Discover Ezkurra: Forests, Circular Trail and Living History

Ezkurra’s most extensive beech forests lie on the northern slopes of the watershed and on the eastern and western slopes of Eracurri; oak groves are common in the centre of the municipality.

Nature

Beech trees grow mainly at the higher elevations of Ezkurra, oaks at lower elevations and chestnuts at mid-level elevations. The Ezkurra and Urumea rivers rise at or near the Puerto de Ezkurra.

Hiking

The Erakurri circular trail is a circular hike through the headwaters of the Ezkurra River. It passes through ancient beech forests and high-altitude pastureland. In the mountainous area of Ezkurra, the circular trail includes the Malo dolmens, the Ezkain stone circles and the Iruñarri menhir. In Ezkurra, the starting point of the Erakurri circular trail is considered to be the Herriko Plaza bus stop.

Other Places

Genevilla, Garde, El Bocal, Berrioplano, Villamayor, Tiebas-Muruarte de Reta, Ilzarbe and Milagro

Culture

At the highest point of the village of Ezkurra stands the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción; its interior structure is made entirely of wood. It has a single-nave layout and a straight-ended chancel with elaborate stellar vaults. At the entrance is an old “Zimitterio”, recalling Ezkurra’s former burial sites.

Several single-arch stone bridges cross the Ezkurra stream. The Palacio de Hamarrendegia was formerly the palace of the chief armourer. The Santa Cruz hermitage near Ezkurra dates from the same century as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, built in the 16th century.

History

Until Navarre’s administrative reform in 1846, Ezkurra was the capital of the Beintza-Labaien valley. At the beginning of the 19th century, the people of Ezkurra lived from livestock farming and agriculture. At that time, there were three small textile factories in the village. Ironworks played an important role in Ezkurra’s historical development.

Customs

Ezkurra’s patron-saint festivities take place on 15 August and on the days before and after. They include axe-throwing competitions, pelota games, a communal meal, music and dancing.

One of the traditional customs in Ezkurra was a barefoot procession on Good Friday, during which one person carried a wooden cross to the Santa Cruz hermitage. A pilgrimage to the Santa Cruz hermitage in the afternoon on 3 May is also documented in Ezkurra. Ezkurra’s carnival celebrations were revived recently and take place during the carnival season without a fixed date.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Ezkurra, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can provide the practical framework. This information sits alongside the various themes of the town: the circular trail, architectural heritage, landscape, history and festivals can be considered separately, without combining them into a single travel itinerary. The themes can be weighted separately for personal planning: the circular trail offers a different approach from architectural history, former economic activities or traditional customs. This allows travellers to decide in advance whether to focus primarily on the landscape, a circular trail, historical evidence or time-specific traditions.

For the overview of the wider region: Navarre.