Gartzain: Churches, Palaces and Walking Routes

Gartzain brings together architectural history, local traditions and routes through several villages. Highlights include the Church of San Martín, the Palacio Cabo de Armería Iturbidea and the historical traces in Ariztegi. The SL-NA 11 Elizondoa circular route and the Camino Xubiondo offer different experiences. When planning your stay, you can choose between architecture and history or a specific walking route.

Church of San Martín and Palacio Iturbidea

The Church of San Martín de Gartzain probably has medieval origins. Construction began in the last decades of the 16th century. Work in the last third of that century included the construction of the tower, which was completed in 1594; the main body of the church was completed in 1678. The floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. It includes a nave with two bays, a slightly projecting transept and a pentagonal apse. The church also houses two side altarpieces dedicated to Saint Joseph (1787) and Saint Joachim (1819).

The Palacio Cabo de Armería Iturbidea is in the Aizano district of Gartzain. It is the ancestral home of the Itúrbide family; Sancho de Iturbide lived there from 1568. Among the features preserved from the original building is a Doric column. The Iturbide family crest appears above a doorway. The church is notable for its floor plan and construction phases, while the palace stands out for its ties to family history and its preserved architectural details.

Ariztegi and Traces of Local History

In Ariztegi, the washhouse stands among the district’s large farmhouses. This small ethnographic structure has been restored. Ariztegi is also home to the Ermita del Pilar, a temple of medieval origin that was rebuilt through Auzolan, or community work. The cemetery in Gartzain has 40 gravestones. Most date from the 18th century and give the name of the associated house and a year.

The patron saint’s festival is also part of local history: it is celebrated on October 12, the feast day of the Pilar. Gartzain’s landscape combines sturdy farmhouses, old palaces, bordas and green meadows. Together with the buildings and gravestones, these features offer a picture in which architectural forms and inherited names reveal different aspects of local history.

Walking Routes and Landscape

The SL-NA 11 Elizondoa circular route connects Elizondo, Lekaroz, Irurita, Aitzano, Gartzain and Ariztegi. It is 8.43 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 150 metres and is rated easy. On the stretch through Aitzano, the route passes between large manor houses; shortly afterwards, it goes by the washhouse. In Ariztegi, the circular route passes the Ermita del Pilar.

The Camino Xubiondo offers a different experience: its final stretch passes through woodland, follows a small stream and goes by moss-covered stone walls. For the SL-NA 11, the route length, elevation gain and difficulty rating help you assess the walk. By contrast, the described landscape features shape the final stretch of the Camino Xubiondo. Trail conditions and local access conditions may change; check the conditions relevant to your visit in advance.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Gartzain is accessible via the N-121-B. After Irurita, turn right towards Gartzain one kilometre before Elizondo. The village is 46 kilometres from Pamplona. Check your route and road conditions before setting off, as signage and conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Aizpún, Torres Del Río, Leitza, Azkarate, Berriozar, Enériz, Izalzu, Cabanillas

For the main travel overview: Navarra.