Navarre
Why go?
The Navarre is an ancient kingdom that predates the formation of
Spain, its golden age passing a mere thousand years ago when Sancho
III briefly bought unity to the Christian kingdoms of Iberia. These
days it’s popular for its stunning landscapes, for its
slow pace of life and for the fabulous food its lush plains
produce. It is most famous for the running of bulls in Pamplona to
celebrate the feast of St Fermín, when hundreds of thousands
gather in the streets to celebrate.
Adjacent to The Basque Country, the
province runs along the French border to the north, where the
Pyrenees mountains play host to climbers, paragliders, cyclists,
hikers and those who want to try their hand at canyoning or
rafting. In the west you find magnificent valleys lost to the world
with fields of wheat swaying in the breeze and pilgrims plodding
west along the Santiago Way. In the Ebro valley to the south,
vineyards and olive groves flourish in the sun, while you can head
into the semi-desert of the Bardenas Reales National Park and gaze
in wonder at wind-sculpted hills. If you are looking to potter
about in beautiful hills and ancient villages away from the
bustle of city life, you’ll be in heaven.
Any Downsides?
There are no international airports in the Navarre, so you’ll have to fly into Bilbao or Biarritz, though excellent motorways make getting about easy. Pamplona heaves from 6 July to 14 July, for the fiesta of St Fermín - a million people visit each year. It is well worth coming nonetheless, but if you are coming in for a day, don’t bring your car with you. Finally, the Navarre is at the forefront of renewable energy, so expect to see more and more wind turbines appearing on the landscape, especially in the south.