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The history of the ancient kingdom of Navarre always has been marked by its
border situation with France, Castile, Aragon and Baskland, and the fact
that it is crossed by the pilgrim way Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint
James) is an additional reason for its extraordinary monumental richdom. Its
beautiful towns, like Artajona which is surrounded by medieval walls,
Estella, Olite, formerly seat of Navarre's kings, Tudela and Roncesvalles
always are worth a visit.
The region's capital, Pamplona, a quiet and pleasant city, is
world-famous for the Running of Bulls which form part of its most famous
festival, Sanfermines, in July. Another very peculiar folkloristic
attraction are the Navarrese Carnivals with their typical Zanpantzarrak.
 Pamplona
had a lot of Romanesque art, but the need to expand churches, rebuild and
progress itself have all resulted in many of them being lost and
Gothic-style works being built in their place.
However, the Romanesque church of San Nicolas, in the heart of the city
near Sarasate Avenue, remains almost completely in its original structure
beneath a range of add-ons and renovations made over time.
Another example of the impressive Romanesque legacy is the image of Santa
Maria La Real, which sits within the cathedral itself.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, two superb Romanesque workshops used to
compete between themselves, Master Esteban’s and the cloister workshop.
Pamplona’s Romanesque art also carries a notably French influence due not
only to its location on the route of St James, but because of its proximity
to France, which allowed direct interaction with French artists.
Furthermore, Romanesque-style painting was important in Pamplona, and
there were painters’ workshops where scenes of devotion from the city in the
Middle Ages were created.
Nowadays, the Navarre Museum provides a window on this era.
Other important work, such as the exegesis of the Apocalypses from the
reign of King Sancho the Wise, is stored at Paris’ National Library.
 The famous Amiens and Harburg bibles, published by the American Bucher in
two volumes entitled ‘The Pamplona Bibles’, are universally famous and were
made in a workshop in Pamplona.
All those artists who were involved in putting them together had complete
mastery of the proportion technique, a perfection which was far from usual
in Romanesque painters.
A stroll through Pamplona’s old quarter will come across Romanesque
traces hidden within other styles which became more dominant over the
centuries.
There is also rural Romanesque art within a stone’s throw of the city,
such as the St John’s Knights temple at Zizur Menor and the portico at
Gazolaz.
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Hotels Pamplona |
 NH
El Toro Hotel Pamplona 
Located in Berrioplano, NH El Toro Hotel lies 5 kilometres from Pamplona.
The hotel offers a total of 65 guest rooms including 6 suites, which are
equipped with latest conveniences. Enjoy a generous breakfast buffet and
later dine at the in-house restaurant. Also available is a cafe bar that
offers drinks. NH El Toro features 9 function rooms, which are perfect for
family banquets, gatherings and business meetings. |
Navarre is divided in three sectors: the mountain range of the Pyrenees
in the north, with exceptional landscapes as the exemplaric Baztan valley;
La Riviera in the south, a plain land with small lagoons and the fertile
valley of Ebro river, and, inbetween, la Zona Media, with impressive
landscapes and canyons as Hoces de Lumbier and Arbayun.
Navarre has no fewer than 50 natural preseves, most outstanding are
Reserva Integral de Lizardoia and Parque Natural de Señorio de Bértiz. It
offers great possibilities for hiking, climbing, fishing and is an ideal
place if you want to spend green holidays in Spain.
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