Here you will find the must-see places and recommendations for activities and experiences to make sure you get the very most out of your trip to Navarre.
In the Central Zone of Navarre, not far from Pamplona, lies La Valdorba, a tranquil series of valleys dotted with small gems of Romanesque architecture such as the crypt of the church at Orísoain, the chapels of San Pedro ad Víncula and Cristo de Cataláin and the hórreo (granary) of Iracheta.
In Valdorba you will discover one of the greatest concentrations of birds of prey in Europe as well as wild boar, mushroom-hunting itineraries and gastronomic treasures such as truffles. If you like panoramic views, go up to the wind farm at Guerinda and visit the unique traditional windmill, rebuilt alongside the today's giant turbines, which were put up in the Nineties during the construction of the largest wind farm in Europe.
La Valdorba is made up of around twenty small villages and hamlets grouped within the municipalities of Barásoain, Garínoain, Leoz, Olóriz, Orísoain, Pueyo and Unzué.
Microclimates and transition landscapes between the foothills of the Navarrese Pyrenees and the driest parts of the Central Zone make the valley a place of great scenic interest. Here you will find kermes oak, beech, wildflowers, wild mushrooms, fields of cereal crops and a peaceful atmosphere, and a silence that will transport you to times when the rural world was the heartbeat of our lives. You will see mockingbirds and vultures; perhaps even wild boards, foxes or badgers, and birds of prey such as golden eagles, kites and the Montagu harrier.
The weight of history can also be felt in Valdorba: medieval orders and pilgrims carved out a branch of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago through the valley. In La Valdorba there is a chapel to the Christ of Cataláin, known for its portico and built around the middle of the twelfth century.
In Orísoain you will find the parish church of St. Martin, with a notable Romanesque crypt under the altar. Very close, in the centre of the town of Iracheta, you can see a perfectly-preserved Romanesque hórreo (granary) built from ashlars, with a stone staircase to get inside. There are also some impressive civil buildings in Barásoain, Olóriz and Pueyo.
La Valdorba is a place where you can enjoy car trips along the narrow roads that link the villages, marked by crosses such as those at Orísoain, Sansomain and Benegorri. If you fancy going up to the wind farm at Guerinda, in the municipality of Leoz, there is a spectacular viewpoint over the central and southern areas of Navarre.
The 199 high-tech wind turbines in the Guerinda wind farm were complemented by the construction of an unusual flour mill just over six metres in diameter, rebuilt over its ruins discovered in 1996.
Every year in December the Truffle Fair of Navarre is held, in which chefs and experts in gastronomy from all over Spain participate.
The municipality of Leoz contains the Coto Valdorba, an area of 6,500 hectares of which around half are given over to hunting, with huge nature reserves and regarded as the largest controlled hunting area in Spain.
From Valdorba you can reach the Pamplona basin in just a few minutes along the N-121 or the A-15 motorway. There are also other places of interest very close towards the south, such as Olite and Ujué.Olite and
Posibilidad de realizar visitas guiadas a través de la asociación de desarrollo de la Valdorba. Consultar la información en la agenda de la Asociación.
Opening hours, dates and guide prices. We recommend you confirm with the entity in question.
La Valdorba
