Lacabe / Lakabe

Here, where the wind caresses the slopes of Lakarri, the stones of our houses echo a time that has stood still. The history of Lacabe / Lakabe seems to have been suspended in the silence of the 1960s, but it was reborn with vigour in 1980, when a group of young people breathed new life into the village, which now pulsates with the energy of a new community.

Between the medieval stonework of the walls and the renewed energy of an ecovillage, Lacabe / Lakabe presents itself as a melting pot where past and future meet in harmony. The memory of the former abbots, of those who walk the valley’s paths, and of the new inhabitants committed to self-management, coexist in the tranquillity of the surroundings, creating a scene that reveals itself slowly, like a whisper in the mountains.

General information about Lacabe / Lakabe

Lacabe / Lakabe lies at the heart of the Arce Valley , nestled within the mountains that protect it. Its identity is forged in resilience: after being abandoned in the 1960s, the village was revived in March 1980 thanks to a group of young people who founded a self-managed community. Today, Lacabe is a vibrant ecovillage, a member of the Iberian Ecovillage Network, where life revolves around sustainability and renewable energy.

This small village has moved beyond its past as a former royal estate and now stands as an example of community life that is environmentally responsible. Transport links, once difficult, have improved thanks to the Itoiz reservoir bypass, connecting Lacabe / Lakabe with the rest of the world.

What to see in Lacabe / Lakabe?

In this picturesque setting, history, nature and sustainability intertwine in a unique way, creating an immersive experience for visitors.

• Church of Santa Lucía: This 13th-century building features a simple rectangular plan and a pointed-arch doorway. Following the village’s abandonment, the church lost its religious function and its bell tower has been converted into a dwelling, a detail that illustrates the adaptation of the old structure to modern uses.
• Artistic heritage: Although the church is in good condition, its most valuable artefacts, including some 16th-century painted panels, a processional cross and a silver chalice, are kept at the Diocesan Museum in Pamplona and in Roncesvalles to ensure their preservation.
• Cemetery and Disc-shaped Stelae: In the grounds adjacent to the church, several disc-shaped stelae are preserved; these stone pieces commemorate the ancestors, and one of them stands out for being decorated with the Cross of St James.
• Place Names and Surroundings: The local landscape features places such as Kalbarioxar (Old Calvary) and Muskilda, names that suggest ancient buildings or religious sites on the nearby hills. From the village, one can see Mount Gaztelu and the surroundings of the River Irati, which historically drove the local economy.