Iturmendi between Urbasa, Aralar and the Bernoa Way

Iturmendi lies between the Sierra de Urbasa and the Sierra de Aralar. Located on the Araquil River, it offers views of both the landscape and the buildings, squares and signs of the town’s history. Visitors wishing to combine nature and cultural attractions therefore have a range of options to consider when planning their day.

Landscape and Trails

The GR 323 Bernoa is a cultural and nature trail in the heart of the Sakana region and comprises 64 kilometres of marked hiking trails. A branch of the Bernoa Way, which passes through Etxarri-Aranatz and Bakaiku, meets the Bernoa cart track in the Aizkibel-Mandabita area of Iturmendi. The Stations of the Cross in Iturmendi consists of stone crosses bearing historic inscriptions in Basque and runs between the town centre and Aitzaga.

For planning purposes, trail length, trail type and the connection to Aitzaga can be considered separately. This places a cross-regional cultural and nature trail, a Bernoa cart track and a Stations of the Cross route with its own inscription tradition alongside one another.

The trails offer different ways to explore Iturmendi: the Bernoa combines nature and cultural interpretation with marked routes, while the Stations of the Cross brings together the Basque inscriptions between the town centre and Aitzaga. Trail length, trail type and the connection to Aitzaga can help you compare the different ways of accessing the surrounding area: the Bernoa represents nature and cultural interpretation, the Bernoa cart track is connected to the Bernoa branch, and the Stations of the Cross runs between the town centre and Aitzaga and bears Basque inscriptions.

Culture

The Aitzaga Hermitage is a Romanesque building from the 12th century and retains its original portal. The Church of San Miguel is a building from the 17th and 18th centuries and has a high altar dated 1740.

The Kurtederia house has a coat of arms dated 1706 bearing one of the oldest surviving Basque inscriptions in Navarre. Several stone and wooden manor houses from the 18th century can be found in Iturmendi. The Fuente del Águila Negra, the Fountain of the Black Eagle, stands in the village square and was built in 1767.

During the annual May festival, Día del Mayo, a maypole approximately 20 metres high is erected in the middle of the village square on 1 May. The festival date and the historic village square are therefore clearly identifiable cultural points of reference for the town.

The cultural sites bring together religious buildings, private or representative houses, a public fountain and a recurring festival tradition. Their dates range from the Romanesque 12th century through the building history of San Miguel to coats of arms, manor houses and village fountains from the early modern period. This makes it possible to view the town’s history across different types of buildings and public places, without reducing it to a single landmark.

Other places

Marcilla, Esteríbar, Pueyo, Azuelo, Sunbilla, Lodosa, Berrioplano and Carcastillo

Getting there

Iturmendi can be reached by the Pamplona–Vitoria-Gasteiz bus route. The town is also located on the N-240-A national road and the Autovía de la Barranca.

For the higher-level travel overview: Navarre.