Church art, views over the northern part of the valley and historic routes offer different ways to plan your trip to Ziga. You can get to know the village through its townscape and architectural history, or focus on the views and routes.
San Lorenzo Church and the townscape
Ziga is arranged around a square. The traditional houses seem to be oriented towards the church. The parish church of San Lorenzo was built in the Herrerian style between 1593 and 1603. Inside is a copy of Raphael’s “Madonna of the Fish”. The high altar also has its own history: in 1904, the parish of San Nicolás in Pamplona transferred it to Ziga.
The construction period, artwork and altar transfer each add a different point of interest: the origins of the church, a Renaissance work and the altar’s connection with Pamplona. Together, they offer specific ways to explore the village’s history, without prescribing a particular itinerary.
From Mirador de Baztan into the valley
Mirador de Baztan lies between Ziga and the hamlet of Zigaurre. From there, the view stretches across the northern part of the valley and takes in Irurita, Lekaroz, Gartzain, Elizondo and Elbete. You can also see farmhouses and livestock barns scattered across the slopes and mountains, as well as cultivated land, meadows, and beech and oak forests.
The view thus encompasses both the places mentioned and the farmsteads, land and woodland. Those interested in the landscape will find a different focus here than at the church: rather than architecture, the emphasis is on the settlements and the visible mix of farmland and forests.
Houses and symbols in Zigaurre
Zigaurre also has architectural details worth examining more closely. Casa Indartea has an unusual coat of arms, dated to the early 18th century. The coat of arms of Casa Iturrigaraia has small scraps of black fabric attached to it, associated with the former mourning ritual observed after the death of a family member.
The two houses offer different ways to explore architectural and cultural history: at Casa Indartea, the coat of arms stands out as an unusual feature; at Casa Iturrigaraia, a detail points to a former custom. When planning your trip, you can combine an interest in house architecture with a visit to the parish church and its art history.
The Camino, megaliths and patron saint’s feast
The Camino de Santiago Baztanés passes through Ziga and connects Bayonne with Pamplona. Its stated length is 106 km; figures may vary depending on the measurement convention. The Camino Baztanés also follows a descending branch to Ziga. The village is therefore part of a route that forms a longer connection between the two cities.
Several megalithic monuments can be visited along the PR-NA 1 Abartan route: dolmens lie on the slopes, while cromlechs and menhirs are found in the higher area. At the end of the route, two sections between Berroeta and Ziga follow the NA-2540, a road without a shoulder. Check local road conditions before walking there.
Another specific date in the annual calendar is the patron saint’s celebration in honour of San Lorenzo on 10 August. The programme may vary. If you plan your trip around this date, you can make the festivities a focus of your visit and check the specific programme in advance.
When choosing accommodation in Ziga, you can first consider which of these interests will shape your trip: local history and architecture, the landscape or one of the routes described. This lets you tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that interest you in Ziga.
Discover more destinations: Arizcun, Maya, Almandoz.
Return to the main travel overview: Baztan.
