This is what a visit to Bardenas Reales is like, a film-like landscape in the south of Navarra

One of the most surprising visits you can make in a tourist trip through Navarra is the Bardenas Reales natural park, which you find southeast of the community, not far from the town of Tudela.

There is no doubt that one of the icon images of Navarra are the beautiful and green landscapes of the Navarrese Pyrenees, which reach their maximum expression in corners like the Irati Forest or the town of ochagavia.

But Navarra You can also find landscapes more typical to see in Arizona, or in a western movie, with spectacular rock formations such as head of Castildetierra.

When you consider the visit of the Bardenas Reales, you have to know that it is a parque natural with an area of ​​42.000 hectares, and in view of it, these curiosities about it will be interesting.

What are the landscapes of Bardenas Reales like?

The main characteristic of the Bardenas Reales are his semi-desert landscapes.

Made up of clays and sandstones that for millions of years have suffered the effects of erosion, the geological result is that we can now see curious Rocky formationsas the  plateaus or the characteristic heads.

But visits the Bardenas Reales In winter or spring, you will be amazed by the green landscapes of the plains, largely due to the grain and rice plantations.

History of the Bardenas Reales, its owners

Populated since Bronze Age, Royal Bardenas They have this name because in their day these territories were property of the kings of Navarre.

In fact, in the 9th and 10th centuries they became a border zone between the nascent Kingdom of Navarra and the territories occupied by the Arabs who invaded the peninsula.

You will be surprised to know that among the Owners current of the Royal Bardenas are the Pyrenean valleys of Roncal and Salazar.

Indeed, this semi-desert territory of Navarra is not the property of a specific municipality, since in fact you will not find urban centers.

The property is held by the so-called Bardenas Community, made up of 22 municipalities and valley boards.

These are, specifically, the boards of the aforementioned Roncal and Salazar valleys, being that of Roncal the first to have had right to use the Bardenas, in the year 882, in gratitude for the help provided to the king of Navarre sancho garcia to fight against the Arabs.

In the following centuries, rights to use these royal lands were granted to other municipalities.

This transfer was made in gratitude for services rendered, for bringing inhabitants to the lands occupied by the Arabs, or as compensation, for financial donations made to the crown.

Once Navarra joined the kingdom of castile, there were no changes for the 22 municipalities and valleys considered congozantes de Royal Bardenas.

And finally, after War of succession of the 18th century, the congozantes they bought from king Philip V  the transfer in perpetuity of the Royal Bardenas.

Bardenas Reales, natural park and bird conservation area

Traditionally the Royal Bardenas It has been land of ranchers, and they were very important places for the transhumance of sheep.

But in the 50s of the last century, farmers arrived and planted cereals and rice.

Currently these lands of Navarra They are, since 1999, parque natural and since 2000, Biosphere Reserve.

Likewise the Royal Bardenas has two Special Conservation Areas for Birds (ZEPAS).

Of course, you may be surprised to know that in Las Bardenas there is an area reserved for a military camp with a shooting range of the Aviation.

How to visit the Bardenas Reales, conditions and restricted sites

Due to the level of protection that the Royal Bardenas, large restrictions for your visit, so that you can only move through certain spaces with the purpose of protecting the environment.

The visit to this area of ​​semi-desert landscapes is done by dirt tracks that you can travel by motor vehicle without being able to leave said tracks.

But you also have the alternative of doing Hiking or walk through the park mountain bike following the routes established for this purpose.

• Here you can check the Regulations for tourist use of the Bardenas Reales

The main area to visit in the Bardenas Reales natural park is known as The White, which you will access from the southeast, from the N-134 road that connects Tudela with Arguedas.

At kilometer 15,1 of this road you have the entrance to the Bardenas Reales, which takes you directly to Visitors Center through the highway Shooting range that is in the park, where you will have the necessary information to carry out the visit.

Visiting hours of the Bardenas Reales

El Bardenas Reales park It can be visited any day from 8 in the morning until an hour before nightfall.

The Visiting hours of the Bardenas Reales Visitor Center They are, from April to August, from 9 a.m. to 14 p.m. and from 16 to 19 p.m.; and from September to March, from 9 a.m. to 14 p.m. and from 15 p.m. to 17 p.m. (during Easter the center opens continuously from 9 a.m. to 19 p.m.).

The normal visit is made by dirt track which in a circular route allows you to see the most characteristic corners of the area of The White surrounding the Aviation Shooting Range.

In your visit by car, you have to comply with certain rules, such as the speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour, or not being able to stop except in the areas enabled and marked as parking.

Additionally, you cannot go on paths that leave the established route.

What to see when visiting Bardenas Reales

On this tour of The White, the highlight to visit is the amazing rock formation of castildetierra.

You can also access this area of ​​Bardenas Reales from the northeast, from the N-534 highway, between the towns of carcastillo y Healthy.

La visit of the natural park You can complete it with a tour of the Fair Reservoir, in the northwest of it.

You can access the track that takes you to the aforementioned reservoir from Agueda or from the local road that connects to the north Caparroso with Melida.

Finally, another option to tour the natural park is to sign up for one of the excursions and guided tours that are offered in 4×4 route.

Or you can even visit the Bardenas Reales by segway, just as I did on my trip to this natural park.

Map: how to get to Bardenas Reales

El Bardenas Reales natural park is one hour by car south of Pamplona, and one hour and 15 minutes northwest of Zaragoza.

More information about the Bardenas Reales

• Map of the Bardenas Reales natural park
• Bardenas Reales Information Center Hours
• Cabezo de Castildetierra in the Bardenas Reales natural park

Photos of the Bardenas Reales natural park

Below you have more photos of the Bardenas Reales natural park.