Pamplona, capital of the Kingdom of Navarre

Pamplona is welcoming, comfortable and modern. A walled historic centre with a Renaissance citadel, a world-famous festival dedicated to the patron saint, and an unmistakable quality of life.

The city hall is one of the most important monuments, recognisable throughout the world as the place where the San Fermín bull-running festivities begin and end. Another iconic building is the Navarre Palace, built between 1840 and 1850 to house different administrative institutions and now the seat of the regional government. Its neoclassical palatial style is of unparalleled beauty.

The Paseo de Sarasate boulevard is an ideal place to take a stroll and admire other fascinating sights such as the monument to the Charter of Navarre, the statues of the monarchs of Navarre and the 14th-century Gothic building that houses the Comptos Chamber.

Pamplona also boasts numerous gardens and parks that dot the city with greenery, such as the Taconera gardens, the Citadel of Pamplona and the Arga River Park.

A desert at the foot of Navarre

You wouldn't expect to find a desert only 70 kilometres from the Pyrenees, but as we said, Navarre has it all. And it's not just any desert.

The Bardenas Reales Desert is a 42,500-hectare nature park, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The wildlife and vegetation are more typical of the African continent than of the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

Today, the scrubland is home to eagles, vultures, owls, foxes, wildcats, genets, amphibians and reptiles.

With countless trails and paths, such as the Cañada Real de Roncaleses, it's a hiking and cycling paradise, but you can also explore the signposted routes by car, quad or buggy. As you follow these routes, you'll discover the three areas into which this impressive site is divided: Bardena Blanca, Bardena Negra and El Plano.

The most beautiful villages in Navarre

Located in rural landscapes, the villages of Navarre have preserved both their history and their stunning artistic heritage.

Olite is one of the most recommended villages in Navarre to visit. Its impressive castle is an outstanding example of Navarrese and European Gothic.

Ochagavía is another treasure. Cobbled streets, steep-roofed houses and a medieval bridge over the river are just of the charms that await you. Ochagavía also offers stunning landscapes of beech and pine forests.

Roncesvalles is another must-visit place. Many Way of Saint James walkers choose this village as their starting point. One of its most important points of interest is the medieval Collegiate Church of Orreaga / Roncesvalles, a place steeped in history.

Lastly, it's well worth taking a stroll through the streets of Puente la Reina, home to numerous symbols associated with the Way of Saint James. The village is famous for architectural gems such as the churches of the Crucifijo, Santiago and San Pedro, not to mention what is surely one of the most handsome bridges on the Way of Saint James: the Romanesque bridge over the River Arga.

Navarre landscape. A land of contrasts

Navarre has four different climates, giving rise to landscapes of striking contrasts. The Pyrenees area is characterised by mountain peaks and green valleys, while the Bardenas Reales form a desert region, and lying between the two are gently rolling hills, vineyards and crop fields. A spectacular diversity.

The landscapes that stretch nearly 180 km across Navarre from north to south are a true gift of nature, a hotchpotch of terrains that change in whichever direction you look and in every season.

On the subject of exploring Navarre's natural landscapes, there are some places that every visitor must see, such as the Señorío de Bertiz Nature Park and nature reserves like Nacedero del Urederra, famed as one of the natural wonders of Navarre. And then there are the forests, such the Orgi Oak Forest and the Irati Forest with its caves, like the famous Witches of Zugarramurdi caverns and the Urdax caves.

Navarre also boasts impressive greenways, such as the Plazaola and Tarazonica routes.