Discover Dicastillo

Dicastillo lies at the southern foot of Montejurra. The historic town center sits on a hill and is divided into three quarters, connected by steep medieval streets and stairways. The elevation shapes the routes between the quarters. The streets and stairways are not merely connections, but part of the historic townscape.

Churches and Architectural History

The parish church of San Emeterio and San Celedonio was built in the 16th century in the style of the Catholic Monarchs. The portal, tower and surrounding wall were added in the 18th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; a small Gothic crypt lies beneath the sacristy. Several building phases can therefore be distinguished in the church.

The main altarpiece is Romanesque in style and dates from the early years of the 17th century. It houses the Romanesque image of Santa María la Real de Irache, dated to the late 12th or early 13th century. Another historical connection to Irache dates to 1844, when five altarpieces from the secularized monastery were transferred to the parish church. The Benedictines had definitively left the monastery in 1839.

Hermitages and Other Buildings

The hermitage of Virgen de Nievas dates from the 16th century and was renovated in the 18th century. It stands on a small hill near Dicastillo. Of the former monastery of San Pedro de Gazaga, only the Gothic church remains near the town. The surviving Gothic church of San Pedro de Gazaga features notable columns and capitals, two funnel-shaped rose windows and a three-part vault. The hermitage of San Pedro de Gazaga is listed as a Bien Inventariado (BI); its surroundings were granted protected status in 2012.

The neo-Gothic Palacio de la Condesa de la Vega del Pozo is also among the town’s historic buildings; it was built around 1890. Together with the older churches and hermitages, it traces an architectural arc from medieval heritage to the late 19th century.

Festivals, Recipes and Asparagus

The San Blas celebrations include a tradition of making Rosquillas de San Blas, preserved across generations. Another local custom involves blessing the fields from the church wall. A procession then carries the saint and the Virgen de Nievas to the Nievas hermitage. Check the exact dates of this custom each year.

The Dicastillo Asparagus Fair is another reason to visit. It takes place every year in May; the exact date varies from year to year. Fresh asparagus is offered at the public tasting. Several hundred kilograms of white asparagus from Navarre are available to sample. The fair also includes a crafts fair and a food fair. If you are planning your trip around the event, check the date in advance.

Nature Trails and Cycling

Montejurra Bizi connects Dicastillo and Arellano through a network of nature trails around Montejurra. Activities include hiking, Nordic walking, trail running and mountain biking. The Dicastillo area also has an XCO circuit, used for a race every year and rideable year-round. The network, with its several listed activities, and the circuit, with its annual race, offer different points of reference for planning.

For a specific route description, try the La Fuente del Toro route: much of the ascent follows a winding path through holm oaks, while the final section is very steep downhill. Trail conditions can vary seasonally; take this into account when planning.

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