Discover Villava: the Camino de Santiago, culture and festivals

Villava offers several ways to plan your trip: the Camino de Santiago, industrial archaeology and architectural history, as well as recurring festivals. Depending on whether you are interested in the pilgrimage route, historic buildings or local traditions, different aspects of the town come to the fore.

The Camino de Santiago and the pilgrims’ hostel

The Camino de Santiago crosses Villava from one end to the other. The Municipal Pilgrims’ and Tourist Hostel of Villava is a first-category hostel on the Camino de Santiago. Its facilities are adapted for people with disabilities and include eight beds, a bathroom, a shower, a lift and accessible entrances. If you include the hostel in your plans, check the latest information about accommodation and facilities in advance.

Industrial archaeology and urban history

The Batán de Villava is an example of industrial archaeology. It features a permanent exhibition about the Parque Fluvial and includes a replica of the machinery used in the former fulling mill. This demonstrates the traditional process of fulling cloth. The Batán therefore brings together two themes: the exhibition about the Parque Fluvial and the history of a traditional textile craft.

The Rollo is a Tuscan column probably erected in the 15th or 16th century. It is 2.24 metres high and symbolises the administration of justice and the municipal freedom of the Villa Villava. Another historical reference can be found on Calle Mayor: beside the town hall stands the monument to Sancho VI el Sabio. It was erected in 1984 to mark the 800th anniversary of the granting of the town charter to the Villa Villava.

The Atarrabia Frontón was built by the municipality in 1931 and was one of the first covered frontón courts in Navarre. The Escuela de Peritos Agrícolas is also part of Villava’s architectural history. The Government of Navarre commissioned it from the architect José Yárnoz in 1912; it was originally planned as the Palacio del Congreso Nacional de Viticultura. These two architectural histories add further perspectives to the monuments: the development of covered frontón courts and the original plans for a congress palace.

Festivals and local traditions

The patron saint festivals in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary last a week; the exact dates vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around festival week, check the dates for the relevant year. The festival programme includes a Relleno tasting competition. This dish is a traditional festival speciality in villages in northern Navarre, including Villava.

Another annual event is the feast of Saint Andrew on 30 November. It includes the presentation of the awards for the “Pedro de Atarrabia” literary competition. The specific programme may vary from year to year. Comparing the two occasions can help with planning your dates: the patron saint festivals last a week, while the feast of Saint Andrew falls on a fixed date in the calendar.

Getting there

A bus route connects Plaza Príncipe de Viana in Pamplona with Avenida Serapio Huici in Villava. Check the latest route and timetable before travelling, as routes and operators may change.

Discover more destinations: Bizkarreta-Gerendiain, Aspurz, Berriozar, Doneztebe, Etxarri-Aranatz, Ardaitz, Cárcar, Irurozqui

For the wider travel overview: Navarre.