Urdíroz / Urdirotz

Here, the landscape forms a sort of natural amphitheatre, where the marble walls and rocky ledges seem to watch over the flow of the River Urrobi. Urdíroz / Urdirotz nestles within this mountain shelter, with its ashlar houses adapted to the terrain and an ancient path winding towards the gorge of Nagore amidst pine trees and pale rock. The atmosphere of Urdíroz / Urdirotz reflects a tranquil continuity where everything finds its place with the passing of time. The landscape and the silence of the peaks create a scene where the memory of ancient stately estates coexists with the daily life of a village that has learnt to endure with discretion. Urdíroz / Urdirotz forms part of the landscape as yet another mark on the geography of the Pyrenees.

Urdíroz / Urdirotz general information

The village of Urdíroz / Urdirotz, part of the Arce Valley Nature Reserve, retains the character of an ancient manor which, in 1665, expanded its lands with the acquisition of the territory of the abandoned village of Urrobi. After having no registered inhabitants in 1980, Urdíroz / Urdirotz has gradually come back to life over time and is now home to a small community of around six people. This resilience is complemented by other recent developments, such as the arrival of the tarmac road in 2012, which finally connected the village with the rest of the valley. Urdíroz / Urdirotz’s identity is reflected in the traditional management of its woodlands and in a system where local government was exercised on a rotating basis amongst its residents.

What to see in Urdíroz / Urdirotz?

The village of Urdíroz / Urdirotz and its surroundings form a whole that is best appreciated step by step.  

• Ruins of the Church of San Martín: A medieval building that suffered a devastating fire in 1917. Its rectangular structure stands in the tranquillity of the cemetery, whilst the image of its patron saint is currently kept in the church of Auritz-Burguete.
• Skeleton Bridge: Located within the municipality of Urdíroz / Urdirotz and near the former abandoned settlement of Urrobi, this ashlar structure bears witness to the ancient transport routes that once linked the valley.
• Civil architecture with identity: The façades of the houses retain traditional names such as Goitikoetxea (Upper House) and Beitikoetxea (Lower House), reflecting the importance of the house as the basic unit of Pyrenean culture .
• Relief of the natural amphitheatre: The village’s surroundings form a cirque of mountains of great scenic value, with marble cornices that bear witness to the geological forces at work in the area.