It’s an exceptional case within Spain. The Comunidad Foral de Navarra retains certain historical privileges, including full powers regarding the payment of taxes, making it a kingdom within a kingdom.
The transmission of the ancestral Euskera, the language of the Basques, continues to this day. The origin of this language is so remote that nobody knows where it comes from. Where did the inhabitants of the depths of these mountains come from, and when? Nobody knows. Considered one of the oldest towns in Europe, this region was inhabited hundreds of generations before the arrival of the Romans.
Mealtime unites gangs of friends. The most deeply rooted gastronomic custom is to go out for pintxos. A tasting of traditional and modern recipes served on slices of bread. Always in good company around a bar and drinking txikitos, small glasses of wine.
The stars of the Navarre orchard are the artichoke, asparagus, and pepper. It is also a tradition to go into the field to look for mushrooms. The main dish is the grilled ox Txuletón. The most typical dessert is the Trenza del Reyno, rolled puff pastry covered in sugar and filled with raisins or nuts.
Although San Fermín is the most famous festival in the world, tourism in Navarra goes far beyond the running of the bulls. The Irati Forest, the largest beech-fir forest in Europe, is a place to enjoy virgin nature and practice active tourism.
70 km south of the Pyrenees, an unimaginable contrast: the Bardenas Reales. This 42,000-hectare desert, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is an ecosystem closer to Africa than Europe. Eagles, vultures, amphibians, and reptiles, among others, coexist with the bit of existing vegetation. Delve into the desert sands on one of the organized routes in 4×4.
Irati Forest
Euskera
Txistorra
Ax
Chestnuts
Spring dresses this land in color. Summer will be an excellent time to enjoy long days with meals in the sun, but we recommend avoiding the week of San Fermín in July due to the high prices and crowds. Autumn is our favorite time to enjoy the change of color of the landscape.
Pamplona Airport connects with Europe. The road network, valued especially by motorcycle tourism, connects with the highways of France. Train or bus can bring you closer to population centers.
