Barillas offers a range of attractions for culture lovers and those who enjoy exploring on foot or by bike. The parish church of San Miguel and two annual festivals shape its cultural side, while routes through La Plana, to Laguna de Lor and across the municipality offer other ways to explore. Your plans may therefore depend on the festival calendar, a walk or a cycling route. Which of these aspects you focus on will mainly affect when you travel and the kind of day trip you take.
San Miguel and the festivals in Barillas
The anonymous Gothic main altarpiece in the parish church of San Miguel dates from around 1470 and was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2001. The church also preserves remains of a Mudejar tower built of brick and decorated with diamond patterns. San Miguel thus brings together a Gothic altarpiece and an architectural detail in brick.
El Mayo is a tradition in Barillas: the tallest poplar is brought to Plaza San Miguel and erected there. The event takes place every year in May, on the weekend before the feast day of San Isidro on 15 May. After it is put up, those present are invited to sample traditional products, including chistorra, other cured meats, oil and wine. If you are planning a trip around El Mayo, the weekend before 15 May is the key date; check the exact date for the year you plan to travel.
Another annual celebration is the Fiestas de San Miguel, which Barillas celebrates in the first week of August. El Mayo and the Fiestas therefore take place at different times of year. If you are planning your stay around either festival, check the date for the relevant year.
Hiking to Laguna de Lor and cycling
The SL-NA 219 Laguna de Lor route starts at the bus stop in Barillas and follows an almost level path through La Plana, among olive trees and grapevines. Check the trail conditions before setting out.
The 5.20 km Ruta 49 Laguna de Lor loop also starts in Barillas and leads to Laguna de Lor. The two route descriptions offer different planning details: Ruta 49 specifies a loop and its distance, while SL-NA 219 notes the start at the bus stop and the path through La Plana. If a loop with a stated distance is important to you, Ruta 49 offers a specific point of reference.
A wide variety of waterbirds can be observed at Laguna de Lor along the route from Barillas. Their presence varies by season. If birdwatching is important to you, take the season into account when planning your trip.
The VĂa Verde del Tarazonica is adapted for cyclists and runs through the municipality of Barillas, about one kilometre from the town centre. Its starting point is at the former railway’s kilometre zero at Tudela station. This cycling route is therefore oriented differently from the hiking routes to Laguna de Lor.
Discover more destinations: Armañanzas, Ayegui, Puente La Reina, Dorrao, Urrizola-Galain, Izalzu, Urdax, Araitz
For the broader travel overview: Navarra.
