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Etxalar

Towns

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Etxalar - Estelas ante la iglesia
icono pie de fotoEstelas ante la iglesia
Etxalar - Etxalar
icono pie de fotoEtxalar
Etxalar - Palomera. Etxalar
icono pie de fotoPalomera. Etxalar

Meteorology
Estelas ante la iglesia
Etxalar, a large village and valley framed by mountains and green meadows, has an interesting and well-preserved variety of civil architecture which has led to it being awarded a National Tourism Prize for the beautification and improvement of its villages.

In autumn, its surroundings are transformed. Inert, spindly towers strategically distributed around the nearby mountains come to life. These are the palomeras (hunting posts), which in terms of height challenge the oaks and beech trees.

Avid hunters settle themselves in them, waiting for the pigeons to pass to deploy one of the most ancient techniques for catching birds. It is a real spectacle. The hunt begins: the woods are filled with frenetic activity and jubilation; the decoy birds fly, the pigeons get confused, they plunge downwards and the nets entrap them. At the end of the day, the town celebrates in a lively festivity.

Etxalar is a village of 850 inhabitants in the north of Navarre at the westernmost edges of the Pyrenees, about 25 kilometres from the Bay of Biscay. It belongs to the administrative area of Cinco Villas (Five Towns) made up of Arantza, Igantzi, Lesaka, Etxalar and Bera. These picturesque towns and villages have their historical designation as "villas" (townships) in common, and their character has been forged by their proximity to the French border and the existence of ironworks between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The palomeras and the hunt

Etxalar is mainly famed for its palomeras; tall towers from which an ancient form of hunting is carried out that dates back to the 15th century, which tradition has managed to preserve despite the fact that this method is banned elsewhere on the Iberian Peninsula.

Between 1st October and 20th November, when the pigeons are flying southwards from France, the followers of this ancient form of hunting launch decoys, which imitate birds of prey, to make the pigeons descend so they can entrap them in nets. Hunters from both sides of the border take part in this activity, which reaches a peak on the third Sunday in October with the celebration of the 'Day of the palomeras (dove hunting posts).

The palomeras are positioned on the hillsides between the mountains of Larrun and Pena Plata, between Etxalar and the French town of Sara, and on the slopes of Mount Iarmendi.

To witness this traditional activity, or at least to see the palomeras standing in their magnificent surroundings of oak, beech and chestnut woods, you need to take the local road from Etxalar to France via the Lizarrieta pass. Eight kilometres along the road you reach the top and their positions in five minutes, from where there are some fantastic views.

During the hunting season there are guided tours every day, but it is essential to book in advance by calling 690 26 77 56.

If you come in November, the Gastronomic Game Week offers the opportunity to enjoy some wonderful flavours in the local restaurants. You can sample, amongst other dishes, pigeon in sauce or with wild mushrooms and venison or wild boar stews at very reasonable prices.

A stroll around the village

Etxalar has an interesting variety of civil architecture featuring houses built between the 16th and 17th centuries. These houses, generally large and constructed with ashlars, are adorned with wooden balconies. There is also the medieval tower of Gaztelu which was once the armoury of the Kingdom of Navarre.

As well as a leisurely stroll around Etxalar, you should be sure to visit the steles of the Church of the Assumption. Around the church you can see the remains of an ancient cemetery with discoid steles cut from stone from the sixteenth century. These stone funerary monuments are formed by a disc on a trapezoidal base which is set over the tomb to commemorate the dead.

Did you know that...?

El Día de las palomeras, que se celebra el tercer fin de semana de octubre está declarado "Bien de interés cultural".

Location

How to get there and move around

salir de Pamplona por la carretera a Burlada y continuar por Villava/Atarrabia dirección Francia por la N-121A. Pasada la travesía de Berrizaun, girar a la derecha por la NA-4410 y continuar por ésta hasta la localidad.

Guided visit

Description:

  • Visitas guiadas a la historia de Etxalar a través de sus casas: sábados durante todo el año, todos los días de la primera quincena de agosto.
  • Visitas guiadas a las Palomeras de Etxalar: fines de semana y festivos de octubre y noviembre.
  • Visitas guiadas sobre el contrabando: sábados de julio y agosto.

Service provider:

  • Visitas historia a través de sus casas: 637 466 107
  • Visitas Palomeras: 690 267 756
  • Visitas contrabando: 689 702 891 / 948 635 166

Services

  • Accommodation
  • Bank
  • Cashpoint
  • Child-park
  • Fronton
  • Guided visits
  • Health centre
  • Internet
  • Medical centre
  • Outdoor sports area
  • Petrol station
  • Pharmacy
  • Picnic spot
  • Pub
  • Restaurant / coffee-houses
  • Supermarket / shop
  • Swimming-pool
  • Tourist Office

Wifi zone: 

  • Casa de Cultura
  • Bar Herriko Ostatua
  • Bar Elutsa
  • Hotel Venta de Etxalar

Opening hours, dates and guide prices. We recommend you confirm with the entity in question.

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Practical information