: Kelly Lipscomb
: Spain's Navarra, Pamplona& the Navarran Pyrenees
: Hunter Publishing, Inc.
: 9781556505553
: 1
: CHF 7.00
:
: Reiseführer
: English
: 100
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
This was one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite areas, its culture, sites and events, such as the Running of the Bulls, featured in The Sun Also Rises. South of France, east of the País Vasco and at the historical center of Castilian Spain sits Navarra, among the smallest of the country's autonomous communities but as dynamic in people, politics and heritage as they come. Basque people settled the region long before a succession of Roman, Gothic, Moorish and Frankish invaders gave way to the Spanish Catholics. As a result, a strong sense of Basque culture and the nationalism that comes with it are still apparent in the north and western parts of Navarra and in the capital of Pamplona. In these areas, names come in both Castillian and Euskara (the Basque language) and loyalties may lie not with Madrid but with the País Vasco. Pamplona, called Iruña in the Basque language, is the famous setting for the annual Running of the Bulls, known locally as the Fiestas de Sanfermines. It has also been a major stop on the Christian pilgrimage since the 11th century, a path that runs southwest across the province from the lush mountain valleys of the north to the central plains and eventually the sunny, fertile valleys of the Rio Ebro in the south. The path, or Camino de Santiago, enters Spain from France through a pass in the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Navarra, itself a famous site as the Frankish forces under Charlemagne were ambushed and defeated by Basque forces there in the eighth century. A century later Pamplona became the seat of the newly established Kingdom of Navarra, one of the earliest Spanish Catholic kingdoms and the driving force behind the push to reconquer the peninsula from the Moors. By the 11th century Navarra had joined forces with the kingdoms of Castilla and Aragón, uniting all of northern Spain in the cause that would reunite the entire peninsula. Navarra is the westernmost of Spain's provinces to share the mighty Pyrenees Mountains with France. While the entirety of its northern border exhibits such granite peaks and river valleys strewn with beech, chestnut and ash trees, the actual Pyrenees begin their earnest upheaval in the northeastern quadrant of the province. There are numerous opportunities for outdoor sports, particularly cross-country skiing, hiking and fishing, and many of the mountain villages cater to such excursions. These villages often bear two names separated by a dash; the first is the Castilian version of its name and the second the Euskara, or Basque version. Most are filled with early medieval churches and other buildings. The author, who has lived in Spain for many years, provides every detail you need to know for an unforgettable visit - where to stay, where to eat, entertainment, activities of all kinds, from hiking to canoeing, concerts to festivals - plus the historical background of what you see. There is also an extensive section on what you need to know when traveling to Spain in general, plus a language and Spanish vocabulary chapter is included."A great new resource." -- Travel + Leisure."The perfect companion for planning." -- Rutgers Magazine."These useful travel guides are highly recommended..." -- Library Journal