Page 152 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

150  NOR TheRN SP a IN R e GION B y R e GION

Exploring Navarra and La Rioja

These green, mountainous regions have diverse
attractions. The Navarrese Pyrenees offer skiing in
winter and climbing, caving and canoeing the rest
of the year. Minor roads wind through wooded Irun Vera (Bera)
hills, valleys and gorges, passing castles – such Lesaka Etxalar
Igantzi
as in Olite – Roman towns, and villages. Many of San LAS CINCO VILLAS
DEL VALLE DE
these places, including Roncesvalles, have been Sebastián Arantza Arizkun
immortalized in the region’s history. In La Rioja, (Donostia) BIDASOA ELIZONDO
to the south, the roads cross vineyards, passing Leitza Puerto de Velate THE NAVARRESE
PYRENEES
towns and villages clustered around ancient Aribe 822 m (2700 ft) Puerto de Ibañeta
1092 m (3580 ft)
churches and monasteries. While in the region, San Sebastián Betelu Lekunberri RONCESVALLES
it is well worth venturing slightly further south, (Donostia) SIERRA DE (ORREAGA) BOSQUE DE IRATI Monte Ori
2017 m (6620 ft)
Etxarri-
into Castilla y León, to visit Burgos, famous Aranatz ARALAR Ochagavia Pau
for its Gothic cathedral, Frómista with its Irurtzun Irati
Romanesque church of San Martín, and Alsasua A LLE DE SALAZAR Isaba
(Altsasu)
the fortified town of Briviesca. Window in Roncesvalles depicting Vitoria- PAMPLONA Güessa VALLE DE RONCAL
Gasteiz
the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (IRUÑA) Roncal
Monasterio N A V A R R A Aoiz
de Iranzu V
Cirauqui MONASTERIO
Bilbao Acedo ESTELLA PUENTE LA REINA Lumbier DE LEYRE
(Bilbo) (LIZARRA) Iglesia de Santa Maria Huesca
MONASTERIO de Eunate
Burgos DE IRACHE
HARO Los Arcos Artajona SANGÜESA
Casalarreina VIANA Ega CASTILLO
DE JAVIER
TAFALLA
LA RIOJA WINES Fuenmayor Sesma OLITE Ujué
Key LOGROÑO Aragón
NÁJERA Lodosa
Motorway Burgos SANTO DOMINGO NAVARRETE Arga Carcastillo
Major road DE LA CALZADA Peralta MONASTERIO
Minor road SAN MILLÁN Iregua Ausejo DE LA OLIVA
DE LA COGOLLA LA RIOJA CALAHORRA
Motorway under construction ANGUIANO El Villar
de Arnedo
Scenic route SIERRA DE Torrecilla Arnedo Rincón de Soto
Railway line LA DEMANDA Najerilla en Cameros R EALES
BÁRDENAS
National border S ierra de Ca mero s ENCISO Autol Alfaro Castejón
Regional border
Mountain peak
Puerto de Piqueras Fitero
1710 m (5610 ft) Soria Cintruénigo
Cornago TUDELA
Beyond the Region Cervera del
Santander Biarritz Río Alhama Monteagudo Cortes
Bilbao FRANCE
Torrelavega San Sebastián Zaragoza,
CANTABRIA BASQUE Getting Around Lleida
COUNTRY Motorways and minor roads
AGUILAR Vitoria Pamplona fan out from Pamplona in the
DE CAMPOO NAVARRA direction of Huesca, Zaragoza,
BRIVIESCA
Logroño Logroño, San Sebastián, Vitoria,
BURGOS and the border with France.
Both Navarra and La Rioja
LA RIOJA ARAGÓN
FRÓMISTA have good rail and coach
Tudela
Palencia CASTILLA connections with the rest of
Spain and further afield. The
Y LEÓN Soria regions can also be reached
Zaragoza by plane. There are airports
Aranda
de Duero in Noáin, near Pamplona, and
Calatayud
in the vicinity of Logroño.
For hotels and restaurants see pp206–7 and pp221–2
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