Artajona: Holiday apartments between the Cerco and festival culture

Artajona showcases its medieval heritage in the Cerco. Nine cubic, battlemented towers are connected by a wall dating from the 12th century. A parapet walk runs along the medieval wall. The walled Cerco site can be visited freely; a guided tour can be arranged and lasts around one hour to one hour and 15 minutes.

Culture

The Cerco offers an immersive 360-degree virtual reality experience. It includes a medieval market, the inauguration of the altarpiece from 1517, the so-called dragon-back roof and a medieval battle. The combination of the structure and digital interpretation complements the visit with its own experience format.

San Saturnino is a church-fortress built in the 13th century that was incorporated into the defensive structures of Artajona’s Cerco. San Saturnino has a monumental Gothic portal from the late 13th century. The main altarpiece of the Cerco was created in the first quarter of the 16th century by the masters Pierres and Andrés.

History

El Dorre is an archaeological site from the Iron Age with an impressive rock wall. The Baroque Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Jerusalén was built between 1709 and 1714. It houses a Romanesque depiction of the Virgin of Jerusalem made of enamelled copper.

The Gothic parish church of San Pedro was begun in the 13th century at the same time as the church of San Saturnino. In addition to the church-fortress, the Gothic portal and the altarpiece, the simultaneous construction of two churches is therefore also part of Artajona’s documented architectural history.

Pilgrimage Routes and Monuments

The Camino de la Vera Cruz reaches Artajona from Puente la Reina and then continues through Navarre towards Marcilla.

The Portillo de Enériz dolmen is one of the best-preserved prehistoric monuments in Navarre. The Mina de Farangortea dolmen lies 850 metres beyond the Portillo de Enériz, after a pine forest.

Festivals and Traditions

The patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen de Jerusalén in Artajona take place from 7 to 15 September. The Fiesta Medieval in Artajona is recognised as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Navarra and takes place at the end of August.

The Fiesta Medieval includes medieval processions, a market, a birds of prey show, a large medieval tournament and a fencing workshop. The individual programme items combine public processions and market activity with performances, a tournament and a practical fencing event.

During the Carrera de Layas, participants climb a steep, paved and sharply inclined route on layas. Following the restoration of the bells of San Saturnino in the 1970s and 1980s, a cultural association founded in 1981 decided to revive the manual swinging of the bells.

When planning a holiday apartment in Artajona, travel dates, the desired room category and cancellation conditions are separate accommodation-related considerations alongside the town’s historic sites, routes and festivals. The three details can be checked independently without mixing up the different aspects of visiting the town.

Other Town Pages

Other town pages: El Bocal, Arbizu, Oronoz-Mugaire, Izalzu, Tudela, Ochagavía, Urdániz, Oronz

For the overarching travel overview: Navarre.