Legarda: Culture, Pilgrimages and Hiking Trails

Legarda lies at the foot of the Sierra del Perdón. The town offers several specific points of interest to help you choose it as a destination: the architectural history of the parish church of La Asunción, two dated pilgrimage traditions, the passage of pilgrims on the Way to Compostela, and hiking routes with varying details. You can tailor your trip to whether architecture, local traditions or outdoor activity is your main focus.

Santa Cecilia and the Landscape

A notice from the Government of Navarre dated February 15, 2023, reports that the former chapel of Santa Cecilia had recently been restored for civilian use. The program may change. The town description published in February 2023 places the chapel in the northern part of the municipality of Legarda, 500 meters from the village, between the Sierra and the municipality’s more intensively farmed areas. It also describes Santa Cecilia as a landmark and destination for walking routes, and highlights its magnificent views. Check local conditions before setting out on foot.

Churches and Architectural History

Several building phases come together in the parish church of La Asunción. It was originally built in the 13th century in the Gothic style; later additions date from the 14th, 16th and 18th centuries. The main altarpiece is Plateresque and also dates from the 16th century. These dates make it possible to see the span between the original church building, its later extensions and the main altarpiece. Other chapels in Legarda include San Águeda and San Francisco Javier de Basongaiz.

Pilgrimage Traditions and the Way of St. James

A pilgrimage to the chapel of San Águeda takes place on February 5. On May 15, there is a local tradition of a pilgrimage to Santa Barbara. These two dates provide a specific time frame for planning your trip if you would like to discover Legarda in connection with either tradition. The town also sees a steady flow of pilgrims on their first stage towards Compostela. Local pilgrimage dates and the pilgrims’ route thus offer different perspectives on the town’s religious traditions.

Hiking Around Legarda

The circular route “Alrededores de Legarda – Por el Sur de la Sierra del Perdón” is 7.7 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 364 meters. The loop runs from Legarda via Alto de la Bandera, Artadi and Matrainburu and back to Legarda. The upper section offers views of the nearby Sierra de Alaiz. The route description was updated in 2013; check trail conditions before setting out.

Another route through Legarda follows a short section of the French Way towards the Sierra del Perdón. The descriptions provide different reference points: for the circular route, they give the distance, elevation gain and waypoints; for the section of the Way of St. James, they specify the short distance covered and the direction. This lets you compare a loop with clearly stated figures with a briefly described stretch of the Way of St. James.

Discover more destinations: Fitero, Garísoain, Ayechu, Arribe, Noáin, Cabanillas, Lerate, Oskotz.

For the regional travel overview: Navarre.