WHAT TO SEE
Navarre is a land of beautiful palaces and castles.
Some have been extraordinarily well preserved whilst others exhibit scarcely any remains of their glorious past.
The most important castles in Navarre are the ones at Javier and Olite.
The Castle of Javier stands magnificent, with an air that is undoubtedly both defensive and war-like. It was the birthplace of the patron saint of Navarre, San Francisco Javier and each year thousands of pilgrims go there.
Olite is like something out of a story book of knights of old, its beauty stands out right in the town centre. This castle - palace of the Kings of Navarre, with its suggestive towers, each one different, is a reminder of the richness of its whimsical construction, which we can now visit and satisfy our curiosity. Moreover, many towns and villages have historic ruins of former castles, evoking legends. Thus Peralta is watched over by the Atalaya, Milagro and Tiebas preserve the remains of medieval castles and, in good condition, Tudela, the Monreal Tower, Guenduláin, its fortified castle or Arazuri, its Gothic fortified palace. Other noble places are the magnificent fortified enclave or Cerco de Artajona, the Ciudadela or Citadel of Pamplona or the Castle of Marcilla.
There are many palaces in the central and mountain areas of Navarre, many are now museums, community centres, town halls, etc.
Navarre has some gothic palaces built in the Middle Ages, 16C renaissance ones, 17th and 18C Baroque ones and a few of the neo-classic and plateresque style. They are generally one tower (particularly in the Mountain area), two tower, four towers with a central courtyard or otherwise, a great stately home with a hip roof. Almost all of them sport a coat of arms on the façade.
Amongst others, we would highlight the gothic palace of Mendillorri, the palace of the Marquises of Vallesantoro in Sanguesa, the fortified palace-tower of the Señorío de Ayanz, or the one of Echarren in Guirguillano. Likewise, the house-tower of Zabaleta in Lesaca, the Baroque palace of Subiza, the lovely palace of Gorraiz, the Renaissance house palace of Azpilicueta in Barasoain, or the typical palace of the head of the armoury at Urra, in the Yerri valley.
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