The Romanesque bridge in Puente La Reina was built in the 11th century so that pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago could cross the Río Arga after passing through Rúa Mayor. It is 110 meters long and has seven round arches, one of which lies underground. The Camino de Santiago reaches Puente la Reina from Roncesvalles or Sangüesa.
Heritage and the Camino through town
A walking route proposed by the municipality follows the Camino from east to west, running along Calle Crucifijo and Calle Mayor. Calle Mayor is a historic street with 213 buildings and medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural features. Together, these offer a clear route through town and a varied streetscape.
The churches, too, showcase different architectural styles and works of art. The Iglesia del Crucifijo consists of a Romanesque nave and a Gothic nave, and houses a large Y-shaped Gothic crucifix. The Iglesia de Santiago el Mayor was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 16th century. Its monumental portal shows Moorish influences; inside are Gothic sculptures of Santiago Apóstol and San Bartolomé.
At the Iglesia de San Pedro, Romanesque buttresses meet a Gothic nave; the church also houses the Virgen del Txori. Four towers from the former fortifications can still be seen along the Paseo. The Convento de las Comendadoras del Sancti Spiritu was built in 1754 and has Rococo altarpieces. Together, these buildings invite visitors to see the walk not only as a route along the Camino, but also as a way to explore different facets of the town’s history.
Routes and getting there
For further walks, the municipality publishes routes PR-NA205 and SL-NA316. It also maintains ten health-focused walking routes through Puente la Reina/Gares. Before setting out, it is worth checking whether track information is available, as this may change.
There is also a direct road connection for getting there: the Autovía del Camino A-12 connects Puente la Reina/Gares with Pamplona and Logroño. This makes it easy to factor the town’s location along this road corridor into your plans, without assuming a specific travel time.
Festivals, markets, and regional cuisine
The Santiago patron saint festival is celebrated from July 24 to 30. The program includes music, bull runs, dancing, and various scheduled events. On the last weekend of September, a traditional craft fair with stalls along Calle Mayor and a traditional layas race take place.
The traditional pepper market runs over a longer seasonal period: between September and early December, local producers sell various types of peppers and other typical regional agricultural products at the Campa de la Fundación Mena. Festival, fair, and market dates and programs may vary from year to year, so check the dates for your travel period. Local cuisine also features produce from the gardens of Campollano, combining traditional recipes with updated versions.
When looking for a hotel in Puente La Reina, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your stay: will you devote most of your time to architectural history and the Camino, or would you like to plan your dates around a festival or the seasonal market? If a particular date is important, allow for possible year-to-year variations when planning.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Ablitas, Burguete, Bera, Urdax, Gallipienzo Antiguo, Lodosa, Urdániz, Navascués
For the main travel overview: Navarra.
