Pamplona: Cathedral, Camino de Santiago and San Fermín

Pamplona begins with a building that makes the city’s history visible: today’s Cathedral of Santa María la Real de Pamplona is a Gothic church built after the Romanesque cathedral collapsed in 1389. Its cloister is considered an outstanding work of Gothic architecture and one of its significant highlights.

Other destinations include Carcastillo, Arrarats, Ostiz, Villamayor, Elgorriaga, Esteríbar, El Busto and Rada.

When comparing holiday apartments in Pamplona, travel dates, room categories and cancellation conditions may place different emphasis on the respective offer pages. Culture, parks, pilgrimage routes and festival traditions serve as thematic points of reference alongside one another.

Culture

The streets and squares of Pamplona’s old town preserve a significant ensemble of monuments shaped by churches and medieval walls. The Museo de Navarra houses works of art from Navarre dating from prehistoric times to the present and also presents interesting temporary exhibitions.

Four historic buildings in the citadel house exhibitions featuring works by local, national and international artists, as well as temporary exhibitions from the city’s contemporary art collection. The Citadel of Pamplona is considered the finest example of Spanish Renaissance military architecture.

Nature and routes

The citadel is a public park; its pavilions, moats, bastions, ravelins and glacis now serve as public spaces for leisure, sport and culture. The Taconera Gardens are Pamplona’s oldest gardens and include a French-style garden laid out in 1830.

The moats of the Taconera Gardens contain a small open-air zoo with ducks, swans, deer, peacocks and rabbits. The Camino de Santiago through Pamplona is 4 kilometres long and takes about an hour on foot; it passes through the old town and the Taconera and Citadel parks.

The oldest section of the city walls beside the cathedral has a publicly accessible rampart walk with views of the Arga River. The different formats—route, park, museum and audiovisual interpretation—can be considered separately when planning the day.

Pilgrims and festivals

San Fermín has been documented since the 12th century and has developed into a popular cultural festival that combines religious and civic traditions. In front of a niche in the wall containing an image of Saint Firmin, the runners gather and sing to ask for protection during the bull run.

Espacio SanfermIN Espazioa offers an interactive audiovisual installation about the celebration, history and spirit of the San Fermín festivities. At the Ultreia Pilgrimage and Interpretation Centre, the experience of a medieval pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago through Navarre is conveyed through large-scale audiovisual displays, multiple projections and staged presentations as a comprehensive sensory experience.

Pilgrim credentials are sold and stamped at the Ultreia Pilgrim Centre; it also provides up-to-date information on hostels, routes, means of transport and other services important to pilgrims.

Information

The Pamplona Tourist Information Office provides information about monuments, natural and historic resources, accommodation, restaurants, means of transport and other activities.

For the broader travel overview: Navarre.