Baztan Valley, the enchanted valley

Discover the Baztan Valley, a magical land, from where we recommend to know the essence of the north of Navarra.

Located in the north of Navarre, at the western start of the Pyrenean chain, the Baztan Valley is commonly appreciated for its idyllic landscape, its green mantle dotted with villages and hamlets, the mildness of its climate and its secular importance as a historical and cultural enclave. Cradle of the millenary Basque language, land of artisans, agotes, indianos, stately palaces, hidalgos, adventurers and smugglers, the so-called Switzerland of Navarre is home to natural treasures such as extensive beech forests, steep ridges, intricate ravines, crystalline streams, prehistoric stations and delightful corners such as the secluded valleys of Aritzakun and Urritzate, indifferent to the passing of time under the shadow of the sentinel Alkaxuri, a slender pyramid that someone baptized as the most beautiful summit of Euskal Herria.

If you are thinking of making a short trip to the Baztan Valley, if you want to know what to see and do in this epic area of Navarre, we recommend you to read carefully the following lines, we are sure that they will help you when planning your trip to Baztan.

Located in the north of Navarre, on the border with Iparralde (also called Northern Basque Country or French Basque Country), the Baztan Valley has an ideal location to enjoy the nature, culture and gastronomy of Navarre. The Pyrenean mountain range, at its western beginning, is home to what is known as the Switzerland of Navarre, a land where nature has created idyllic landscapes worthy of exploring, photographing and loving. Currently, the Baztan Valley has about 8,000 inhabitants scattered over its more than 376.81 square kilometers, a rural area, which seems perfect to get away from the city and enjoy the tranquility that give us their forests, ravines, rivers and villages. Baztan is located in the heart of the Basque Country, less than 100 km away from cities such as Iruña / Pamplona, Donostia / San Sebastián or Biarritz, while Vitoria Gasteiz and Bilbao are approximately 150 km away.

The Baztan Valley has a great collection of traditions that give strength to its culture and history. Among all of them, we must mention 3 that merge faith, nature and life in rural areas, that is, the akelarres of Zugarramurdi, the carnival of Arizkun and its beloved “Hartza” (bear in Basque) and the egun ttun ttun, the day in which the young people of the village run blindfolded to the sound of the txistu. On the other hand, among the most famous and popular festivals of the Baztan Valley we find Baztandarren Biltzarra, a great popular festival that gathers thousands of people in Elizondo, capital of the valley, in support of the Basque and Baztandarren culture.

Among the countless attractions of the Baztan Valley are its natural heritage (evergreen landscape, rivers, waterfalls, extensive forests…), cultural heritage (civil and religious architecture, folklore, local festivities, Camino de Santiago…), its highly appreciated gastronomy (local meats, dairy products, txuri ta beltx, urrakin egina…), the possibility of carrying out various activities and guided tours, and its favorable climate, with not too hot summers and mild winters. In recent years, the importance of the “Baztan Trilogy” by the writer Dolores Redondo as a driving force and tourist revulsive phenomenon in the area should be highlighted.

Villages of the Baztan ValleyThe Noble Valley and University of Baztan comprises 15 places or population centers, with their respective neighborhoods and hamlets, grouped into four quarters: Basaburua (Almandoz, Berroeta, Aniz and Ziga), Erberea (Gartzain, Irurita, Arraioz and Oronoz), Elizondo (Lekaroz, Elizondo and Elbete) and Baztangoiza (Arizkun, Erratzu, Azpilkueta and Amaiur). Administratively, the supreme body is the General Council, which oversees the maintenance and use of the communal lands of the Valley, which represent 83% of the total. The Baztan Valley is one of the valleys of the Navarrese Pyrenees, the prelude to other great Navarrese valleys such as Larra Belagua, Salazar, Aezkoa, Roncal, Erro or Arce among others. We recommend that you take advantage of your trip to visit the most beautiful villages of the Navarrese Pyrenees.

XorroxinXorroxin: This is one of our natural treasures, a beautiful waterfall located in the shelter of the formidable mass of Auza (1,305m), in the municipality of Erratzu, where the route was updated in summer 2017 with the aim of decongesting the district of Gorostapolo and offering visitors an attractive and circular trail with little difficulty, parallel to the Iñarbegi stream and suitable for the whole family. The path is well signposted with indicative wooden posts, among meadows, copses and well arranged bridges that embrace the Iñarbegi stream in a suggestive and paradisiacal walk.

BertizA natural enclave located in the municipality of Oieregi, bordering with Baztan, the Bertiz Park is a green corner of great beauty in the western Pyrenees of Navarre, on the banks of the Bidasoa River, which has in its habitat seven different species of woodpeckers that inhabit the peninsula. Although its origins date back to the end of the 14th century, the current splendor of the site is due to the last lord of Bertiz, Don Pedro Ciga, who donated the estate in 1949 to the Government of Navarre, which declared it a Natural Park. There are several trails of different lengths and slopes that will allow you to enjoy the nuances of this Atlantic forest. In addition, specialist interpreters can guide you through unforgettable corners while telling fantastic stories about mythological characters. At the entrance to the park is the botanical garden, which with its more than 100 years old is the greatest treasure of the Natural Park.

Infernuko errotaBetween Baztan and Etxalar, crossing the neighborhoods of Orabidea (Lekaroz) and Tximista, runs Infernuko Erreka, the regatta of Hell, a stream along which runs a path that leads us through the thick Atlantic forest to the mill known as Infernuko Errota, where traditionally the people of the area took to grind the corn collected in their fields. It was built during the Carlist period, and played an important role for the soldiers dispersed in the area, as they went to it to get flour. During the civil war it was the only one in the area that remained in operation, clandestinely. For many years it was completely abandoned, in a dilapidated state, until it was acquired by the family that owns the Etxebertzeko Borda restaurant, located nearby, who completely restored it. Nowadays it represents a place of great historical and cultural interest, accessible both from Etxebertzeko Borda and from Etxalar, and given its proximity it is a pleasant walk, highly recommended, before or after a meal in the restaurant of the same name.

Amaiur MillAt the entrance of the village of Amaiur, before crossing its characteristic welcoming arch, you will find the mill on the left and the Serorategi center on the right, annexed to the church. The mill has been completely restored and today reminds the visitor of its past activity. It is located on the first floor of a charming rural house. Groups can learn about the mill and its operation in depth thanks to the guided tours that are organized and taste the delicious talos (organic corn flour cakes, gluten-free). If individuals wish to visit the mill, they can also do so during the talos tasting hours. The mill also sells the flour it produces. Next to the mill begins an easy 1.5 kilometer walk that crosses the dam and the mill canal and reaches the mythical monolith located on the Gaztelu mountain.

Guided tours of the cheese dairiesThe cheese dairies “kortaria” and “jauregia”, both long awarded in various contests and competitions, regularly offer guided tours for visitors to see the daily life of these artisan cheese-making families and the process of elaboration of this delicacy. Kortaria is located in the neighborhood of Orabidea (Lekaroz), and works cheese, both cow and sheep, by traditional methods, using the best milk produced by the animals of the farmhouse. The guided tour also includes a demonstration of sheepdog work and a tasting of their products. Jauregia, on the other hand, located in the town of Aniz, is an organic cheese factory that bases its production on a diet based on natural pastures, without exposure to chemical fertilizers or antibiotics. With an approximate duration of 1:30 h, the visit also includes several explanations about the uses and customs of our land, and a tasting of its dairy products.

Baztan Abentura ParkBaztan Abentura Park: This company of activities offers in its different points of action (Narbarte, Beartzun-Elizondo, Bidarrai…) big doses of adventure for adults and children, from the Beartzun park that has zip lines, big and small, canyons, and giant pendulum, to rafting and gravel waters in Bidarrai, through aquaparq, hiking or via ferrata. In addition to the activities, the park has a reception-parking area with changing rooms, toilets, porch, picnic area…

Guided tours of the Baztan TrilogyDolores Redondo’s “Baztan Trilogy”, a writer born in Donostia-San Sebastián in 1969, has undoubtedly boosted our tourism and increased the number of visitors to our region. El guardián invisible, El legado en los huesos and Ofrenda a la tormenta, which make up her famed Trilogy, have earned her the enthusiasm of publishers from numerous countries, and already in 2017 the film version of the first of the titles was released. Guided tours are organized in the capital Elizondo, on a route prepared by the writer herself that takes in some of the most emblematic corners that appear in the series of novels.

CavesAlthough they do not belong to Baztan, it is worth mentioning the importance of several tourist sites located nearby, just 25 minutes away, such as the Caves of Urdazubi, Sara and Zugarramurdi. All of them of great beauty, in the case of the first two are beautiful galleries with limestone formations carved over the centuries, and in Zugarramurdi we are talking about a hollow of large dimensions in which stories and legends of superstition, akelarres and witchcraft are intermingled…

What to visit

Our valley is also highly appreciated for its gastronomy, and to talk about the Baztan Valley without mentioning the Urrakin egiña (chocolate with hazelnuts) and the Baztan zopak (soups made with sheep broth) is a real crime.

As you can see the gastronomy of the Baztan Valley has a great history and tradition. Which dish do you choose? We choose the curds burnt with stone, a traditional dish among the shepherds of Euskal Herria. Of course, without making ascos to another of the great protagonists of its gastronomy, the chocolate of Elizondo “Urrakin egiña”, chocolate with hazelnuts.

Restaurants

It is worth noting the high level of tourism shown by the extensive network of accommodation in the Baztan Valley, with a wide variety of establishments to choose from, from impeccable rural houses to charming hotels, including a growing agro-tourism, tourist apartments, hostels, campsites… Accommodation of all kinds that perfectly fit the tastes and needs of today’s travelers.

If you want to enjoy a quiet stay in this paradise called Baztan Valley, we recommend you to discover the accommodation that best suits you by clicking on the accommodation button.

Accommodations

In this section you will find rural houses, hotels and other types of accommodation that will make your trip to Baztan a magical journey. If you want a recommendation, we always opt for the rural houses in this area, they represent one of the most authentic accommodations in the Baztan Valley. A nice way to enjoy the tranquility and harmony that surround these small inland valleys.

Many times, the text and photos that we attach in our articles are not enough to convey the essence and reality of the spaces that we show you. That is why, on this occasion, we wanted to add 3 videos that show us the way of being in Baztan in a very real way. Enjoy them.

This is just a small summary of all the charms hidden in the Baztan Valley, but we hope it will serve as a road map to know each of the treasures found in this valley of the Navarre Pyrenees.

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