Mélida: Nature, River Landscapes and History

The Pinar de Santa Águeda is an Aleppo pine forest on the Bardenas plateau above the Aragón Valley. Juniper, thyme, lavender and rosemary complement the tree cover. The river landscapes also shape the natural environment of Mélida and its surroundings.

Forests, Rivers and the Bardenas

Within the municipality of Mélida, there are stretches of the Aragón River that the Government of Navarre has classified as natural enclaves. This is a different geographical classification from that of the larger river corridor: the lower reaches of the Arga and Aragón rivers are part of a Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance. The habitats described there include gallery forests as well as poplar and willow stands; the species mentioned include the European mink, otter and black-crowned night heron.

Mélida is one of 22 villages with shared-use rights in the Bardenas Reales. There are several routes there that can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike or in off-road vehicles. The nature park’s regulations apply to these activities; check them before making your plans.

Route 13 through fields and riverside forests

The Ruta 13 Carrizo y Lalandas is a 7.5-kilometre circular walking route. It starts on the esplanade in front of the school and the municipal frontón in Mélida. From there, it passes through farmland, follows the Lalandas stream and goes through the Aragón’s riverside forests. The route then climbs to a viewpoint with panoramic views. Along the way is the Nogal de Mélida, which was declared a Natural Monument of Navarre in 2009.

The circular walk is listed as taking about one hour and 50 minutes. As route information may be updated, check the details on the route and duration before setting out.

Route 13 and the routes in the Bardenas differ in format: here, the focus is on a single circular route with a stated length and duration; there, there are several routes and different ways to travel. Activities in the Bardenas are also subject to the nature park’s regulations.

Medieval traces and architecture

Mélida’s medieval fortifications were built around 1200. The surviving sections of wall form part of the town’s cultural heritage. A later period in the town’s history began in the mid-14th century, when Mélida became a fief of La Oliva Monastery.

The Iglesia de Santa María reveals another aspect of the town’s architectural heritage. Its features include a four-section bell tower, a pointed-arch entrance, ribbed vaulting and a Renaissance high altar. Different architectural forms can therefore be found side by side in Mélida: the remains of a medieval fortification and the architectural elements of a church.

The walled site of Rada lies near Mélida. It preserves the ruins of a medieval fortification, the base of the castle tower and the restored Romanesque chapel of San Nicolás. Access by car is possible, and visitors can walk among the ruins. Rada adds another setting for medieval architecture to the area’s history, but should not be confused with the remains of the walls in Mélida.

Festivals at different times of year

The recurring festival calendar spans several months: the Fiestas Patronales take place in July, the Fiestas Grandes in August and the Exaltación de la Cruz in September. On 15 May, San Isidro includes a procession in which farmers carry the image of their patron saint through the town, followed by a shared meal.

The different seasons and the fixed date in May offer different points of reference if you would like to plan your trip around a celebration. The exact dates and programmes of the summer festivals may vary from year to year; arrangements for San Isidro can also change. Check the information for the relevant year before planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Cascante, Ostiz, Zugarramurdi, Beire, Cintruénigo, Dicastillo, Aranarache, Etxauri.

For the main travel overview: Navarre.