Acedo combines striking traces of its history with routes through holm oak forest and along the Ega River. In the town center stands the 16th-century late Gothic church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Its Baroque altarpieces include works by Agustín de Arza from the 17th century for San Sebastián and San Juan Bautista, as well as an altarpiece of the Virgen del Rosario from 1750.
Church, Noble Palace and Early History
The Palacio Cabo de Armería de Acedo also dates from the 16th century. Its two sections are built of ashlar, with a brick upper floor. As it is privately owned, only the exterior can be viewed. Another historic building is the cinema from the first half of the 20th century, which has largely been preserved as it was when it first opened.
Cueva de Las Orcillas 1 is located in the Acedo district of the municipality of Mendaza in Navarre and is associated with the last hunters and gatherers of the Epipaleolithic. Around 9,500 years ago, the cave served hunters as a camp and refuge; about 5,000 years later, during the Chalcolithic, it was used as a burial cave. Two very different periods of prehistory thus meet here.
Past patron saint festivities for the Virgen de Agosto included a mass, a procession accompanied by musicians, and dancing. On San Roque’s day, celebrants processed through the streets in the morning; there was dancing too. A fourth day of festivities was organized by the young men of the village. These customs belong to Acedo’s historic festival calendar and do not describe a current program.
Greenway, River and Holm Oak Forest
Acedo lies on the restored and signposted 29-kilometer section of the Vía Verde del Ferrocarril Vasco-Navarro between Estella-Lizarra and Zúñiga. In the village, the route passes the former railway station and freight platform, then continues to a tunnel more than 1,400 meters long. Check current tunnel conditions and the state of the route before your trip.
The 6.5-kilometer route “Acedo: Encinares, ríos y vías verdes” offers another way to explore the landscape. It passes through a mature, dense holm oak forest and riverside vegetation along the Ega, returns to the washhouse, and ends near the church. The two distances refer to different scales: the longer section between Estella-Lizarra and Zúñiga and the shorter route near Acedo.
At the Camino Natural Vía Verde Vasco-Navarro, next to the restored communal washhouse, there is a rest area with a fountain and tables. From there, the path crosses a small bridge and rejoins the former railway line. The Ega runs by Acedo; above the river is the medieval Puente del Molino Nuevo, two kilometers from the town center. Nature trails lead from Acedo to the Sierra de Lóquiz, the Sierra de Codés and the Valle de Lana.
Forest Knowledge and Other Experiences
La Casa del Bosque, as described in 2018, is dedicated to knowledge, care and appreciation of the holm oak forest. The facilities at La Casa del Bosque documented in 2018 include three panels on the forest’s past, present and future, as well as a special mention of the Encina de las Tres Patas. The interior is also described as featuring two botanical murals, a dream box, a handmade guestbook, a herbarium, and samples of herbs and products. The texts are written in Euskera and Castilian Spanish. If you are planning a visit, check current visiting options in advance.
Dérula is a communal space and a link between La Casa del Bosque and Acedo’s natural surroundings. The project includes sculptural structures, artistic elements made from natural materials, and restored dry-stone walls along the path between Dérula and La Casa del Bosque. It also features viewpoints overlooking prominent landmarks and signposted paths up the mountain.
Hípica Acedo rents out horses for rides and excursions. As the current availability of this service should be confirmed before your trip, it is advisable to enquire in advance.
Discover more destinations: Arróniz, Sorlada, Orikain, Urzainqui, Miranda De Arga, Barillas, Esnoz, Urrizola-Galain
For the overall travel guide: Navarre.
