French Way (Camino Francés): Stage 3

You will cross the urban area of Zubiri and we will go through the Puente de la Rabia Bridge Leaving behind us the wonderful village of Zubiri. The first thing you will see is Magna, a factory dedicated to the extraction and processing of magnesite at its quarries in the area. After crossing this factory you go through a staircase and then through a paved route that concludes it a wonderful path among nature and next to a river. The Arga river will take you to Ilarraz where you can take a breath and refill your water bottle. Then, after 800 metres (2,624 feet) you will get to Eskirotz.

Arga river will be next to you till the next stop: Larrasoña, a village from the 10 century built next to the Monasterio San Agustín de Larrasoáin monastery. The route don’t go through the village but you just have to cross the Puente de los Bandidos Bridge to get to it. The route don’t go through the village but you just have to cross the Puente de los Bandidos Bridge to get to it. In the past, agotes (a small group of people from this area) were discriminated because of their race and their economic position for more than 8 centuries.

After crossing this village we will be able to see Akerreta farmhouse (nowadays it is a holiday cottage) and also the Iglesia de la Transfiguración church. You will continue, this time through the road and then you will meet again the river. You will soon see the Puente de Zuriain bridge where we can rest for a while.

Before getting to the next village, Irotz, you will leave the river for a while, while you are crossing the N-135, then you will continue your way next to the river. You will enter in Irotz crossing the Monte Iturratx mount; there are also many houses with benches where you can rest for a while. We recommend you go to a pilgrim’s establishment called Horno de Irotz, and also to the Iglesia de San Pedro church and its roman bridge. At this point we have to options: continue to the lefts going through a fluvial path to finally get to Huarte or you can continue straight forward to get to Arre. The first route a little bit more larger than the other one but there are less slopes; both routes get unified after 2 kilometres (1 mile). If you decide to continue through the traditional one (the one that goes straight forward) you have to take into account that is a route that rises that will take us to the Señorío de Arleta dominion, that is mostly a desert place sicne the 15 century but that still has the remains of the old castle and the remains of an old road.

You will cross the Valle de Esteribar valley through an underpass; this underpass will take you to a medieval bridge over the Ultzama River. After crossing the bridge you will have the feeling of being in the 12 century thanks to the hermitage that is located there, the Ermita de la Trinidad de Arre hermitage that still has its Romanesque apse, this hermitage is located between the hostel and a portico that is next to a private house.

Now you are in the last part of the stage, in Villave. You will cross its main street where you can find a hostel for pilgrims. We will cross this village straight forward going through a road, this way we will leave behind the village where Miguel Indurain (a very famous Spanish cyclist) was born. You next stop will be in Burlada, the fifth most populated village in Navarre, a village that has lots of services that you could need. You will walk next to some little mansions and flowered gardens, when you get to a local garage you have to use the right road and cross the pedestrian crossing. The signposting will lead you to the right a few metres forward and then to the left. Just a small stroll and we will reach the Navarre county’s border.

1.5 km (1 mile) ahead we’ll bump into the Arga River again. This time we’ll walk over Magdalena Bridge. Casa Paderborn accommodation is located on the left side. On the other side we’ll find Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Magdalena’s stronghold and its drawbridge, the French Gate. The memory of a Carlist soldier called Tomás de Zumalacarregui will lead us to Carmen St. On this street you can find another hostel and at the end of the street you will find you should tur left to the Calle de la Curia street and then go through the Calle de la Compañía street. You have finished the stage!

Bear in mind

Easy and gentle stage. You should pay attention before getting to Zuriain because this part could be a little bit dangerous, especially when it rains. If you are doing the way by bike you should know that this is not a complicated stage for you.

There are other different ways of crossing Irotz, but the best one is the one that leads you straight to Huarte. The one that crosses Arleta is easy but it has many slopes in which you should get off the bike and walk.