Valle de Salazar y Almiradío de Navascués

Where the River Salazar winds its way through ancient limestone and boundless forests, time does not pass: it settles. The landscape breathes in silence, and the elements—water, wood and stone—preserve a history that is not told, but sensed. In this region, the atmosphere is revealed in the almost imperceptible transition between the open gorges of the south and the peaks of Abodi, where the light grows denser. The villages preserve the traces of transhumance and a way of life that still beats to the rhythm of the livestock, the forest and the seasons. It is a place where the murmur of the streams and the echo of ancient chapels create a profound stillness.

The territory unfolds in two complementary strands: to the north, humidity and dense vegetation; to the south, rock and more open light. At this threshold lies the Almiradío de Navascués, a prior, almost initiatory territory, from which three settlements—Navascués, Aspurz and Ustés—retain an organisation that predates the valley itself. From there, the water takes shape and forms the Salazar Valley, a landscape shaped by the confluence of the Anduña and Zatoia rivers, where each watercourse seems to narrate the origin of all that is to come.

What to see in the Salazar Valley and Almiradío de Navascués?

Here, every place is a layer of time where stone, water and tradition come together.  

• Irati Forest : Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the second largest and best-preserved beech and fir forest in Europe. It is a scenic spot where light filters through centuries-old beech trees and the vegetation reflects the changing seasons.
• Arbayún Gorge: A limestone gorge stretching for almost six kilometres where the River Salazar has carved out imposing vertical walls. It is home to one of the most significant colonies of griffon vultures on the Iberian Peninsula.
• Chapel of Santa María del Campo (Navascués): An example of 12th-century rural Romanesque architecture that stands guard over the local cemetery. Its bell tower and corbels featuring secular motifs bear the influence of the architecture of Leyre.
• Ochagavía: Considered one of the most picturesque villages, where the medieval bridge and stone houses with steeply pitched roofs line the banks of the Anduña.
• Sanctuary of Muskilda: A Romanesque chapel situated at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, overlooking the Sierra de Abodi and housing a carving of the Virgin and Child.