Ilzarbe is one of nine starting points for the signposted, 18.8 km Vuelta al Valle de Ollo. In addition to hiking, the town’s notable structures include the parish church of San Esteban, a medieval bridge and the Lavadero de Ilzarbe.
Hiking around Ilzarbe
The Vuelta connects the villages of the Ollo Valley via forest tracks and agricultural roads. The route includes a steep climb through dense oak forest, followed by a descent towards Ilzarbe. Check the route details again before planning a hike.
The classic ascent of Txurregi also starts in Ilzarbe. The route’s character is key to choosing between them: the Vuelta is a signposted loop connecting villages, while Txurregi is a classic ascent starting from Ilzarbe. The 18.8 km distance applies to the Vuelta.
Church and bridge
The parish church of San Esteban is dedicated to Saint Stephen. Its oldest surviving part is the square bell tower at the foot of the nave. The tabernacle, a liturgical shrine, features reliefs of the Saviour, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Reliefs are sculpted representations that project from a flat surface; these date from the Baroque period of the 17th century. The dedication to Saint Stephen and the figures on the tabernacle offer two distinct points of cultural and historical interest. The term nave refers to the elongated main space of a church building.
The medieval bridge crosses the Udarbe with a large semicircular central arch. It is located where the roads to Ulzurrun meet. After crossing the Udarbe, the Castillo de Garaño y Valle de Ollo route continues to Ilzarbe over a medieval bridge. A report on the restoration completed in October 2022 gives the span between the abutments as approximately 20 m. Abutments are the side supports on which the arch rests.
Other structures and planning your visit
The Lavadero de Ilzarbe is near the road to Ollo. It has a rectangular floor plan and two masonry walls; two columns support the unevenly pitched roof, which has a wooden structure.
Kurunkun Txotxongiloak is a puppet workshop at Calle San Esteban 16 in Iltzarbe. Visits are arranged by appointment. If you plan to visit the workshop, book an appointment in advance and check before travelling whether it is currently operating.
In Navarra’s 2023 road directory, the 1.35 km NA-7023 is listed under the name Iltzarbe; it begins at kilometre 33.55 of the NA-7020. If you use this road information to plan your journey, check current road conditions and access restrictions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Muruzábal, Arróniz, Larraga, Baztan, Fitero, Donamaria, Etxarri-Aranatz, Villanueva De Aezkoa.
For the main travel overview: Navarra.
