Ecay can be understood through its buildings and routes. The small stone parish church, the Hórreo and the former sawmill represent different histories of construction and use. Also relevant are the historic link to the former “camino francés” to Compostela and the locally designated hiking route to the Irati. The village’s history thus extends from church architecture and traditional grain storage to pilgrimage history and industrial traces. The local hiking route adds a landscape dimension to the architectural history.

Stone Church Architecture

The parish church of San Martín in Ecay is a small, rural stone building. Its single-nave layout has a pointed barrel vault supported by transverse arches. “Single-nave” describes a church space with one main nave. A barrel vault is a lengthwise vault form; “pointed” describes its profile, while transverse arches support the vault. These details describe both the building’s scale and material and the form and structure of its interior. From an architectural perspective, San Martín’s building and the construction of its church interior can be considered separately.

The Hórreo as Granary and Monument

Ecay’s Hórreo was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category in 1993. As a building type, it belongs to the tradition of raised granaries in northern Spain, designed to protect agricultural produce from moisture and animals. Its raised construction and the protection of the harvest explain the traditional function of this type of granary. During the complete restoration, the roof and chamber were removed, the pillars and the chamber’s supporting frame were reinforced, and the chamber was then reassembled. In contrast to the parish church of San Martín, the Hórreo is not centered on a church interior, but on the traditional storage of agricultural produce.

Two Different Routes

Ecay is near the former pilgrimage route, known as the “camino francés,” to Compostela. The local S.L. NA-142 “Aserradero de Ecay” hiking trail starts in Ecay and leads to the banks of the Irati River, where an avenue of poplar trees provides shade. The two routes serve different purposes: the former pilgrimage route is part of the area’s historical context, while the local trail starts in Ecay and ends at the river. If you plan to hike it, check the route markings and conditions in advance.

Industrial History and Pilgrimage Tradition

A description from 2016 mentions industrial equipment, a wooden container that was still standing at the time, and a chimney at Ecay’s former sawmill. The history of the sawmill adds an industrial aspect to the area’s religious and agricultural architectural history. Ecay’s former hospital belonged to the collegiate church of Roncesvalles. Given its possible location on a route between Lumbier, Sangüesa and Pamplona, it may have served as a pilgrims’ hospital. The institution to which it belonged and its possible role as a pilgrims’ hospital are two distinct aspects of the former hospital’s history.

For the broader travel overview: Lónguida.