Free walking tours in Ujué and what to see

Must-sees

Ujué is a medieval village in central Navarre, perched on a hilltop between Tafalla and the Ribera. Its cobbled streets spiral up to the fortress church of Santa María, the main reason to visit. The Romanesque church was begun by King Sancho Ramírez, and Charles II the Bad extended it in Gothic style and surrounded it with crenellated towers and walls. Inside, the Virgin of Ujué, a silver-covered Romanesque carving, is venerated, and the heart of Charles II is kept here, as the king himself requested.

The rest of the village is a short but very pleasant walk, with the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza Municipal and the Portal, an arch thought to be part of the old wall. From the top the views reach the fields of the Ribera and, on clear days, the Pyrenees. Ujué is famous for its shepherd's migas and for its pilgrimages to the sanctuary, attended by people from Tafalla and other nearby villages.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free tours in Ujué. You can visit the fortress church on your own, and climbing the tower can be arranged through the parish. Most people combine Ujué with the royal palace of Olite, which does have organised visits. If you prefer a guide, the Olite tourist office is the best place to find out about options in the area, and the drive from Pamplona is easy.

How long to spend

The village and the sanctuary take two or three hours, including a lunch of migas. Most people spend a full day in the area, adding Olite and its royal palace, about twenty minutes' drive away. With two days you can add the Bardenas Reales or San Martín de Unx and its wineries.

Where to stay

Ujué has few beds, almost all in rural houses in the old village, where the nights are very quiet. For more choice, Olite is the best base, with hotels and apartments next to the palace. Tafalla, also close, has more services, and Pamplona is about fifty minutes away if you prefer to stay in a city.