Ecay: Hórreo, Pilgrimage History and Holiday Apartment

Ecay combines rural architectural heritage, sacred architecture and historic routes.

Architectural Heritage and History

The hórreo of Ecay belongs to the tradition of raised granaries in northern Spain. These granaries were intended to protect agricultural produce from moisture and animals. In 1993, the hórreo of Ecay was declared a cultural asset of special interest in the category of monument. Its complete restoration involved several successive stages: the roof and chamber were removed, the pillars and the chamber’s supporting frame were secured, and the chamber was then reassembled.

Ecay is also home to the parish church of San Martín, a small, rural stone building. Its single-nave interior has a pointed barrel vault supported by transverse arches.

Ecay lies near the former pilgrimage route, the so-called “camino francés”, to Compostela. Another historical connection is the former hospital of Ecay: it belonged to the collegiate church of Roncesvalles and may have served as a pilgrims’ hospital due to its possible location along the route between Lumbier, Sangüesa and Pamplona.

The former sawmill of Ecay preserves industrial equipment, a wooden container that is still standing and a chimney. During your visit, these historical traces can be distinguished according to their architectural form, former function and religious connection.

When comparing holiday apartments in Ecay, check the travel dates, accommodation category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages. Pay attention to the wording of the specific offer and base your choice on the travel period, the desired type of stay and your personal booking conditions. In addition, you can read these three details as separate points of comparison: the travel period defines the time frame, the accommodation category the type of stay, and the cancellation conditions the applicable set of terms. This keeps the accommodation decision separate from Ecay’s cultural highlights.

Route and Landscape

The route begins in Ecay and is designated as the local hiking trail S.L. NA-142 “Aserradero de Ecay”. It leads to the banks of the Irati River, where an avenue of poplar trees provides shade.

The starting point, trail designation and landscape destination provide three clearly distinguishable reference points for planning your day; in this way, different topics can be considered side by side.

The Peña de Izaga mountain is located in the area around Ecay. For landscape planning, you can consider the riverbank and the nearby mountain as two different spatial motifs.

Destinations in the Wider Area

For further planning, the destinations mentioned can be organized by type: museums, archaeological sites, viewpoint and mountains.

The wider regional area around Ecay includes the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo museum, the Villa Romana de Liédena archaeological site, the Aquaduct de Noáin archaeological site, the Centro de Interpretación de las Fortificaciónes de Pamplona museum, the Mirador de Caballo Blanco viewpoint, Monte Aldasur mountain and Monte Remendia mountain.

For the general travel overview: Lónguida.