Tafalla: Medieval Streets, Lagoon and Trails

In the historic centre of Tafalla, narrow medieval streets run between stone houses.

When searching for a holiday rental in Tafalla, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on offer pages. For your own planning, you can also weigh culture, nature, walking trails, market dates and historical events without limiting the decision to just one type of trip.

Other destinations: Erro, El Busto, Arce, Basaburua, Arróniz, Sesma, San Martín De Unx and Aranarache.

Culture

The permanent exhibition “Palacio Real de Tafalla” is centred around a scale model of the Palacio Real de Tafalla. Víctor Malumbres created the model from stone, wood and slate; it is 7.5 metres long and 1.8 metres wide.

At the Casa de Cultura in Tafalla, the exhibition “Piedra, Tierra y Memoria” presents funerary stelae, crosses and grave slabs.

The Palacio de los Mencos was built outside the walls of Tafalla at the end of the 16th century. Medieval remains were used for its tower.

The wall of Tafalla has been documented since the 14th century. One surviving section of wall is among the few remains still preserved today, following demolitions and the reuse of its stone from the 16th century until the end of the 19th century.

In the courtyard of the La Peña quarter stands the proto-Gothic Ermita de San Nicolás, dating from around 1200. It is the only surviving part of the Palacio de Sosierra, where the Navarrese kings resided until Charles III granted it to his secretary Simón Navaz.

A Baroque building in Tafalla is connected to its palace by a brick arch over the street. It was built from 1674 onwards, is the work of Domingo de Aguirre and has been municipally owned since 2004.

Nature

In the municipality of Tafalla, the wooded landscape in the north, with stands of sessile and holm oaks, transitions within a few kilometres into steppe areas in the south.

Laguna del Juncal is a closed-basin wetland and the northernmost endorheic lagoon on the Iberian Peninsula. It covers approximately 2.5 hectares and is no more than one metre deep.

Since 2016, Laguna del Juncal has been designated a Zona de Especial Conservación and is part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

The wetland provides a habitat for breeding waterbirds such as little grebes, mallards, water rails, moorhens, coots and grey herons. More than 100 grey herons and dozens of nests can be observed.

Trails

The Valdetina walking trail is an 8-kilometre route with an elevation gain of 100 metres, beautiful views and a combination of cereal-growing landscapes, densely vegetated banks and native woodland areas.

The Beratxa route passes the Torre Beratxa, which is currently being restored.

The Valmediano route leads through an area of vegetable gardens to a pine forest with a gypsum quarry already used in the Middle Ages, and then on to an Iron Age hillfort.

For your own planning, the trails can be distinguished by length, landscape and historical stops.

Events and Traditions

The Auroros of Tafalla announce their singing with the sound of a small bell and perform their prayers with wind music. Around 25 times a year, they can be seen on a one-and-a-half-hour procession through the streets.

The traditional Feria de Febrero takes place on the weekend closest to 9 February. At its centre is a livestock fair whose history dates back to 1419.

Market and Wine

At the Tafalla market, a market selling fruit, vegetables, cheese and cured meats takes place every Friday morning of the year in the cellar rooms of the Plaza del Mercado.

A guided tour of the Palacio de los Mencos includes the rooms on the main floor and the historic wine cellar and ends with a tasting of three wines.

To the overarching travel overview: Navarre.