10 Essentials in Navarra: the best to see and do

One of the most beautiful areas you can visit in Spain it is without a doubt, Navarre.

On a trip through this community you will be able to enjoy great landscape contrasts, from the green and mountainous Navarrese Pyrenees, to the semi-desert landscapes of the Royal Bardenas.

But you also have pretty towns of great beauty, like ochagavia, in the aforementioned Pyrenees, u olite, southeast of Pamplona, with its fantastic castle, and, of course, a great gastronomy.

The good thing is that in Navarre there are no great distances, so in a car route through Navarra lasting several days you will be able to change scenarios and see various places.

What to see and do as tourism in Navarra

Next, and in order to help you plan your tourism trip to NavarraI suggest you the most interesting places to visit, based on the experience of my most recent trip in which I visited a large part of the community.

Irati Jungle in the Pyrenees of Navarra

You will find the most lush landscapes in Navarra in the Pyrenees, but without a doubt the most attractive place to visit if you are a lover of hiking through lush forests is Irati Forest.

This is the second largest beech forest in Europe located between the valleys of Aezkoa and Salazar , and which houses three nature reserves.

In this natural enclave that you can only visit on foot, by bicycle or on a excursion with 4×4 vehicle authorized, you find the Irabia Reservoir, one of the most outstanding points from a landscape point of view.

Old Orbaizeta Factory in Navarra

A notable corner on the limits of the Irati Forest, and one of the exits from the nature reserve, are the remains of the ancient Orbaizeta ammunition factory.

This factory was founded at the end of the 18th century in that place because it was near an iron mine.

Now, with the company of an authorized guide, you can walk through the remains of the factory located on the course of a river, which gives way to curious corners where the lush vegetation has taken center stage.

Ochagavia in the Pyrenees of Navarra

In Navarrese Pyrenees You also find various samples of pretty country architecture.

But in this respect, perhaps the most beautiful town es ochagavia, an ideal place if you are fond of photography because of the various and attractive corners that you will be able to photograph.

ochagavia you find it in Salazar Valley,in the limits of the aforementioned Irati Forest, and extends along the banks of a river, and on your walk through the town you will be able to see beautiful stone houses with slate roofs, some with emblazoned facades.

 Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles in Navarra

If there is a spiritual place in Navarra, it is the Roncesvalles Collegiate Church, the best example of the Gothic style in said community, and a key place in the the Camino de Santiago.

It is a building built at the beginning of the 13th century, in whose Gothic interior with three naves the 14th century wood carving of the Virgin of Roncesvalles.

Lumbier Gorge in Navarra

Now outside the Pyrenees, one of the natural corners that you can visit in your route through Navarra is Lumbier Gorge, southeast of Pamplona.

At walk through the Lumbier Gorge, a deep gorge that you will travel following the path of the old Irati railway, you will be able to spot a great variety of birds of prey, such as vultures, Egyptian vultures or falcons.

Before your visit, a gastronomic tip, stop to eat at the Iru-Bide restaurant in Lumbier, a classic in the area, where you can taste homemade cuisine with some elaboration, with local products, highlighting vegetables.

Foz de Arbayún in Navarra

Not far from Lumbier you find the Arbayún Foz, the longest of the Navarrese gorges, 6 kilometers long and up to 300 meters high.

This deep natural canyon is the result of erosion of the Salazar River, and during a hiking route you can also see griffon vultures and other birds of prey.

Now, you also have the possibility of making a horseback riding through the Foz de Arbayún, a different way of exploring an area of ​​the gorge in an excursion of about two hours.

Olite, medieval town in Navarra

About 40 kilometers south of Pamplona you can stroll through the narrow pedestrian streets of a medieval town with emblazoned stately homes and a large castle.

Is olite, One most beautiful towns in Navarra, whose visit you should focus on getting to know its famous old royal palace.

A suggestion for a stay in Olite, The Joyous Guardian, a small charming hotel where we stayed on our last trip through that area of ​​Spain.

Castle Royal Palace of Olite in Navarra

Without a doubt, it will be visit to the Royal Palace Castle the one that will take you to travel to olite.

It is the most visited monument in Navarra, but yes, it is the reconstruction that was carried out during the last century of the remains of a fortress that dates back to the 13th century.

The king Charles III the Noble was the one who caused that at the end of the 15th century the Olite castle It became one of the most luxurious palaces in Europe.

Now on your trip to Navarra you have the opportunity to visit this ancient Royal Palace which was completely destroyed after the War of independence.

Church of Santa María la Real de Olite in Navarra

In addition to the castle, in your Olite visit you should not stop seeing the church of Santa María la Real.

You find it next to the walls of the old Royal Palace, and it is a Gothic-style building whose spectacular façade will catch your attention, with a large rose window and a beautiful doorway.

Its origins date back to the 12th century, and in its beautiful interior you will see a single nave and a large Renaissance altarpiece from the 17th century, as well as two Gothic carvings from the 14th century.

Bardenas Reales Natural Park in Navarra

With a great landscape contrast compared to the very green and lush landscapes of the Pyrenees, southern Navarre can visit the Bardenas Reales natural park, a place that in certain corners will take you to the landscapes of Arizona.

Indeed, it is a semi-desert place with a curious history because in the Middle Ages It was a border territory between the nascent Kingdom of Navarra and the Muslims.

To visit the Bardenas Reales You must follow the dirt tracks whose layout will allow you to take a circular route from which you will not be able to leave.

On this visit you will be able to reach the iconic corner of the Royal Bardenas, the curious rock formation known as castildetierra.

If you want to live a different experience, you can also sign up for a guided tour of the Bardenas Reales by segway.