Undiano: Churches, Routes and History

When looking for hotels in Undiano, it is worth considering the features that define the town: the Church of San Martín de Tours, the Ermita de Santa Águeda, historic traces of gypsum and salt production, and routes that take in Undiano. This will help you decide before your trip whether architectural history, past resource use or views of the landscape are closer to your interests.

Churches and architectural history

The Church of San Martín de Tours is a medieval building dating from the 14th century. Its single-nave body consists of four sections covered by groin vaults. In this type of vault, the ribs of the curved surfaces intersect. The polygonal Gothic choir retains its original rib vault. The nave and choir are distinct parts of the church; these terms help explain its architectural layout.

The Ermita de Santa Águeda stands to the right of Puerto del Perdón, near the Ipasate grounds. An inscription on the lintel dates it to 1795; its floor plan is a simple rectangle. The hermitage was restored in 1950. The inscription, floor plan and restoration offer different insights into the building history of this hermitage.

The history of gypsum and salt

Undiano was an important center of gypsum production. In 1411, gypsum from Undiano was transported for repair work at the royal palace in Pamplona. This links past production to a specific use of the material in the upkeep of a palace.

The history of salt production also has a clearly identified location: historically, there were around eighty salt evaporation beds and an associated well in a hollow north of Undiano. Gypsum production and the salt beds represent different traces of past resource use; the location in the hollow is part of the picture of the historic saltworks.

Routes and landscape

The circular route from Undiano to the Ermita de Santa Águeda leads from Undiano to the hermitage and back. On the return, it follows the GR-220. The route offers views of the Pamplona Basin, northern Navarre, and the Pyrenees in Navarre and Huesca. This description therefore connects a specific destination with expansive landscape views.

The Vuelta a la Cendea de Zizur is described as a circular route and includes Undiano, also known as Undio. Its stretch between Astráin and Undiano follows a path along the slopes of the former Puerto del Perdón. A path to Undiano climbs through the Artxuria area to just below the summit of Alto de Ubani, at 715 m; the ascent gains almost 200 m in elevation.

For orientation, the two circular routes differ in how they relate to Undiano: the route to the hermitage returns to Undiano, while the Vuelta is a circular route that includes Undiano, also known as Undio.

Planning your visit

Undiano has a public swimming pool. If you are planning to visit, check in advance on current visitor access. Together with the religious buildings, historic traces of resource use and the different routes, this offers another specific point to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Roncal, Oláibar, Andosilla, Fitero, Cabanillas, Galar, Oiz, Alsasua.

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