The Esca runs through Urzainqui at the foot of the Santa Bárbara and Arrigorrieta mountain ranges. The valley alternates between broad stretches and a narrow gorge; the village’s appearance also tells the story of forestry and timber transport.
The valley, river and history of the village
The Esca Valley widens where the more easily eroded flysch occurs. Where the river cuts through limestone outcrops, by contrast, the valley narrows into a gorge. The changing shape of the valley is therefore linked to the transition between rock types: the valley opens out in the flysch and narrows at the limestone outcrops. The Esca flows through Urzainqui, connecting these landscape features with the village at the foot of the two mountain ranges.
The history of the village’s layout is also connected to the river. Urzainqui’s old river port preserves traces of the influence of forestry and timber transport. Together, these offer two perspectives on the village: the valley reveals the geological transition between flysch and limestone, while the river port recalls the importance of timber transport and forestry.
Churches and historic buildings
The Church of San MartĂn de Tours brings together several building phases. Its main structure is early Proto-Gothic and dates from the beginning of the 13th century. A portal was added in the 16th century; the side aisles were probably added during the Baroque period. The different periods can therefore be distinguished in the building, although the Baroque extension is explicitly considered probable.
The church’s furnishings include a Gothic reliquary, a Renaissance processional cross and a Flemish-influenced 16th-century Ecce Homo painting. The commission for the parish church’s main altar in Urzainqui also dates from March 1753.
The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de San Salvador was formerly Urzainqui’s parish church. It is Gothic in origin and was restored during the Baroque period. The chapel houses a 14th-century Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary. The chapel’s altarpiece was Francisco Pejón’s first documented work in Roncal and Navarre; the contract for it was signed on 8 October 1737. Its former role as a parish church, the statue of the Virgin and the dated history of the work give the chapel its own historical context.
Civilian architectural heritage includes the ruins of the 16th-century Tower of Urzainqui. A large pointed-arch portal and a coat of arms bearing a Christogram are among its named features. Historic residential architecture is also part of the village’s appearance: Casa Melikotx and Casa Krutxaga are among the historic houses in the del Castillo and IngruñĂa quarters.
Hiking routes with different itineraries
The SL Camino de la Boca hiking trail starts at the Chapel of San Salvador. From there, it descends to the NA-137 road and then returns to Urzainqui. Along the route, watch out for traffic on the NA-137 and sheer drops. Stay on the marked trail and check local trail conditions before setting out.
A route description for the SL-NA 77 Isaba–Urzainqui, dated 31 October 2001, gives a distance of 5.3 kilometres, an elevation gain of 250 metres and a walking time of 1 hour 30 minutes; Urzainqui is listed as the endpoint. These figures therefore apply to that dated route description. Check current local trail conditions before setting out.
On the descent to Urzainqui along the SL-NA 77, the trail follows the old Camino de Aizaritu. It was once an important route to the high-altitude fields.
Discover more destinations: SaragĂĽeta, Metauten, Roncesvalles, Valtierra, Leoz, Viana, Zilbeti, Murchante.
Return to the main travel overview: Navarre.
