Navarre Holidays and Pamplona
Holiday Attractions by Steve Greenwood
Navarre is a region in northern
Spain that is bordered to the north by France, the Basque Country to the
west, La Rioja to the south, and Aragon to the east. Similar to other regions
of Spain, Navarre has its own parliament and government and is responsible
for its regional education, health, employment, housing and environmental
policies.
Navarre is a cultural mix
of the Basque influence from the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains and Mediterranean
influences coming from the Ebro River. The Ebro valley is fertile and rich
in nutrients making it amenable for growing wheat, vegetables, wine and
olive trees. The river eventually leads to the Parc Natural del Delta del
Ebro south of Catalonia on the Costa Blanca and offers some of the best
carp and cat fishing to be found anywhere in Europe.
Pamplona capital of Navarre
Pamplona became the region's capital city in the 10th century and it is
now home to a third of the region's population. Pamplona has played a central
role in Navarre history having been founded by the Romans, occupied by
the Moors and briefly the domination of Charlemagne.
 Pamplona
is a prosperous and modern city with wide boulevards and spacious parks.
It is also listed as having one of the best standards of living in Spain.
Pamplona is well urbanised with good road access and has some excellent
historical buildings making it a pleasant tourist destination, especially
in the old quarter, with it's cobbled streets. Pamplona is also the location
for the world-famous Fiesta de San Fermín and the early morning
'Encierros' (Running of the Bulls).
Fiesta de San Fermin (6th
-14th July) The festival of San Fermín is a deeply rooted celebration
held within the city of Pamplona. The event is known locally as Sanfermines,
held in honour of Saint Fermin who is the patron saint of Pamplona and
the Navarre region. It is probably the most internationally renowned festival
in Spain having been central to the plot of Ernest Hemingway's book 'The
Sun Also Rises'.
The most famous event of
the fiesta is the 'Encierro' or Running of the Bulls. Thousands of participants
take their life in their hands by running in front of, alongside or preferably
behind 12 or so mature bulls with sharpened horns along a half-mile stretch
of cobbled streets in the old town. The event is not without risk and since
1924, 15 people have died. During the festival, the whole town is alive
with party events, with celebrations spilling out from the bars and restaurants
throughout the day.
The south Navarre is typically
warm and arid with a landscape typical to that of Castilla & Leon.
To the north though are the Pyrenees Mountains, where the weather is cooler
with much greater precipitation. This has resulted in a greener landscape
with vast forests and varied undergrowth that support a wide range of fauna
and flora. For walking and hiking holidays, there are two large National
Parks to be found here, the Parque Natural de Urbasa y Andía and
the Parque Natural del Señorio de Bértiz.
About the Author
Steve Greenwood invites you
to visit http://www.idealrentals4u.com/spain/navarre.html
for Navarre Property For Rent accommodation and holiday attractions in
Pamplona and Navarre. Visit http://www.idealrentals4u.com
for accommodation and holiday information in all the regions of Spain including
the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands.
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