Imotz

In this place, time settles like moisture upon the oak. In Imotz, the atmosphere is hinted at in the distant echo of a train that no longer crosses the valley and in the steadfast presence of the farmhouses that stand firm, as if guarding something more than just stone. Here, the landscape presents itself as a space of slow passage, almost suspended, where the memory of ancient trades linked to wood and water coexists with the continuous whisper of the forest. Nothing bursts in: everything simply appears.

Imotz general information

The Imotz valley lies in the north of Navarre, within the region of Ultzamaldea, some thirty kilometres from Pamplona. Its expanse forms a landscape where the forest and the scattered small settlements define a serene way of life, free from clamour.
For centuries, the oak forests of Imotz provided the essential raw material for shipbuilding, a link to the sea from the inland that remains inscribed on its coat of arms to this day. Today, the municipality forms part of the Basque-speaking region, maintaining a close relationship with the Basque language, traditions and harmony with the natural environment.

What to see in Imotz?

In Imotz, the landscape reveals itself, as if each element held a different layer of time.

• Larrazpil Dolmen: A megalithic landmark emerging in the Goldáraz area, a reminder of human occupation dating back to ancient times.
  
  Old Latasa station: A restored site that keeps the memory of the ‘tren txiki’ alive, now serving as an information point for the area.
• Traditional architecture: Stone farmhouses that preserve inherited symbols and forms, such as the palatial features visible in Echalecu.
• Oak and beech forests: Vast expanses that not only shape the landscape but also reflect its economic and cultural history.

Towns and villages of Imotz

• Etxaleku: The valley’s administrative centre, situated on high ground and linked to its stately past.
• Eraso: A village where stone defines both the built landscape and the atmosphere.
• Goldáraz: An elevated village that connects with the valley’s prehistoric past.
• Latasa: A meeting point between the old railway line and the river.
• Muskitz: A small enclave that preserves the essence of traditional architecture.
• Oskotz: An open space, surrounded by nature, where the valley unfolds in all its breadth.
• Urriza: A place of passage that captures the tranquillity characteristic of the valleys of northern Navarre
• Zarrantz: The most intimate part of Imotz, where the farmstead blends organically into the thick forest.