Imárcoain: Romanesque Church and Historic Houses

Imárcoain offers a wealth of history, with the Romanesque Church of San Martín de Tours, houses dating back several centuries and archaeological finds. There is also a walking route from Yárnoz to Imárcoain and local festival dates. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can first decide whether architectural history, hiking or a particular event will shape your stay. For fixed dates and routes, include up-to-date programme and route information in your plans.

The Church of San Martín de Tours

The Church of San Martín de Tours is a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century. Its single-nave hall has a pointed barrel vault; the semicircular apse also has a pointed oven vault. The nave is laid out lengthwise, while the apse forms the semicircular section; the two types of vault therefore define different areas of the church. The church’s altarpiece dates from the 17th century, was created by Juan de Gasteluzar and is dedicated to Saint Martin. Thus, the same church combines a Romanesque building period with later furnishings.

Historic houses and their architectural features

The oldest houses in Imárcoain stand beside the church, on the site of the original medieval village. Buildings constructed later reflect different periods and styles: houses from the 16th and 17th centuries stand on the hillside and have round-arched doorways with coats of arms on their keystones. Houses from the 18th and 19th centuries stand in higher areas and have doorways with straight lintels. The doorways make the differences clear: round arches and coats of arms distinguish the hillside houses, while straight lintels distinguish the houses from later centuries in the higher areas. Together, their dates, doorway designs and locations give an overview of the village’s different groups of historic houses.

Archaeological finds from different periods

The archaeological finds also represent different layers of time. Roman pottery fragments and a coin have been found in Imárcoain. A carefully ground dagger from the village, classified as a Bronze Age blade, is made of whitish quartz and is currently held at the Museo de Navarra. Roman-era artefacts and a blade classified as Bronze Age therefore sit alongside the village’s later architectural heritage. For a cultural-history trip, these finds complement the church and houses with a much older perspective.

Festivals throughout the year

If you are planning a trip for a particular date, there are two events to distinguish. Imárcoain’s patron saint festivities take place in late August, on the second-to-last weekend of the month. On 11 November, San Martín is celebrated with a solemn Mass, dinner at the local Sociedad and dancing. The patron saint festivities are therefore held in August, while the celebration of San Martín takes place in November. As festival dates can change, check the current municipal calendar; for 11 November, it is also advisable to confirm the latest programme.

Planning your hike and journey

The walking route from Yárnoz to Imárcoain runs along the hillside of the Sierra de Alaiz. Before setting out, check the municipal route description for current conditions. This tour offers a different focus for your trip from exploring the church and historic houses: the route leads from Yárnoz to Imárcoain, while the focus here is on the village’s architectural features.

The municipal minibus service can also be taken into account when planning your journey: it connects Noáin with Imárcoain, as well as Torres, Zabalegui, Zulueta and Elorz. Check the latest route and timetable information before travelling.

For the broader travel overview: Noáin.