Olite: Royal Palace, Old Town and Wine Tradition

Olite brings together a royal palace, a richly layered historic townscape and a living wine tradition. Two routes starting in Olite also offer different ways to plan your stay. You can focus on architecture and the Old Town, visit a winery, or include one of the routes described in your plans.

Royal Palace and Townscape

The Royal Palace of Olite is considered the masterpiece of King Charles III, known as “the Noble” (1387–1425), and the most representative landmark of the old Kingdom of Navarre. Its distinctive silhouette towers over the townscape. Towers, rooms, galleries, gardens and courtyards define the complex structure—an ensemble whose individual elements together give the palace its distinctive character.

There are two ways to visit the Royal Palace: you can explore it independently with an audio guide or book a guided tour. The New Palace of Olite is open to visitors. As visiting arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the current options in advance.

The location of the Church of Santa María la Real also makes it part of the historic townscape: it is attached to the Royal Palace. The monarchs of Navarre used the church for major celebrations and solemn ceremonies. Its façade is one of the most significant examples of Navarrese Gothic sculpture. Another historic landmark is the gate of Olite’s Roman and medieval walled enclosure.

Beyond the palace, the Old Town invites you to explore its old streets and palaces and mansions dating from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. The different eras are not confined to a single building; together, they shape the streetscape. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the palace with a walk through the historic streets.

Routes and Landscape Around Olite

The Olite–Ujué–Olite mountain bike route starts in the town and is 39.5 kilometres long, with 480 metres of elevation gain. The walking route to the Ermita de Santa Brígida (SL NA-171 A) also starts in Olite. It covers 6.9 kilometres with 90 metres of elevation gain and is also suitable for mountain bikes. Check trail conditions before setting out; conditions on the mountain bike route may change.

The plain around Olite includes cereal fields, vineyards and olive groves. Monte Encinar offers a different aspect of the landscape: this remnant holm oak forest provides favourable habitat for wildlife, especially mammals. Along with holm oaks, planted pine trees are a prominent feature; juniper and Mediterranean scrub are also found there. The cultivated plain and the forest thus have distinct characteristics, and you need not assume the same visiting itinerary for both.

Wine Tradition and Visitor Options

In Olite, the start of the grape harvest is marked on the first weekend of September with a procession followed by an address. This is followed by grape pressing and the analysis and tasting of the must. The exact dates may vary from year to year. If the grape harvest celebration fits your travel plans, check the specific event dates before you arrive.

A winery in Olite opens its doors to the public and offers guided tours of its facilities, as well as informative wine tastings and samplings. Check before your trip whether these visits are available. This lets you connect the wine tradition not only with the vineyards on the plain but also with a possible tasting, without treating the celebration and the winery visit as the same offering.

Getting There by Road

For orientation, it is important to distinguish between the town and the wider municipal area. National Road 121 (Tarazona–France) and Regional Road 115 (Soria–Tafalla) cross the municipality of Olite. The Navarrese A-15 motorway also runs north to south through the area; an access point is three kilometres from the town. These road details describe different connections to the municipal area and the town. Check current road conditions and access regulations before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Bakaiku, Alsasua, Monteagudo, Azuelo, Meoz, Irurozqui, Dorrao, Marcilla

Return to the broader travel overview: Navarre.