Camino Francés: Stage 6

You will leave Estella through the Calle de San Nicolás Street, on the other side of the Erga River. You will also see the Palacio de los Reyes de Navarra palace and also the Iglesia de San Pedro church. You will continue through the road, then you will see a roundbound with a statue here you will continue through the right. After one kilometre and a half you will get to the old Señorío eclsiástico de Ayegui domain.

Now the best option is go to find the famous Irache wine spring, but before getting to it you will leave another spring where the local hostel is indicated You will go through a national road and then you will find the famous wine spring where you can have a drink, this spring is free, you don’t have to pay to have a drink. It has two taps one of them provides fresh water and the other one local wine from a winery called Irache. After this stop you will see one of the most important monasteries in Navarre: Irache medieval monastery. This monastery has always been an accommodation for pilgrims such as other monasteries. It used to be a pilgrim’s hospital (it was the first pilgrim’s hospital in Navarre). It was the hospital used during the Carlist Wars, years after it became a religious place. You should stop to see one of the most beautiful monument in Navarre!

A little bit after you will have two options: the first one is a little bit shorter and crosses Montejurra slopes through a forestup to Luquin; and the second one, goes through the righ and get to Azqueta and Villamayor de Monjarín. This is the last original route and the one that most pilgrims do, so you will take the right turn away. Now you will find the N-111 national road, you will cross it and then you will go through a secondary road, between a camping and a housing state. The rest of the way to Ázqueta goes through gorgeous paths and fields that could be a challenge for your legs.

If you have left your walking sticks or trecking stiks at home or even if you have lost your point of support, Pablito Sanz Zudaire, also known as Pablito el de las Varas would be your best friend, he will provide you another stick. He also will explain you all the tricks and the correct use of the walking sticks. These tips will help you during your way. All his knowledge comes from his own experience. Most people believe that he was the first person who did the way by bike in the 60’s and since that moment he did the way so times, walking and by bike that he don’t remember the exact amount of times that he did the Way. You will leave Pablo and you will cross some industrial warehouses and going through the left you will go through vineyards.

After reaching Vallamayor de Monjardín top you can relax, take a break and drink in the Fuente de los Moros spring that is a well from the 13 century. You should buy some snacks because you won’t find any other establishments until the end of the stage. Here you will see the Iglesia de San Andrés church. It is a church from the 12 century. In this church we can find a big silver cross. Outside we can see its decoration devoted to a Charlemagne battle against a Navarre price. On top of the village you will find the remains of the old Castillo de San Esteban de Deyo castle.

You will leave this wonderful village but soon you will walk through vineyards and also through many arable fields and secondary roads. You will walk through this route for more than two hours and the landscape could be a little bit monotonous. Once you get to Los arcos you will see a bar called La Flecha Amarilla that provide cold drinks, sandwiches and food (from April to October).

There is just one hour left to get to Los Arcos. You will get to this village through its Calle Mayor street. Once you get to the Plaza de Santa María square you could rest there for a while and then continue to Torres del Río. Para algunos aquí termina esta sexta etapa, pero muchos otros sacarán fuerzas para seguir hasta Torres del Río. After crossing Portal de Castilla and then the Ordón River you will continue through a parallel track to the N-111. After 3 kilometres (2 miles) the yellow arrow will indicate you to go through the right to get to the Regato de San Pedro small river.

After a little descent you will get to torres del Río where you can find among its medieval streets the Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro church that used to have a lighthouse (in the temple tower) that used to indicate the way to pilgrims in the 12 century. Here it concludes today’s stage.

Bear in mind

This is not a complicated stage and it has ups and downs. The hardest part is the Villayour de Monjardin part. As it happened in yesterday’s stage you should be careful when the route goes through the N-111, because it has a lot of traffic at some hours of the day.

You can stay the night in any of the available accommodation of Los Arcos or walk nine kilometers more to get to Torres del Río where you will also find many places to stay the night.

The way between Villamayor de Monjardín and Los Arcos does not have any kind of service, so if you need something it could be better to buy it before entering in this part of the stage. Before getting to Los Arcos, in Ázqueta and Sansol you will also find two accommodation where you can stay the night.

If you have reduced mobility we recommend you go through the N-111 from Ázqueta to Villamayor de Monjardín or Los Arcos but always through the road shoulder and if possible with a reflective vest.