Arrieta

At almost eight hundred metres, the stone and the forest trace a timeline that unfolds beneath the eternal gaze of Mount Errazugaina-Corona. In the most Pyrenean corner of the Arce Valley , the solidity of San Lorenzo’s ashlar masonry and the memory of the ancient palace dwellers reveal a mineral persistence that intertwines with the murmur of the River Urrobi and the solemn silence of the crags. Here, the ancient paths to Garralda and the memory of our famous txistulari coexist in an atmosphere of tranquillity that safeguards the history of the stone.

Arrieta general information

Arrieta stands at the north-western end of the valley, nestled against the slopes of Mount Errazugaina-Corona. Its inhabitants preserve the identity of a Pyrenean mountain in its flora, climate and architectural character.

Historically, it was one of the most populated villages in the valley, with over 200 residents in the 19th century, organised under a councilman elected from among the leading households. Today, its ashlar architecture continues to reveal the essence of the Navarrese village and its ancestral community life.

What to see in Arrieta?

With its church, palace and beech forests, Arrieta offers a journey into the heart of the Pyrenees and its history.

• Church of San Lorenzo: This parish church, with remains dating back to the 13th century, houses a 14th-century image of the Virgin and Child. Its rectangular bell tower dominates the village centre, whilst the interior of the church has been transformed over time, retaining its semicircular arches and stained-glass windows from the mid-20th century.
• Arrieta Palace: This building, with its armoury-style gable, reflects the importance of the ancient lineages linked to the Urniza family. Its square tower is one of the tallest structures in the area, and its carved coat of arms features the motif of a wild boar beneath an oak tree, a symbol shared with other Pyrenean valleys.
• Civil architecture: The hamlet is made up of large-scale ashlar-built houses featuring semicircular doorways and inscriptions from the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable details include mullioned windows and floral designs enclosed in circles, which define the visual identity of our village.
• Chapel of San Martín: Situated next to the cemetery, this simple Romanesque building with a rectangular plan and arrow slits reflects the spiritual austerity of the area.
• Monte Corona and beech forests: The hill overlooking the village offers a landscape dominated by beech forests, allowing visitors to observe the biodiversity of the northernmost part of the valley via its ancient mountain paths.