A Gothic bridge over the Cidacos provides the entrance to Beire. Charles III the Noble ordered its construction. In the village, the church of San Millán and the Palace of the Counts of Ezpeleta reflect different architectural and usage histories. Outside the village, two routes lead into the countryside, each with a different destination and character: a hike to the archaeological site of Castro de Turbil and a connection to Olite suitable for mountain biking. This lets you combine cultural history and countryside to suit your interests.
San Millán: Gothic Core and Later Extension
The church of San Millán was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style and substantially extended in the 19th century. A transept and chancel were added. The original plan comprised a nave with three bays, a straight-ended chancel, a sacristy and a square chapel belonging to the Counts of Ezpeleta.
Today, the church has a Latin-cross plan. It combines the 14th-century Gothic nave with the 19th-century Neoclassical transept and chancel. Comparing the original plan with the church’s present form reveals the two building phases: the older nave remains part of a plan extended in the 19th century. Those interested in architectural history will therefore find not a single building period, but Gothic and Neoclassical architecture side by side.
The Palace of the Counts of Ezpeleta
The Palace of the Counts of Ezpeleta also combines a distinctive architectural style with a long history. It was first mentioned in 1457, when King Juan II transferred the palace to mosén Bernart de Ezpeleta. The spacious building is Neoclassical and is listed as a cabo de armería in the kingdom’s official register.
Its owners and uses changed over time: in 1895, the palace passed to the White Fathers, who handed it over to the Claretians in 1910. They used it as a seminary, which housed up to 200 seminarians. Together with San Millán, the palace offers a view of different aspects of the village’s history: the church is notable for its architectural changes, while the palace also reflects a succession of transfers and its use as a seminary.
Hike to Castro de Turbil
About three kilometres northeast of the village centre, on a hill, lies Castro de Turbil, an important archaeological site. The settlement was established at the end of the Bronze Age and reached its greatest flourishing at the end of the Iron Age, from the 4th to the 2nd century BC. Its origins and heyday thus mark two distinctly different periods in its history.
Route 3 to Castro begins in Beire. The 8.4-kilometre hike has a cumulative ascent of 91 metres and a stated duration of two hours and ten minutes. The route passes La Laguna, a natural spot lined with reeds where you can take a short break. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
The Route to Olite and the Cidacos Countryside
Another option is the 6.2-kilometre Olite–Beire SL NA-172 A route. It is suitable for mountain biking and connects the two villages across farmland. The route is described as well maintained and completely flat. It starts near the Cidacos and reaches Beire along a wide, gravel-surfaced track. At Beire, the river runs through broad plains used for growing cereals and grapes.
The two routes offer different experiences: Route 3 leads to the archaeological site and has a stated hiking time; SL NA-172 A connects Olite and Beire and is suitable for mountain biking. When planning, it is therefore worth considering not only the distance, but also the destination and activity. If you want to keep up to date with route conditions, check them before setting out.
A Possible Date for Those Interested in Culture
A local tourism article from 2022 gives 22 August as the date of the festivities in honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and lists a procession, competitions and bull runs. If the festivities are important to your travel plans, check the current annual programme before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Riezu, Artajona, Huarte, Villava, Abárzuza, Bakaiku, Alsasua, Abaurregaina.
Return to the main travel guide: Navarra.
