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Stage 2 - Roncesvalles - Larrasoaña

Lenght 26,5 Kms  Time Long: 7h 15 min.

Many pilgrims start the Camino de Santiago in Roncesvalles. Many of those who stay in this town, attend the mass of pilgrims by night and receive the blessing before the trip. To Espinal, before passing through Burguete, profile is plain and AC wooded sections with extensive meadows. Paths of forest, we reach the high of Mezkiritz (922 m) where we crossed the N135. On the edge of the road there is a small statue of our Lady of Roncesvalles.

Foto: Wikipedia, Marianne Casamance

 

 

The Navarra Way

STAGE 2: RONCESVALLES - ZUBIRI

Km: 22.1

The stage between Roncesvalles and Pamplona crosses the beautiful Arga valley, which is full of pine forests and beech forests. Beside these great forests, the pilgrim will cross pastures, wide meadows in which sheep, goats or cows will be grazing.

This is a stage with many changes of gradient, both up and down. The route follows dirt paths and trails, but always runs more or less parallel to the N-135, a road that serves as point of reference.

Together with the routes that run through forests and more or less isolated meadowland, there are others that cross numerous hamlets, small villages in which traditional Basque houses the houses abound.

For those pilgrims who have chosen Roncesvalles as their starting point, this first stage with its great natural beauty will prove to be unforgettable.. We suggest that you should make for Zubiri as the end of your first day, but in case you do not find accommodation or want to walk a few more kilometers, Larrasoaña can be a good alternative, since it is approximately one hour's walk away.

Foto: Wikipedia, Bjorn Christian Torrissen.

0.0 Roncesvalles / Orreaga

We left Roncesvalles at the Roldán cross and struck out along a dirt track that runs close to the N-135 between beech and oak forests. We then cross the town of Berruguete / Auritz, one of many "road" villages of the Camino, that is, one that is ‘stretched out’ along the pilgrimage route, rather than being one where the houses being bunched together.

We leave Auritz and continue towards Espinal / Aurizberri. The road crosses this settlement by its main street, from where we will turn off onto a path that runs through forests. Here the pilgrims will begin the ascent that will take them to the top of Mezkiritz.

8.3 Alto de Mezkiritz

On this beautiful summit there is a fine statue of the Virgin of Roncesvalles. From there, the pilgrim descends parallel to the road, passing masses of beech trees and a ‘tunnel’ of boxwood trees.

We come down a small slope and arrive at Bizkarreta / Gerendiain, town with two districts that are crossed by ‘the Way.’ We leave this town by a path that always runs parallel to the main road, from which we later take a somewhat broader dirt track through which ends up in Lintzoáin.

In Lintzoáin, next to a fronton begins the ascent that through Mount Arrola, with its pines, oaks and birches, will lead us to the top of Erro.

18.1 Alto del Erro

The heights of the Erro, is distinguished by its numerous modern aerials. The pilgrim here faces an unpopulated area, which can be complicated if there is an excess of rain or snow. The descent, close to the general road, runs alongside the remains of the Venta del Puerto, then plunges down along a path through Agorreta to finally land up among pine groves in the town of Zubiri.

Foto: Wikipedia, Juan Manuel Gienin.

22.1 Zubiri

We reach the village from the Camino crossing the medieval bridge of Rage

WHAT IS WORTH VISITING?

Burguete / Auritz

An interesting town whose elongated structure shows the influence of the passage of the Way. It is worth visiting the church of San Nicolás with its interesting portico of XVII century. Another interesting aspect of this town is its older district, the old borough of Orreaga, where the pilgrim can see many mansions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Biskarreta-Gerendiain

The town has a parish church dedicated to San Pedro, with some traces of its original structure, dating from the thirteenth century, although the current building largely reflects its renovation in the twentieth century. There are documentary references to the existence in the past of an old hospital of pilgrims probably older than the celebrated hospital of Roncesvalles.

Lintzoáin

Here there is to be found an interesting church of medieval origin dedicated to San Saturnino, of whose origins are reflected by its Romanesque doorway. In the sixteenth century the church was transformed and endowed with new vaults that still are conserved.

Zubiri

The town of Zubiri is currently the capital of the Esteríbar valley. In the present town, modern constructions predominate, but some 18th century houses have been preserved.

Its name comes from the Basque and is linked to the medieval bridge of Rage over which the pilgrim will enter the village. ‘The Rage’ refers (according to legend) to the curative and/or preventive properties against rabies of the bridge’s central pillar, under which a relic of Santa Quiteria had been buried. For this reason a tradition grew up of making animals turn twice round this pillar in order to keep them safe from the disease.

Always by forest roads and a section of concrete, we come to Zubiri and in 1 half h to Larrasoaña. The hostel is 300 m across the bridge to the right and then turn left to the Centre of the village.

Camino Frances. Etapa 2 Roncesvalles

Zubiri Hostels
Hotel Akerreta C/Transfiguración, 11. 31698 Akerreta (Navarra) Tel. 948 304 572 
Albergue el Palo de Avellano Avenida de Roncesvalles 16. Zubiri Tel. 666 499 175 o 948 304 770 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

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