Zubiri (Navarra) (0)

Did you know that... Zubiri

It is located in the centre of the Esteríbar valley under Mount Murelu, on the right bank of the river Arga. During the Middle Ages there was a Benedictine monastery in the town of Zubiri, which depended on Leyre for a donation made by King García el de Nájera in 1040. Ancient town of royal lordship, whose neighbours, as "hunters", had to pay annual tributes to the king and to Roncesvalles/Orreaga. The local mill was bought by Santa María de Roncesvalles in 1382.

A little more history

In 1802 there was a flour mill on the Arga and the village, until the municipal reforms of 1835-1845, it was governed by the deputy of the valley and an alderman of the village. At that time it also had a school, and the teacher was paid with the wheat given to him every year by his students. At the beginning of the 20th century, Zubiri had two inns.

To discover What to see in Zubiri?

Although the village has recently been transformed, it still preserves some characteristic 18th century houses. Among its monuments, the Medieval Bridge called the Rabia, located on the river Arga, consists of two semicircular eyes, is a legendary bridge in Romanesque style of the twelfth century and the Church of St. Martin, newly built, as the original was destroyed after the Carlist war.

Festivities

The third Sunday of June is celebrated the day of the Valley and the first Sunday of August are the festivities of the patron saint San Esteban.

Traditions

According to popular tradition, the waters of La fuente del agua de batueco have curative properties since they are sulphurous and good for the skin.

Curiosities

The Camino de Santiago, successor to the Roman road, enters the Esteribar Valley via Zubiri. Esteribar was known in the Middle Ages as the "Valley of the Hunters"; this name was given to it by the hunting privileges they had and by the hunting pieces they paid as tribute.

The Legend

According to legend, back in the 11th century, in the village of Zubiri all the locals were working on the construction of a beautiful stone bridge over the river Arga. However, it seemed that something was preventing the completion of that work. Faced with the difficulty of lifting the central pillar, they were forced to dig into the rock that had to bear it, which would not be their surprise when they found the perfumed remains of a young woman. It was nothing less than the corpse of Santa Quiteria, protector of rabies. They wanted to transfer them to the cathedral of the kingdom of Navarre, but when they arrived in Burlada/Burlata, the mule stopped and there was no human form capable of advancing it. Then the cortege thought that it was heaven's decision that Santa Quiteria should remain forever in that road town and there their relics were deposited. And they say that under one of the abutments of the bridge are buried the remains of the Saint and that if a rabid animal is passed three times under one of its arches it is cured of this evil.​