Abaurregaina: Pyrenean Views and Traces of the Past

Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta combines a high plateau at an altitude of 1,040 metres with traces preserved in a church, museum and cave. Here, Pyrenean views, medieval stelae and prehistoric remains stand side by side. For planning purposes, cultural sites, viewpoints and routes with different itineraries and stated durations can be considered separately.

Culture

The parish church of San Pedro has a two-bay nave, side chapels, a polygonal apse, Gothic-Renaissance star vaults and a Renaissance choir dating from 1597. Its sacristy houses a processional cross with a wooden core covered in silver sheet. It dates from the first half of the 16th century, features late Gothic forms and bears decoration in the “a candelieri” style.

The Museo de Estelas is attached to the church in Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta’s hundred-year-old cemetery; a significant archaeological site has been developed there as a museum. More than thirty medieval stelae recovered there can be viewed in their original positions and orientations. Some stelae are decorated with flowers and plants and display elaborate, varied patterns on both sides of the discs, while more recent examples bear family names.

At the exit of Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta, next to the bridge over the River Zatoya, lies the Cueva de Zatoya. One of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites in the Foral Community of Navarre was discovered in the 100-metre-long cave. The archaeological remains belonged to hunter groups and range from the end of the Upper Palaeolithic through the Epipalaeolithic to the Neolithic.

Landscape

The elevated high plateau of Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta lies at an altitude of 1,040 metres. Its varied landscape includes extensive potato fields, areas of cereal cultivation, beech and oak forests, and meadows where cows and mares graze. Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta is known as the “Balcón del Pirineo” and is considered a particularly suitable place for observing the night sky.

The panoramic information board of Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta stands at the exit towards Jaurrieta, on the right-hand side of the road, and offers views of part of the Pyrenean range. At Campo de los Grillos, on its north-eastern flank, there is a viewpoint overlooking the Pyrenees with a board identifying the visible mountains. From Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta, a path also leads to the Ermita de San Miguel, where another viewpoint is located.

Routes and Traditions

The SL NA 54 hiking trail, “Camino de las Abaurreas”, reaches Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta and then continues along the old path between the two villages. The walk along the Cañada Real from Abaurrea Alta to Garayoa starts at the church or town hall of Abaurrea Alta and can be completed in a little under two hours.

A lime kiln in Abaurrea Alta has been restored for visits. Traditional logging served to use and process trees from the surrounding forests and has today developed into a traditional sport. Abaurregaina/Abaurrea Alta is primarily characterised by livestock farming; native breeds such as Vaca Pirenaica, Jaca Navarra and Caballo Burguete are kept there and are adapted to the area’s terrain and climate.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Abaurregaina, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages and match these details with your planned cultural, landscape and hiking interests.

Other places: Yesa, Urdax, Cizur Menor, Puente La Reina, Arrarats, Arano, Salinas De Oro, Saragüeta

For the higher-level travel overview: Navarre.