Beire: Bridge, Building History and Routes along the Cidacos

A Gothic bridge over the Cidacos provides access to Beire. Charles III the Noble ordered its construction. Near Beire, the river flows through broad plains where grain and wine are cultivated. Alongside the town’s building history, you can choose to focus on the river landscape, a route through cultivated fields, or the archaeological site of Castro de Turbil. As you plan your trip, you can take your interests as a guide: historic architecture, a cycling route, a hike, or several of these.

The Building History of San Millán and the Ezpeleta Palace

The church of San Millán was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style. It was substantially expanded in the 19th century, when a Neoclassical transept and chancel were added. Its present-day ground plan forms a Latin cross, combining the medieval Gothic structure with these later additions. The original layout included a nave with three bays, a straight-ended choir, a sacristy and the square Chapel of the Counts of Ezpeleta. Comparing the original and present-day plans makes the church’s transformation easy to follow: the expansion is apparent both in its form and in the sequence of its development.

The Palace of the Counts of Ezpeleta also has a long history. Its first recorded mention dates to 1457, when King John II transferred it to mosén Bernart de Ezpeleta. This spacious Neoclassical building is listed as a cabo de armería in the kingdom’s official register. It later changed hands and uses: in 1895, the palace passed to the White Fathers, who handed it over to the Claretians in 1910. They used it as a seminary that housed up to 200 seminarians. The church and palace offer different points of interest: at San Millán, the focus is on its architectural extensions; at the palace, on the documented sequence of its mention, transfers and uses.

Cycling Route, Hike and Castro de Turbil

The Olite–Beire SL NA-172 A route is 6.2 kilometres long and suitable for mountain biking. It connects the two towns through cultivated fields and is described as being in good condition and completely flat. It starts near the Cidacos; after Beire, it follows a wide, gravel-surfaced path. The route is therefore defined by its length, flat profile and passage through fields.

Route 3 to Castro de Turbil offers a different set of figures: this 8.4-kilometre hiking route starts in Beire, has a cumulative ascent of 91 metres and is listed as taking 2 hours and 10 minutes. While the Olite–Beire route is described by its connection between the towns and its flat profile, Route 3 also specifies the ascent and hiking time. Check current trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Castro de Turbil lies on a hill about three kilometres northeast of the town centre and is an important archaeological site. The settlement was established at the end of the Bronze Age and reached its greatest prosperity at the end of the Iron Age, from the 4th to the 2nd century BC. Route 3 also passes La Laguna. This natural spot, fringed with reeds, offers hikers the opportunity to take a short break. The hike thus combines the archaeological history of the site with another described point along the route.

Festivals and Traditions

A description from 2022 gives 22 August as the date of the patron-saint festivities of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, listing a procession, competitions and encierros (bull runs). Check the current programme before travelling. During the pilgrimage to Ujué, Beire offers fruit; the exact programme may vary from year to year. This tradition is another cultural point of interest, but its schedule should not be assumed independently of the plans for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Ardaitz, Zilbeti, Tajonar, Los Arcos, Oskotz, Uztegi, Ayechu, Galbarra

For the broader travel overview: Navarra.