Olave lies on the left bank of the river in a valley. Two distinct facets give the place a clear identity: the medieval Iglesia de San Pedro apóstol and hiking trails connected to the GR-225, as well as the circular route via the Camino Lurzei and Alixeto. This makes it possible to plan a stay combining architectural history and hiking. The trails range from a loop with a stated distance and duration to a route divided into four stages.
Church Architecture and Local History
The Iglesia de San Pedro apóstol is a medieval building dating from the 13th century that was extensively altered later on. Its oldest surviving architectural feature is the pointed-arch portal. It has archivolts framing the arch and capitals decorated with plant reliefs. The layout can also be described precisely: a single-nave church, a choir area with a straight end, and a bell tower at the foot of the church.
Since the 13th century, the Monasterio de Leire owned land in the Olave area. This ownership points to the area's medieval history, separate from the architectural history of the church. In Olabe, 16 bodies were exhumed as part of Navarre's exhumation plan.
Hiking Trails: Loop and Stage Route
When it was officially presented on 9 February 2018, the GR-225 was 53 kilometres long in total and divided into four stages. It was already marked and signposted at the time; the route was intended to publicise the escape route taken by some prisoners from the Penal de San Cristóbal. The second stage connects Olabe (Oláibar) with Saigots (Esteribar). At the presentation, the Fuerte de San Cristóbal–Olabe section was listed as 13.8 kilometres and Olabe–Saigots as 14.1 kilometres.
The Camino de Lurzei was restored by volunteers from Olabe. It climbs alongside boxwood groves beneath a pine forest; the trail is clearly visible, but narrow and well defined. A route description updated in March 2018 gives the circular route from Olabe via the Camino Lurzei and Alixeto and back to Olabe as 6.3 kilometres and 2 hours 12 minutes. The sections listed for the GR-225 are more than twice as long as this circular route. This is a clear distinction to bear in mind when choosing: the local loop returns to Olabe, while the GR-225 figures refer to named sections of a four-stage route.
At the summit of Alixeto (also known as Aliseto or Elixatto), a geodetic survey marker marks the peak; a few metres away stands a mountaineering mailbox. A historical route description also notes a sign attached to a tree at the beginning, reading “Camino de Olabe”. This local approach is connected to the route of the GR-225. Check trail conditions and markings before setting out.
For the broader travel overview: Oláibar.
