Espinal (Aurizberri in Basque) is a compact village in the valley of the Erro river, with a couple of bars, a small albergue, and a welcoming atmosphere. Between here and Pamplona you'll notice villages perched above the valley floor — a pattern driven by the need to keep fertile riverside farmland available for crops while building homes on higher, more defensible ground.

The parish church retains some Romanesque elements. The village is a good stopping point if Roncesvalles was full or if you want a shorter first day.

Fiesta

Village festival on the last Sunday in August.

History

Espinal was founded specifically to protect pilgrims. This river valley has a long history of battle and banditry, and the Navarrese kings — in this case Teobaldo II in the 13th century — established fortified settlements along the route to provide safe passage. The founding charter explicitly mentions protection of pilgrims as its purpose.

City Map