ultzama valley without trying its excellent sheep's milk cuajada (junket) or - in the autumn - the prized hongo beltza (black mushroom). Events In Alsasua the main fiestas are Santa Águeda (February 5th), in which young people take the leading role; the carnavales, with its traditional character the momotxorro; the popular pilgrimage to the hermitage of San Pedro (June 29th); and the livestock fair in September. On the last Sunday in August Uharte Arakil is the scene of the Artzai Eguna (Day of the Shepherd), which includes sheepdog trials and a cheese-making competition. In Leitza the dance of the ingurutxo on August 10th is a much-loved tradition in which the entire town dances in the streets as part of its fiesta. The ingurutxo, which is danced by couples, is the biggest group dance in Navarre. Wild mushroom festival in Cintruénigo Tudela A mushroom weekend in the Ribera Region. With the wild mushroom season in full swing, Cintruénigo will be celebrating its mushroom festival this weekend. The town’s Nature Interpretation Centre will be the headquarters for the event which will begin on Friday 10 November with a lecture by Cristóbal Burgos, member of the Llodio Mycological Society at 8.00 pm. On Saturday there will be an organised daytrip to the Moncayo where participants can take some exercise while hunting for mushrooms. The excursion will depart from the car park of the Hotel Alhama. At 4.00 pm, the mushrooms will be classified and exhibited at the Nature Interpretation Centre. The exhibition will last through Sunday and can be visited from 12.00 noon to 2.00 pm and from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Cintruénigo is located in Navarre’s Ribera Region a few kilometres from Tudela. While in the area, you should visit Corella, Navarre’s baroque town par excellence. You can also visit Fitero, on the border with La Rioja, with its Cistercian monastery of Santa María, the first to be built by this monastic order in the Iberian peninsula. lake at Pitillas Pitillas Paraje Laguna de Pitillas The Central Zone www.navarramedia.org Protected figure: Reserva Natural Figure protected since: Ley Foral 6/1987 Tel.: 619463450 Storks, geese, starlings, common loons, bitterns, lagoon eaglets, bee-eaters, swallows… hundreds of birds fly gently across the lake at Pitillas, creating a real natural mosaic whose colours, movements and sounds will transport you to a world of soothing sensations. This natural area, situated 60 kilometres south of Pamplona and three kilometres from Pitillas, in the Central Zone of Navarre, is a Nature Reserve, a Special Protection Area for Birds and a Wetland of International Importance, which gives an idea of its exceptional environmental value. Three self-guided hiking paths allow the visitor to get a better idea of this 216-hectare natural reserve. There is also an observatory, an excellent lookout point from which you can watch the movements of the birds. Come and discover the secret life concealed within this steppe-type lake, the most northerly of the Iberian Peninsula and one of the areas with the greatest concentration of birdlife. Navarre Autumn
fair in Doneztebe/Santesteban
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