The Ruta 13 Carrizo y Lalandas brings the landscape around Mélida to life on a single circular walk: the route is 7.5 kilometres long, starts on the esplanade in front of the school and the municipal pelota court, and takes about one hour and 50 minutes. It passes through farmland, follows the Lalandas stream and runs through the Aragón riparian woodlands before climbing to a viewpoint with panoramic views. The route also passes the Nogal de Mélida, which was declared a Natural Monument of Navarre in 2009. Check the latest route information before setting out, as route details may change.
Bardenas and river landscape
Pinar de Santa Águeda is a pine forest of Aleppo pines on the Bardenas plateau above the Aragón Valley. Plants found there include shrubs and aromatic species such as juniper, thyme, lavender and rosemary. Mélida is one of 22 villages with communal usage rights in the Bardenas Reales.
Along the Aragón, there are areas within the municipality of Mélida that the Government of Navarre classifies as natural enclaves. More broadly, the lower reaches of the Arga and Aragón form part of a Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance. Its habitats include gallery forests and poplar and willow stands; species found in the area include the European mink, otter and night heron.
These nature references relate to different scales: Pinar refers to a specific forest on the plateau, while the Natura 2000 designation covers the corridor along the lower reaches of both rivers. This allows you to understand Mélida’s surroundings both through a named place and through a regional habitat.
Routes and regulations
The Bardenas Reales offer several routes that you can travel on foot, by mountain bike or in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. This gives you a choice of different ways to explore. These activities are subject to the nature park’s regulations; check the relevant rules when planning an outing.
Medieval traces and architecture
Mélida’s medieval fortifications were built around 1200. The surviving sections of wall are part of the town’s cultural heritage. The Iglesia de Santa María has a four-tiered bell tower, a pointed-arch entrance, rib vaults and a Renaissance high altar.
Near Mélida lies the walled site of Rada. It preserves the ruins of a medieval fortification, the base of the castle tower and the restored Romanesque chapel of San Nicolás. You can reach it by car or take a walk among the ruins.
Festivals throughout the year
The San Isidro festival includes a procession on 15 May, when farmers carry the image of their patron saint through the town, followed by a communal meal. The arrangements may vary. The Fiestas Patronales take place in July, the Fiestas Grandes in August and the Exaltación de la Cruz in September. The recurring festival calendar therefore spans May to September.
Exact dates and programmes may vary from year to year. If you’re planning to visit Mélida for a celebration, check the information for the year of your trip. This lets you plan the cultural part of your visit around a specific month, while the routes and landscapes offer a different focus.
Discover more destinations: Garde, Burlada, Etxalar, Aribe, Bizkarreta-Gerendiain, Castejón, Mendigorría, Lantz
For the main travel overview: Navarre.
