The Original Basque is where everything comes from, our history, where our culture comes from, that culture so rich that it deserves to be known, preserved and passed on to those who visit us. It is a language of its own that starts from here, it is our traditions, our sports, our castles that tell of battles and times of greatness.
Castles and fortress
A good example of the greatness of the territory over the centuries is the monumental wealth in the form of castles and fortresses that have been built through the different historical periods that this land has lived through.
Most of the buildings come from medieval times and some of them are considered monuments of great importance in Spain and Europe.
Examples of this are, for example, the Castle of Javier, where Saint Francis Xavier was born, patron saint of the missions and in honor of whom the pilgrimages known as “javieradas” are carried out every year. It is a castle of the XI century that currently includes the museum, basilica, the old rooms, the crypt… with great architectural and historical beauty.
On the other hand, the second great exponent, but no less important, would be the Royal Palace of Olite. It was built under the reign of Carlos III “the Noble” and Eleanor de Trastámara in 1402 and included 7 towers, a wall, gardens and opulent decoration that made it one of the most important gothic buildings in Europe.
Land of watchtowers
We must not forget some of the most important watchtowers that are spread throughout the territory. Some of them, due to their location and height, had a defensive role in the kingdom. We are talking about the Ujué/Uxue or Amaiur Fortress, which in the XVI century was the last bastion to resist the conquest of Castile. Recent excavations have discovered some towers of the old ‘gaztelu’, castle in Basque.
Other enclaves that you cannot miss are the Monjardín Castle, key in the Reconquest for the Crown of Navarra, the Fortified Palace of the Prince of Viana, the impressive Cerco de Artajona, the Castle of Marcilla, the castle of Cortes, the Torraza in Valtierra (roman origin), Jauregia Palace in Irurita and many others spread over the territory.
Navarre has a rich history that dates back to the basques, a pre-roman people who occupied what is now Basque territory and beyond the current official borders. Euskera dates back to this time as its own language and so much culture that still remains to be known and investigated today. The centuries have left us castles, fortresses and monuments to verify our history, the history of a people, of a kingdom and of a rich society that is shown to the world today.