IMOTZ VALLEY
WHAT TO SEE IN THE IMOTZ VALLEY
The Imotz Valley has an area of 42,4 km². Navarrese municipality northwest of Pamplona in the eastern foothills of the Aralar mountain range. It limits to the north with Basaburúa and Ulzama, to the east with Atez, to the south with Juslapeña, Iza and Araquil and to the west with Larráun. The Imotz valley has the virtue of being very well connected, but also of being very remote: we can climb towards the Aralar mountain range through Goldaratz until we reach the Larrazpil dolmen or we can take a short walk from Etxaleku to Oskotz through what was Cañada de las Provincias, which linked the Pamplona basin with the Guipuzcoan coast.
CAN STATION.
One of the busiest sections of the Plazaola greenway begins in Latasa, and is perfect for cycle tourists of all ages.
MUSKITZ – ITSASONEA.
In a recently renovated house, work workshops and exhibitions are held under its spectacular wooden roof.
PATHS
You can go around the valley completely along suitably prepared paths. Especially recommended for MTB.
popular architecture
The Imotz valley has taken special care in the conservation of its farmhouses, fountains, mills, washing places, stone bridges, etc.
GOLDARATZ
It offers spectacular panoramic views of the Imotz valley and the Malloas. Furthermore, in Larrazpil, we will enjoy beautiful views of the Aralar and San Donato mountains. Be sure to visit its Romanesque church and the beautiful list of traditional farmhouses.
ETXALEKU and OSKOTZ
These two towns are a magnificent example of popular architecture in the area. The imposing hamlets stand in isolation, immersed in a captivating green landscape. Other elements also stand out such as the churches, their laundries, etc.
INTERACTIVE PDF OF TOURIST INFORMATION
PRACTICAL TIPS
-If you are traveling with children, we recommend taking the Etxaleku route and stopping to eat at the Herriko Ostatua by Etxaleku. It has games for children and animals to enjoy.
-If those who are going to walk are adults, both routes are recommended, although the Larrazpil route will be able to enjoy magnificent views when they reach the top. To eat at the Goldaratz restaurant it is better to make a reservation, but it is one of those places in Navarra that is worth trying.
WHAT TO DO IN THE SURROUNDINGS
TIME
MAP AND TOURS IN IMOTZ
THE VILLAGES OF THE IMOTZ VALLEY
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ETXALEKU
Capital of the Imotz Valley since its constitution as a municipality, it is, together with Oskotz, the largest town. There is the valley's Town Hall, built in 1992 with a striking façade. The old church, from the 1872th century, is now the cemetery. It is located higher up from the town and still preserves, almost intact, the original walls and the Gothic door. Further down we find two houses with some characteristics from the 1876th century, such as the propped arches. Most of the town is arranged to the left and right of the royal road. These are beautiful houses from the XNUMXth century: Marimigelenea, Iturrikoa, Herrikoetxea, Zapatiñenea, Etxandia and Dorrotoa. In any case, the one at the entrance to the town, Ernatonea, is from the XNUMXth century. The current church was built in the XNUMXth century, between XNUMX and XNUMX. A large church for a town like this, both the semi-carved stone that was used and the tower are spectacular. Most of the […]
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ERASO
Eraso, the town located in the center of the valley, had more importance in the past. The palace of the lords of Eraso was located there and, even today, a house retains that name; is Jauregia (Palace). It was built in the 1762th century on the previous site. As in many other towns, there is a building called Dorrea (Tower). On the other hand, the houses are large, some of them also beautiful, such as Berekoetxea, Txurdanea, Iriartea, Goikoetxea and Mattikoneberria, most of them from the 1767th century. The church is proto-Gothic, from the 1793th century, although it has been greatly modified. The altarpiece is from the 1798th century, carved by Martín Elordi. The sacristy was built between 25 and XNUMX, and the portico between XNUMX and XNUMX. For XNUMX years, the procession that the residents of the valley make to the Hermitage of Erga (the Hermitage of the Trinity) has begun here. Most of the forest in this town […]
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GOLDARATZ
The first house in this town to have a neighborhood was the one formerly called Zapatanea, later bought by the town and converted into a town hall and inn. Entering the town, we can find, in this order, the houses of the rest of the neighbors: Lopenea, Maiatzenea, Dindakoa, Gillenea, Juanea, Etxeberria and Goikoetxea. The Romanesque church is the only one from that period in the valley. Logically, it has undergone many changes, especially the bell tower, since it fell down in the 2008th century and was built again. The altarpiece is baroque. This town, despite being very high, has few sources and the laundry is located a little below the town, on the road to Latasa. They renovated it around XNUMX. The highest mountains in the valley belong to this town: Iruiondi and Larrazpil, as well as the lowest point in the valley: Kaxerna. Another mentionable mountain is Ollondo, next to the town. The mountain of this town is […]
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RATE
The old royal road that ran from Pamplona to San Sebastián has left numerous traces in this town; We find houses that show the importance it had at that time: at the entrance to the town is the Juanesenea or Portonea palace (of the porter), Mandategia (where the mules rested) and Arotzenea (of the blacksmith), all of them necessary for a royal road. Needless to say, there were also inns such as Ostazarrea, Ostatua (Apezenea original name) and Auzoetxea. Others are still standing, such as Matxikenea, Etxeberrigaraikoa and Etxeberriazpikoa. Later, when the new Calzada Real was opened in 1792, the town was set aside and two inns were built on the side of the road. One of them disappeared when the highway was built. We cannot fail to mention the church and its Gothic portico. The tower is the most notable thing along with the Gothic door. The tower was renovated in 1776. The altarpiece, from the XNUMXth century, was carved by Juan Landa. The most notable mountains in this town are Mintegi, in the […]
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MUSKITZ
It is the closest town to Pamplona in this valley. Very close to the town, in the corner of Iruinbide, there was an inn called Bentazarra, built in the last years of the 1992th century. Muskitz has beautiful houses such as Alkatenea, Asiñenea, Itsasonea, Juankonea or Santonea. The church in this town is new. In XNUMX, the old church that was outside the town was destroyed, in the same place where the cemetery is today, and the new one was built in the center of the town.
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OSKOTZ
The lower part of Oskotz is organized on the royal road. There are beautiful houses such as Juantxenea, Maritonea, Barrantxea, Herrikoetxea, Urtzutegia and Etxeberria. In addition to these, on the side of the road we will find Zamargiñenea and Barabarnea. All of these and some more are really worth seeing. The church is located in the upper part of the town,
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URRITZA
The old royal road passed right next to the town of Urritza, but it was in the area with Latasa where a highly influential inn was located: Txurikain. It's still standing. A truly beautiful house, with a small church next to it and with the charm of the proximity of the water and the bridge built to cross the Basaburua River. We could say that it is one of the most beautiful corners of Imotz.
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ZARRANTZ
Today it is the smallest town in the valley, although it was once the size of Urritza. In the Middle Ages there was another town called Ausano here, of which some traces remain today. It seems that Ausano belonged to the Prince of Viana. Later it belonged to eleven neighborhoods of Zarrantz, Cía and Aguinaga. In the middle of the 20th century it was divided and distributed among the owners and, at the end of the century, the city council bought three of the eleven plots.
WHAT TO DO IN THE IMOTZ VALLEY
HIKING AND EVENTS IN THE IMOTZ VALLEY
PLAZAOLA GREEN ROAD
14,7 km - One way
LEKUNBERRI
DOLMEN LARRAZPIL
6,6 km - Round trip
GOLDARATZ- SIERRA DE ARALAR
