Arantza combines woodland landscapes with marked circular trails and historic traces. 54 percent of the area is forested; at the same time, the hiking options range from the easy, approximately 1.5-hour loop to San Juan Xar to the difficult 21-kilometre hike to Mendaur. This range makes choosing a route a practical part of planning your trip.
Forest and protected nature
The forest consists mainly of beech trees, as well as oaks, chestnuts and planted pines. The rest of the area comprises fern-covered land and green meadows. The area around San Juan Xar has been protected as a nature reserve since 1987. The only naturally growing hornbeam forest on the Iberian Peninsula is also found on the border between Arantza and Igantzi, near San Juan Xar.
Circular trails with different time requirements
Seven signposted circular hiking trails start at the car park at the entrance to the town. There are five signposted circular routes for bicycles, which also start there. The easy Arantza–San Juan Xar circular walk takes about 1.5 hours. From the car park, it follows the old path downhill to the Arrata River and continues to San Juan Xar. White-and-green markings indicate the route. One section follows the former access path, which was used until the current road was built in 1888.
For a longer hike, the Arantza–Putzubeltza circular route covers about 10.5 kilometres and around 400 metres of elevation gain; it takes approximately 3.5 hours. It is fully signposted and leads to a waterfall. The Arantza–Azkilarrea circular walk passes through the Azkilarrea district and is considered easy; the surrounding landscape and nature are its main focus. The difficult, 21-kilometre Arantza–Mendaur route takes considerably longer, lasting six to seven hours. It is only partly signposted.
Conditions on the hiking trails can vary depending on the season. Check the conditions for your planned route before setting out. The BTT Ruta Azul combines a moderate difficulty rating with a challenging elevation profile: the route has technically difficult sections and is considered rideable for 95 percent of its length.
Buildings and traces of history
The Aranibar Tower House, a 15th-century Gothic building, stands at the entrance to the municipal area. Apezenea House has a façade made of dressed stone blocks dating from the early 16th century. The town hall dates from the 18th century; its features include the old coat of arms of Bortziriak, also known as Cinco Villas, and a porch with four arches on the lower level.
Arantza’s older history is also very much present: dolmens and cromlechs are part of an archaeological landscape where the earliest human remains date back about 4,000 years. In the Middle Ages, the first ironworks were built outside the town centre and by the river. Alongside ironworking, charcoal making also became important. The town’s history thus encompasses both prehistoric remains and evidence of earlier ways of working.
Getting there and finding your way around
The road into Arantza is narrow. It branches off the Pamplona–Irun road at Berrizaun, winds through an extensive forest and ends in the town. A 32-page, full-colour travel guide provides information on the annual calendar, a town map, services, a walking tour of the town centre, various routes in the municipal area and a themed trail.
At the DĂa del caserĂo, also known as DĂa del baserritarra, on 1 November, visitors can see, taste and buy products from farms in Arantza. If you are planning your trip around this date, check the event details in advance.
Discover more destinations: Aspurz, Monteagudo, Valtierra, Ezcároz, Corella, Ituren, Leoz, Atondo.
For the broader travel overview: Navarra.
