Artzaintza naturbidea
The place
Artzaintza Naturbidea (the transhumance path) is a 200 km Basque trail crossing Navarre from south to north, from the Sierra de Aralar to the Baztan valley, following the old transhumance routes of Basque shepherds. The route crosses beech forests, pastoral ridgelines, standing stones, and villages with traditional Basque architecture. It is a journey through the millennia-old Basque agropastoral world.
Why go
The sanctuary of Aralar and its Romanesque church. Prehistoric cromlechs and menhirs. Beech forests of the Sierra de Urbasa. The Baztan valley and its "baserri" farmhouses. Roncevaux (Orreaga) as an optional detour.
A bit of history
The Basque transhumance paths (artzaintza) have been used since the Neolithic era to move flocks between the winter pastures of the Pamplona plain and the summer alpine meadows of the Pyrenees. This network of paths is one of the oldest in Europe still used by professional shepherds.
Getting there
Etxarri Aranatz: bus from Pamplona (45 min). Elizondo (Baztan): bus from Pamplona (1h). Pamplona airport.
Recommended gear
Waterproof hiking boots (Basque Country: frequent rain). Rain jacket. Sunscreen for the exposed ridges.
Best season
May to October. Lush green spring with flowering. Pleasant summer. Autumn with mushrooms.