Discover Maya: Trails, History and Village Culture

The Camino de Santiago Baztanés runs through Maya from Urdazubi/Urdax to Amaiur/Maya. The linear hiking route is 13.28 km long, moderately difficult and has an elevation gain of 566 m. The information on length, difficulty and elevation gain helps you assess the personal time and physical requirements involved.

When searching for a holiday apartment in Maya, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the accommodation listing pages. These three criteria help you sort different offers according to your own booking conditions and priorities.

Trails

A second way to explore Amaiur/Maya is the guided tour “Visita guiada al castillo de Amaiur + entrada al museo”. It includes a walk from the village of Amaiur up to Monte Gaztelu, with its castle ruins, as well as a museum visit featuring archaeological finds from the fortress.

You can consider the walk to the castle site and the museum visit separately if you place different importance on exercise and history. The route and the guided tour focus on different aspects, without either having to replace the other.

History

The church of Amaiur was built in the Middle Ages. Stones from the ruined castle were used for its most important restoration.

The construction period and the restoration history offer two different historical points of reference. Amaiur Castle was one of the last strongholds of the Kingdom of Navarre and fell to the Castilian army in 1522.

At the site of the Amaiur fortress, there is a monolith and archaeological excavations that make the foundations of the fortress visible. The site also offers a viewpoint over the valley’s landscape.

In this way, the historical information can be understood as a visit to the site, an exploration of its building history and a view of the landscape. This gives you various ways of engaging with the past to consider when planning your visit.

Village Setting

Amaiur is a traditional linear village, with most of the village’s houses leading towards its central street.

Borda Palace is a notable 17th-century building in Amaiur.

During your walk, you can distinguish between the layout of the village and individual buildings.

Additional villages to consider include Ziga, Arizcun and Almandoz.

Festivals and Mill

Amaiur’s patron saint festivities take place on 15 August and include a sheepdog competition, Baztan zopas and zikiro jates. The dates, competition and regional dishes are presented here as separate elements of the festival description.

Today’s Amaiur mill may have been preserved since the mid-18th century. This cautious dating leaves room for historical consideration without establishing a more precise date.

During a guided tour, the preparation of talo, various types of flour, and the history and functioning of the mill are explained. This combines the culinary aspect with an understanding of the mill’s technical and historical operation.

For the broader travel overview: Baztan.