The Bidasoa forms a natural dividing line between two parts of Sunbilla. The stone bridge, dating from the mid-16th century, connects them and was part of the King's Road to Gipuzkoa and on to France. The Bidasoa Greenway also reaches Sunbilla via the famous medieval bridge.
Bridges and local history
The historic stone bridge was restored in 1987. A second bridge was added in 1992 to improve the connection between the two parts of town while preserving the historic structure. The bridges show how connections within Sunbilla have changed, while the older bridge retains its connection to the King's Road.
Houses and historic buildings
The townscape is defined by traditional houses with plastered façades and stone ground floors. Reddish stonework highlights the building corners; the buildings have three or four storeys. These features give the architectural style a distinct character, without all the houses being associated with a single street.
At Calle Mayor 14 stands Casa Meharbaita etxea, a 17th-century palace. Known as the Palace of San Tiburcio, it was rebuilt from the ground up around 1662 beside the ruins of the church of the same name. Sunbilla’s architectural heritage also includes an old stone washhouse. Together, these buildings illustrate different facets of the town’s history: a named palace at a specific address, a building associated with church ruins, and an old washhouse.
Mountain landscape and nature
Low mountains surround Sunbilla, with peaks ranging from 100 to 740 metres in elevation. The local flora mainly includes walnut and oak trees. Pines and Japanese larches are also common. These details describe both the elevation range of the surrounding area and the tree species found in the landscape.
The Bisusta waterfall in Sunbilla is designated as a Site of Community Importance (LIC) and a Special Area of Conservation (ZEC) because of its animal and plant life. Sunbilla’s natural features therefore sit alongside its historic buildings: the surrounding mountains and a waterfall with two named conservation designations.
The Bidasoa Greenway: routes and features
The 3.5-kilometre section between Doneztebe/Santesteban and Sunbilla is connected to EuroVelo 1. From Sunbilla to the area around Igantzi, another section of the Greenway covers 11.5 kilometres. The two distances refer to different sections: the first runs between Doneztebe/Santesteban and Sunbilla, and the second between Sunbilla and the area around Igantzi.
The section towards Igantzi includes fish ladders, small weirs, a 208-metre-long illuminated tunnel, the Zubigain footbridge and the former Igantzi railway station. The station is a historic feature of the route, as it is a former railway station. These features give the longer section a different sequence of route features from the 3.5-kilometre section to Sunbilla.
The Greenway section between Sunbilla and Oronoz-Mugaire is described as having a stable surface, with no steep gradients or difficult crossings. These specific route features help distinguish this section from the details given for the sections to Doneztebe/Santesteban and Igantzi.
A themed escape game
For 2026, the Sunbilla Escape Room is listed as a 75-minute, themed escape game about the area’s smuggling history. Its location is given as the Guardia Civil barracks in Sunbilla. Before visiting, check whether the game is running and whether booking is available.
Discover more destinations: OlazagutĂa, Cirauqui, Eulate, Meoz, El Bocal, Lekunberri, Arguedas, Ollo.
For the main travel overview: Navarra.
