Villages and castles of Navarre, a medieval land not to be missed
All these castles, palaces and fortifications Navarre are partly thanks to the ancient kingdom of Navarre, located in a strategic enclave within the Iberian Peninsula Navarre deployed its full potential by building all kinds of defense buildings, thus creating all that in this article we are going to tell you. Due to the battles that took place on Navarre’s lands, there are few castles and palaces that survive, even so, many of those that survive in time are in an almost perfect state of conversation, making us travel to the past and recreating landscapes of children’s stories.
The route of the castles of Navarre can be done from north to south (this is the one we are going to talk about) or from south to north, as you wish. To make the explanation simpler we will divide this route in 4 zones:
-The Pyrenees
-The Pamplona basin
-The middle zone
-Navarre’s riverside
These 4 areas are full of villages and buildings with a high architectural and historical value. In these 4 areas we can find 19 points of interest of all kinds, castles, palaces, walls, towers …. and much more!!!! Are you going to miss them?
The Pyrenees: An area of Navarra that we recommend visiting not only for its historic castles and palaces but also for its natural beauty, an environment where fauna and flora come together to create a unique area. In this first area, the northernmost part, we will find 3 places to visit: Amaiur/Maya Castle, the tower house of Donamaria and the palace of Irurita.
Castle of Amaiur: This castle reminds us a little of the movie 300, a castle in which according to legends and popular sayings 160 Navarrese resisted the attacks of more than 25,000 men for more than a week. The castle of Amaiur is a symbol of Navarre in which the last group of brave men who made up the resistance against Castile were centered. Unfortunately the remains of the castle do not allow us to see the grandeur of this building.
Amaiur Castle
Tower house of Donamaria: This tower house dates from the 15th century and has a Gothic structure of rectangular shape. In this tower house we can appreciate the way of life of the Navarros of that time, a golden opportunity to understand a little better the architecture and traditions of the time.
Donamaria Tower House
Palace of Irurita: Located in Irurita, in the heart of the Baztan Valley, it offers us the opportunity to carry out multiple activities of active tourism at the same time that we enjoy this palace of the XIV and XV centuries. Of this palace we should not stay with the exterior, since its interior has a value equal or greater to the exterior, retains everything that once constituted this beautiful palace.
In the area of the Pyrenees, the building that visitors usually like the most is the tower house of Donamaria, its rectangular exterior of stone and wood attracts the attention of everyone who passes by it.
The basin of Pamplona: In this area we must take into account that it encompasses the current capital of Navarre, Pamplona, so we can take advantage of the visit to its castle to enjoy this city with a great cultural and architectural heritage. In fact one of the points of this area is located neither more nor less than in Pamplona itself, its wall.
Castle of Tiebas: A building of which we can talk a lot and enjoy little, the remains that remain of the castle of Tiebas will not help us to get an idea of what once could be this unique building. This 13th century castle owes its name to the king who ordered it to be built, Teobaldo I. The building is of French Gothic style and in its good years was the residence of the monarchy and prison.
Tiebas Castle
Wall of Pamplona: The wall of Pamplona can be visited after doing some sightseeing in the city, tasting its great cuisine and enjoying the atmosphere of its streets. This architectural jewel of the sixteenth century is declared a national monument and its conservation is great (we can say that it is the best preserved of all the buildings named so far). The current wall has a length of about 5 kilometers although in its day its length was greater. A perfect place to admire the style of Renaissance military architecture.
Pamplona City Wall
From the area of the Pamplona basin we would like to highlight its wall, a jewel that you should not miss.
The middle area: This area is the area where more points of interest are preserved, we can enjoy up to 9 buildings, including castles, palaces, towers, walls and churches.
Torre palace of Olcoz: A medieval tower of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, in a very good state of conservation of square structure declared of cultural interest.
Olcoz Tower
Castle-Palace of the Kings of Navarre in Olite: One of the most impressive castles you can find in Europe, this 15th century Gothic style building is a national monument.
Olite Palace
Undoubtedly one of the treasures of Navarra, a castle that makes us fall in love at first sight.
Walled enclosure of Artajona: This medieval fortification is preserved in good condition (9 towers are still standing) although many of its walls have been destroyed we can get an idea of what it once was. This building dates from the 11th century and is a clear example of the military architecture of the time, which, located on a hill, controlled with a simple glance everything that happened in its surroundings.
Artajona fence
Church-Fortress of Ujué: A building that presides over the municipality of Ujue, from the highest point of the hill where it is located. This 10th century Gothic style building is a national monument, and we highlight its medieval fortress appearance.
Ujue
Fortified Palace of the Prince of Viana of Sangüesa: This palace was restored in the 20th century and is preserved in an excellent state. Of this palace we must emphasize its moat, an element of defense that few palaces conserve. Today this building is used as a public library.
Castle of Javier: This castle is one of the most famous of all Navarre, by the mere fact of being the home of Francisco Javier, patron saint of Navarre. We recommend a visit to this castle, where you will find all kinds of medieval elements. The bridge at the entrance attracts our attention, it is a drawbridge that is not easy to find in the peninsula.
Castle of Javier
Monumental complex of Estella-Lizarra (Zalatambor Castle, Santa María Jus del Castillo and San Pedro de la Rúa): Estella itself is a town worth seeing, if we add this set of buildings, we can say that a visit to this town is a must.
Estella
Monjardín Castle: An epic castle in a privileged location that suffered multiple attacks for which today it is not possible for us to enjoy this castle as much as we would like. One of the most important medieval castles in Navarra without a doubt.
Monumental complex of Viana
La Ribera Navarra:
Walled enclosure of the depopulated area of Rada: One of the many walled enclosures destroyed over time, today we can barely distinguish the elements that are still standing.
Castle of Santacara: This medieval castle of Navarra only conserves one of the fronts of its main tower of approximately 30 meters high.
Marcilla Castle: This castle is well preserved and you can see many of the elements that made this castle so important. According to legend, the sword of the Cid Campeador rested in this castle.
Marcilla Castle
Tower of Monreal de Tudela: This castle preserves its medieval essence. Its style attracts the attention of all those who pass in front of this building.
Tower of Monreal de Tudela
Castillo de Cortes: This 12th century castle preserves intact its tower wall and many other elements.
We leave you a video to better appreciate the castles of Navarra:
About 20 buildings create what today we call the route of the castles of Navarre. Some of them are in a deplorable state due to the attacks they have suffered, while others are in an exemplary state, worthy of admiration, such as the palace of Olite. All the buildings that we have just mentioned have an incalculable value, we must be aware that some historians indicate that Navarre came to have more than 100 castles, many of them sacked and destroyed by the numerous battles that shook Navarre.
If you are not an architecture lover and what you want is just to visit a couple of castles, we recommend you to visit only the wall of Pamplona and the palace castle of Olite or the castle of Javier.
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