Úriz / Uritz

On a peaceful plain at an altitude of 625 metres, Úriz / Uritz is defined by the vertical presence of its towers, which rise up amongst the houses as reminders of a time when the nobility was part of everyday life. On the banks of the River Urrobi, the village retains an atmosphere marked by the solidity of its ashlar masonry, its pointed arches and the legacy of ancient lineages. In the 14th century, all its inhabitants shared noble status, and names such as the Lords of Úriz / Uritz became linked to the defence of the kingdom and the political life of Navarre, with that memory becoming an integral part of the place. The ancient towers, daily life and the murmur of the water coexist in the same unhurried rhythm, where the history of chivalry gently blends into the landscape on the way to the mountains.

Úriz / Uritz general information

Úriz / Uritz is a parish in the Arce Valley, situated in the Merindad of Sangüesa, 42 kilometres from Pamplona. Úriz / Uritz occupies a prominent place in the valley’s history, both for its size and for its social significance in the Middle Ages. As early as 1366, it was documented as the most populated settlement in the valley, with 17 households, all belonging to the nobility. This unique feature shaped the development of the place, linked to influential families such as the Úriz / Uritz family, whose members held key positions as castle governors, merinos and representatives in the Kingdom’s courts. Today, the village has a population of around 20 and retains an urban layout with medieval roots. Its surroundings, dominated by cereal fields and forests of pine and oak trees, reinforce the sense of continuity between the past and present-day life.

What to see in Úriz / Uritz?

A visit to Úriz / Uritz reveals a landscape where architecture and the landscape bear witness to a past linked to power, defence and community life.

• Church of San Saturnino: A building of Romanesque origin (12th century) with 16th-century alterations. Its medieval tower stands at the foot of the church and is recognised as one of the largest in the valley, housing within it a 13th-century Gothic carving of the Virgin and Child.
• Palace towers: The town centre preserves two palace towers which, together with the church tower, define the town’s skyline. One of these ashlar structures has been restored for use as a rural accommodation, integrating history into modern life.
• Main street and Gothic architecture: The town layout retains pointed-arch doorways and mullioned windows of great beauty, reflecting the style of the noble houses that historically made up the town.
• Ruins of the mill (Errotaldea): On the right bank of the Urrobi lie the remains of what was once the village’s flour mill, whose machinery and dimensions were recorded in documents from the early 20th century.