Two clearly described routes can help you choose a hike in Eraul: Eraul-Larraiza and the trail to the Mirador de Lazkua. The first passes through several types of forest to pastureland and offers views of Peña Azanza; the second leads to a natural plateau with views of the AllĂn Valley, Lokiz and Urbasa. There are also trails from Bearin and Abárzuza, as well as the parish church of San Miguel, with Late Romanesque and Cistercian elements. The two described hikes differ in length, elevation gain and duration.
Choose a hike by distance and elevation gain
The Eraul-Larraiza route is 13.4 km long, has an elevation gain of 450 m and takes two hours for the round trip. It is suitable for walking, mountain biking and horse riding. The route passes through holm oak, oak, juniper and beech forests to pastureland with views of Peña Azanza. It starts in Eraul and follows trails historically used for transporting livestock and goods, as well as for travel between neighboring settlements.
The hiking trail to the Mirador de Lazkua is 4.17 km long, has an elevation gain of 466 m and takes about one hour and 30 minutes; it can be walked without difficulty. It starts beside the washhouse in Eraul, where parking is available. The viewpoint is a naturally cut-out plateau on a limestone wall. From there, you can enjoy views of the AllĂn Valley, Lokiz and Urbasa. Compared with Eraul-Larraiza, the trail to the viewpoint is shorter and has a shorter estimated duration, although its elevation gain is greater than that of the other route. Conditions on both hikes may change; check them before setting out.
More trails to Eraul
The trail from Bearin to Eraul starts at the Ermita de Santesteban de Bearin and passes through fields and holm oak woodland before reaching Eraul. It is accessible on foot and has an elevation gain of about 100 m. No difficulty rating is given; the route is also not signposted. If you choose this approach, take the lack of trail markers into account when navigating.
The Abárzuza por Eraul excursion follows a route of just under three kilometers through fields near the holm oak woodland to Eraul, then continues to the upper part of the village near the church. It adds another described approach to the village to the trails that start in Bearin or Eraul.
San Miguel: Late Romanesque architecture
The parish church of San Miguel belonged to Iranzu Monastery and was built in the early 13th century in the Late Romanesque style, with Cistercian elements. Its structure has three naves and comprises three bays of different sizes. A bay is a section of a church nave; the three unequal sections are therefore among the building’s distinctive features. The architecture is also defined by its pointed, funnel-shaped portal with figurative capitals and its tower, which incorporates medieval structures.
The altarpiece offers another point of art-historical interest: MartĂn de Morgota created it at the end of the 16th century. Around 1618, the gilder Pedro de Monteagudo applied its polychrome decoration. These dates of creation can thus be distinguished from the church’s construction period.
Holm oak and traditional livelihoods
At the entrance to Eraul stands the Encina de Eraul, on the route between Eraul and Abárzuza. The Abárzuza por Eraul excursion also passes through fields near a stand of holm oaks. Holm oak thus features both in route directions and in descriptions of the landscape.
Eraul’s traditional economy included raising cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and borros, or small rams. Olives, grapevines, wheat and barley were also cultivated. This historical combination of livestock farming and crop growing adds another aspect of the village’s history to the architectural history of San Miguel.
Discover more destinations: Urroz, Epároz, Egüés, Irurtzun, Viana, Arruazu, Adiós, Bakaiku
For the wider travel overview: Navarra.
