A journey through time to medieval Navarra

Kick start your day by heading to the famous obrador Vidaurre to try “Txantxigorri” (chanchigorri), the traditional cake from Olite.

• Txantxigorri is an oven-baked cake made from bread dough and pork cracklings, sweetened with sugar and cinnamon. We loved it!

The Olite Royal Palace is one of the gems of Navarra and of Spain. Beautiful, majestic, and harmonious... it is exactly what we imagine when we think of a palace. The visit takes you back in time to the Middle Ages to relive the palace’s most glorious epoch, when it was considered one of the most luxurious palaces on the European continent. A true gem that cannot be missed. There’s no doubt about it!

• The entry ticket costs €3.50 per person. There is also the option to take a guided tour, however we explored the palace on our own. We recommend buying tickets online in advance to avoid lines.

Ujué is a small medieval village with narrow, cobbled streets and steep hills. It is located on the heights of a mountain that overlooks the surrounding mountain ranges in one of the most beautiful areas.

• Ujué is ranked as one of Spain’s most charming villages. When you arrive it will be almost time for lunch, so why not try the famous migas de pastor, a traditional dish of sauteed breadcrumbs.

Artajona is a small village within a spectacular fort, known as “el Cerco”, which took us back to the Middle Ages. Walking the narrow and cobbled streets of Artajona, replete with historic monuments and buildings, is simply unbeatable. We explored with complete peace and tranquility, and didn’t come across a single person.

• Artajona is one of the places that surprised us most on our trip around Central Navarra, most likely due to our own ignorance as we had never heard of it before. The beautiful San Saturnino fortress-church, was one of our favorite stops with its memorable Gothic entrance.

The town of Puente la Reina is famous for being located on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and for bringing the place where the two routes from France intersect: Orreaga/Roncesvalles and Jaca.

• The town is called “Queen’s Bridge” for its Roman bridge that crosses the River Arga. As the legend goes, in the 11th century the queen ordered that the bridge be built in order to cross the river with ease.

Without a doubt, some of the most impressive landscapes of Central Navarra can be found at the gorge of Foz de Arbayun. For centuries, the Salazar River sculpted this immense canyon with 300-meter high walls that are almost 6 km in length.

• The best place to observe the Fox is from the “floating” Iso observation point. The views are truly spectacular. It is also the perfect place for birdwatching, as numerous colonies nest in the rocks. During the short time we were there, we spotted at least three griffon vultures. It’s also possible to go hiking on one of the many trails the area has to offer.

The Leyre Monastery is one of the most important monastery complexes in Spain, due to its history and architecture. The monastery is home to Cistercian monks and even today you will hear their Gregorian chants.

• It’s also worth visiting the observation point. The views over the Yesa reservoir are simply beautiful.

The Javier Castle is an immense medieval fortress, with high towers crowned with merlons, built on living rock. A beautiful drawbridge welcomes us, taking us back to the Middle Ages.

• Saint Francis Xavier was born and lived in the Castillo de Javier. He is the patron saint of Navarra and of tourism in Spain. A ticket to visit the castle costs €3 and also grants access to the Basilica, which is right next to it.

It’s worth paying a visit to the Navarran town of Sangüesa. It is very well known for being a town on the Way of St. James.

• One of the things that really caught our attention was the metal bridge over the Aragón river at the entrance to the village. With the Iglesia de Santa María in the background, it was a very peculiar sight to us! Tradition vs. modernity!