Discover Fontellas: El Bocal, history and riverside landscapes

Explore Fontellas through El Bocal Real, the Canal Imperial de Aragón and its historic buildings. Architecture and the history of water engineering sit alongside walks through riverside woodlands and recurring festival traditions. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can tailor your trip according to whether you are most interested in architectural history, riverside landscapes or a festival programme.

El Bocal Real: canal history and buildings

The Canal Imperial de Aragón begins on the Ebro in Fontellas; El Bocal Real is considered the canal’s starting point. This important water engineering project made it possible to irrigate large areas of farmland. Its origins at El Bocal are connected with an irrigation project that Carlos V proposed on the Ebro in 1528. The canal’s history therefore reaches back to an early plan to make use of the river’s water.

The Palacio de Carlos V is located at El Bocal Real in the municipality of Fontellas; the Casa de las Compuertas is a separate building. Formerly the Casa de Compuertas of the Acequia Imperial, the building dates from the 16th century and originally served as the canal governor’s residence. The Casa de las Compuertas is also at El Bocal Real, on the Canal Imperial de Aragón. It dates from around 1770 and was originally built as the canal governor’s residence. The two buildings thus represent different construction periods and historical connections to the canal.

At the Palacio de Carlos V, Aragonese architecture, two square towers and decorative Mudéjar motifs come together. The building is surrounded by a cypress maze covering more than 1,700 m² and ponds with 19th-century statues. The complex also includes the Capilla San Carlos Borromeo, added in the 19th century in a neoclassical style. The architecture, gardens and chapel each offer a different way to explore the palace.

Riverside landscapes and trails

In Fontellas, visitors can enjoy walks through riverside woodlands. Those who would like to pair this landscape perspective with more detailed information about walking and cycling routes can find a cycling and walking trail in the Ribera de Navarra at the Corredor Verde del Ebro. Directional and information signs there provide information about local wildlife and plant life and are adapted for walkers and cyclists.

The EL BOCAL mountain biking route is 17.49 kilometres long. The route page, dated 30 January 2026, rates it as very easy and gives an approximate duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes. The duration and difficulty rating may be updated, so check the latest information before planning your outing.

Festivals and local traditions

The festivals also offer different ways to shape your travel plans. Fontellas’s patron saint festivities begin on the first Thursday in September and continue until Sunday. The programme includes popular communal meals; individual programmes may vary. If you are planning your trip around the patron saint festivities, check the dates and programme for the relevant year.

The Fiestas de Otoño begin with Los Auroros de Fontellas singing in the streets of the town. The autumn festivities also include a gathering featuring cooking pots. Together with the communal meals at the patron saint festivities, this tradition shows that festival culture can be explored not only through dates, but also through different ways of sharing food.

Discover more destinations: Zuaztoi, Esnoz, Castejón, Lodosa, Asiáin, Erro, Barillas, Yesa.

Go to the main travel overview: Navarra.