A Romanesque portal, a village perched above the Camino de Santiago and an annual mountain race give Galar a distinctive travel profile. If you are planning a short trip, you can focus on architectural history, the landscape along the route or a sporting event held on a set date. The Galar Trail 2.0 provides a specific date and route framework; check the date, entry requirements and route details again before a future edition.
San Martín: Romanesque portal and vaults
The parish church of San Martín de Galar was built largely in the 16th century by stonemason Miguel de Iriarte. Its floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross, and ribbed and star vaults cover the building. The church also preserves a Romanesque portal from the late 12th century. Its capitals are decorated with interlace, foliage and animals. The time separating the portal from the building, which was erected mainly in the 16th century, makes the different construction phases an easy way to understand the church. The floor plan, vaults and portal each offer a different scale of view, from the overall form of the church to the decorations on its capitals.
Camino Francés and Galar Trail 2.0
On the Camino Francés stage from Cizur Menor to Puente la Reina, the route crosses the road to Galar and passes the village, which stands on higher ground. Along the Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Puente la Reina, Galar can be seen on the left as the paved route climbs between cultivated hills. These route descriptions provide both a point of reference and an impression of the cultural landscape along the way.
The Galar Trail 2.0 takes place every year on the first Sunday in March and starts at 10 a.m. Galar is one of the designated start and finish locations. The route passes through the Sierra de Erreniega and is approximately 15 kilometres long; the ascent is listed as 850 metres. Distance and ascent describe two different aspects of the race. The route and race details may change in future editions. So check the date, entry requirements and current route details before your trip.
Cycling routes and the landscape of the Cendea de Galar
New cycling routes connect Galar with Arlegui and Subiza; construction work is complete. Before setting out on a bike ride, it is advisable to check local route conditions. The wider Cendea de Galar area has a varied landscape. The original mixed woodland of holm oaks, Pyrenean oaks and small-leaved oaks is now found almost exclusively on the north-facing slope of El Perdón. Much of the rest of the landscape is characterised by planted pine forests.
The Cendea de Galar stretches across the northern, shady side of the Sierra and has traditionally been shaped by the cultivation of cereals, fodder crops and legumes. Together with the cultivated hills along the Camino de Santiago, the distribution of woodland, the slope and the farmland reveal different aspects of this landscape.
Remembrance and food culture
The Lavadero de Galar was reconstructed as a memorial site in 2015. A plaque at the lavadero commemorates women and the hard, essential work they carried out over generations. This theme of remembrance adds another perspective on the local past to the history of the church.
Food culture also features in the entries in the Cendea de Galar’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Archive. The entries listed are “07 Alimentación 1”, “09 Comidas”, “10 Comidas”, “11 Bendición de la mesa” and “12 Menús festivos”. Their titles range from food and meals to the blessing of the table and festive menus. Alongside buildings and routes, Galar’s cultural picture thus includes traditional aspects of everyday and festive life.
Discover more destinations: Salinas De Pamplona, Cordovilla, Arribe, Abaurregaina, Azuelo, Castejón, Azagra, Orkoien.
For the main travel overview: Navarra.
