Zariquiegui
Camino Frances
Zariquiegui is the last village before the climb to the Alto del Perdon, about 11 km from Pamplona. A small cluster of stone houses along a single street, with a bar that opens seasonally and a fountain for water. Fill up here — there's nothing between Zariquiegui and Uterga on the far side of the pass.
The Iglesia de San Andres is the village's landmark, a 13th-century church in late Romanesque style with a recessed doorway and capitals decorated with plant motifs. The tympanum carries a chi-rho symbol. If you've seen the movie The Way, you may recognize the facade — it was used as a location in the film.
From here the climb gets more serious, gaining about 300 m over 3 km to the pass. It's not the hardest climb on the Frances by any measure, but on a hot day with a fresh pack from Pamplona it can feel like it.
Records from 1280 show the Navarrese Crown owned a monastery called San Salvador de Zariquiegui, which served pilgrims passing through. The current Iglesia de San Andres dates to the 13th century in its Romanesque core, though it was significantly modified in the 16th century when the walls were widened, the vaults rebuilt, and a sacristy added. What survives from the original building is the recessed Romanesque portal with its carved capitals and the chi-rho tympanum.
Beyond Zariquiegui the path climbs steadily on a rocky track through scrubland and low trees. The terrain is exposed — no shade, no water. The final approach to the Alto del Perdon is steep and can be windy. The wind turbines appear first, growing louder as you approach, then the famous pilgrim sculpture comes into view at the summit. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for the climb from Zariquiegui.
Accommodation in Zariquiegui.
| Albergue San Andrés 15€ 30 |
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