Cabanillas: Churches, Starry Skies and Traditions

Cabanillas brings together historic buildings, stargazing, cycling and seasonal cuisine. The churches of San Juan de Jerusalén and Our Lady of the Assumption showcase different architectural sides of the town. The Trujal de la Casa de Belver, the Mirador Starlight and recurring festivals add to these themes. When planning your trip, you may therefore want to consider both the buildings and their history, as well as outdoor activities and event dates.

Churches, History and Cultural Heritage

The Trujal de la Casa de Belver was designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in 2006. It is considered the only trujal de sangre of its kind in Navarre and a “jewel of Navarre’s pre-industrial heritage.” This makes the trujal a clearly defined destination for travelers interested in local cultural heritage: its designation, its unique standing in Navarre and its description as a testament to pre-industrial heritage each offer a different point of interest.

The Church of San Juan de Jerusalén has a single nave and a Romanesque apse with slender columns and semicircular windows. Its dome-shaped façade was returned to its original position after a complete restoration. The church’s history is also connected with travelers: it housed Hospitaller monks who cared for pilgrims. The parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption has a different, Baroque appearance. It preserves sacred furnishings from various periods, including altarpieces and devotional figures commissioned over successive periods between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Another historical connection is the irrigation channel then known as the Acequia del Ebro. The communities of Cabanillas and Fustiñana, together with the Hospitaller Order, built their first three leguas. These jointly constructed sections add a perspective on a shared undertaking to the history of the individual buildings.

The 2026 seasonal sightseeing program includes free guided tours of the Church of San Juan de Jerusalén and the Trujal de la Casa de Belver. If you would like to include a tour in your plans, check the dates before your visit.

Starry Skies, Walks and Cycling

The Mirador Starlight de Cabanillas is located by the canal at the entrance to town. The quality and darkness of the night sky make it suitable for stargazing. Cabanillas is also part of the Starlight network of the Corredor Verde del Ebro. The network’s offerings at its viewpoints include astronomical signage, interpretive features, and leisure and educational activities. The viewpoint therefore focuses both on observing the night sky and on information and other offerings from the network.

If you want to explore the area on foot or by bicycle, you can use the section of the Corredor Verde del Ebro near Cabanillas for walking or cycling. Another cycling option is to travel from Cabanillas to the Bardenas Reales, which visitors can explore by bicycle. These are two separate activities: a section of the corridor near Cabanillas is mentioned, while the Bardenas Reales is described as a destination for cycling trips from Cabanillas.

Events are also part of the town’s cycling offerings. The Club BTT Cabanillas organizes several popular cycling events each year; the dates of individual events vary. If you are planning your trip around a particular event, check its date in advance.

Festivals and Seasonal Cuisine

The annual Fiestas de San Roque take place from August 15 to 21. The program includes orchestras, events involving bulls, communal meals and a variety of performances. The mix of music, shared meals and different events shapes the festival program. If you are traveling in August, these dates are a useful reference if you would like to include the Fiestas in your plans.

Cabanillas’ traditional cuisine is based on seasonal vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus and borage. At the Día de la Alcachofa y el Espárrago, the program for the event held on April 25, 2026, included demonstrations on how to peel and prepare artichokes and asparagus. This edition offers a dated glimpse into the culinary traditions; the demonstrations focused on two of the vegetables also mentioned as part of the local cuisine.

One distinctive Easter tradition in Cabanillas is the “captura del Judas.” It is performed with real people rather than the puppet usually used elsewhere. This makes its portrayal different from the puppet form mentioned here. Together with the August festivals and seasonal vegetables, it showcases further aspects of local festival and food culture.

Discover more destinations: Adiós, Castejón, Espinal, Erro, Fontellas, Tajonar, Puente La Reina, Ochagavía

For the main travel overview: Navarre.