Discover Etxalar: Holiday Apartment Amid Culture and History

The palomeras of Etxalar preserve a traditional method of catching pigeons with nets that is unique on the Iberian Peninsula. Their origins date back to the Middle Ages; they were first documented in 1378. In 2010, the Government of Navarre recognised the palomeras as a cultural asset of special interest because of their age and distinctive character.

Culture

The Gaztelu Tower stands above the Tximista River. It was built in the Middle Ages and later rebuilt in the 18th century; it once served as an arsenal of the Kingdom of Navarre.

The Santa Cruz Chapel is Etxalar’s only chapel. It is located in the Urritzokieta district beside the Tximista River and was built between 1500 and 1550.

Etxalar’s water-related architectural heritage includes watermills scattered throughout the town. The oldest date from the 18th century, while the most recent dates from the mid-20th century.

Etxalar’s oldest traditional houses were built between the 15th and 17th centuries. They include, above all, Iñarreta, Jauregieta and Anduetzeta, as well as another house in the Antsolokueta district. At Finca Baztan on the banks of the Altxata River, the remains of the upper ironworks have been preserved: the building, the furnace and the channel.

History

On the slopes of the Iratzako and Centinela mountains are megalithic monuments that are between 2,500 and 3,000 years old. Etxalar’s best-known prehistoric remains are the cromlechs on the summit of Mount Centinela.

Nature

The Lizarieta Environmental and Migratory Bird Interpretation Centre is located in Etxalar. Its exhibition features explanatory panels, videos created specifically for the centre, and objects and elements connected with Etxalar’s culture and cultural memory.

Routes

The main road access to Etxalar is via the N-121-A, which connects Pamplona and Irún, followed by the regional road NA-4400; from there, it is 4 km to the town.

The historic watermill is a site of cultural and historical interest. Two routes lead to it: one from Etxalar and one from the Baztan Valley.

When staying in a holiday apartment in Etxalar, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the listing pages. The themes of culture, nature and historic routes can be weighed against your own travel priorities and preferred pace of travel. You can decide for yourself which of these themes to prioritise.

Other Places

Other places included in the same overview are Sangüesa, Iza, Esteríbar, Los Arcos, Zubieta, Oiz, Yerri and Azagra.

Church

The stone church of Andra Mari stands in the centre of Etxalar, has a Latin-cross floor plan and was originally known as the “church between two rivers”. In the two gardens of Andra Mari Church – at the main entrance and at the rear – a collection of almost one hundred gravestones is displayed, making it one of the most significant collections in the Basque Country.

For the higher-level travel overview: Navarre.