As always, the social program during ORAHS is extensive. Highlights in this year’s social program are a boat trip in San Sebastian and a gala dinner in Baluarte Auditorium.

Social program for participants and companions (pdf document)

Extended social program, only for companions (pdf document)

BUS MEETING POINTS TIMETABLE

Summary of the social program

(below is a more detailed information on each of the activities)

Sunday: Registration and welcome cocktail

Welcoming cocktail in La Ciudadela (The citadel), where you can register for the conference while enjoying drinks and traditional Spanish "tapas".

Monday morning: Pamplona - Alto de Ibañeta - Burguete - Roncesvalles

Departure from Pamplona. Visit to Alto de Ibañeta, a well-known place not only by its historical relevance but also by offering a wonderful panoramic view of the landscape.
 
We will continue to  Burguete, a typical village on the Pilgrim's Way, with emblazoned houses memory of the past privileges its habitants had.
 
The trip will conclude visiting Roncesvalles, home of Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles (St. Mary’s  Church), built at the 13th century as a place to physically and spiritually assist those pilgrims  who crossed the Pyrenees through Roncesvalles following the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela. At St. Mary’s Church high altar we will visit a beautiful silver-covered Mary image (Image of St. Mary of Roncesvalles, 13th century). In the chapter house (14th century) we will find the Tomb of King Sancho the Strong.  Close to the Collegiate it can also be found the Church of Santiago (13th century) and the Chapel of the Espiritu Santo (12th century) a former burial site.

Lunch at Roncesvalles area and return to Pamplona.

Monday afternoon: Walking tour in Pamplona

Guided visit to the Old Part of the Pamplona. A stroll visiting some interesting places such as: 

- La Taconera  gardens   
- Church of San Lorenzo and visit to Chapel of San Fermin.
- City Hall
- Encierro (Bull Run) / Bullring
- Plaza del Castillo (Castle Square)
- Visit to Cathedral of Santa María

The tour will conclude with a cocktail at the Cathedral Refectory.

Tuesday morning: Monasterio de Leyre - Sangüesa - Castillo de Javier

Departure from Pamplona to the Monastery of Leyre. This monastery was Seat and Court of the Pyrenean Lordship and Royal mausoleum of the most ancient monarchs of Navarre. Favored by the King Sancho the Great, the Monastery collected a large number of properties, it became the spiritual, political and cultural center of Navarre and controlled Pyrenean routes of the Pilgrim’s Way. Its main areas were built during the 11th and the 12th centuries, including the 11th century crypt and the Porta Speciosa (12th century).

The trip will continue to Sangüesa, sited on the banks of the river Aragón. Its closeness to the border between Navarre and Aragón and its role as a post on the Pilgrim’s Way are the main historical causes of this town development.  One of its most important monuments is the Church of Santa Maria la Real, whose construction began in the 12th century and whose facade is one of the most important exponents of the peninsular Romanesque architecture. Another important monument is the Palace of the Prince of Viana, residence of the Monarchs of Navarre, built during the 12th and the 13th century.

 After visiting Sangüesa we will continue to the Castle of Javier, the birthplace of St Francis Xavier in 1506. Originally built around a 11th century signal tower, the castle dates from the end of the 15th century. Sited near the border with the Kingdom of Aragón, it became one of the most emblematic buildings of Navarre. Attacked in 1516, most of its defensive elements were destroyed, and the castle remained in quite spartan conditions till its reconstruction at the end of the 19th century.

Lunch at Javier area and return to Pamplona.

Tuesday afternoon: Winery Bodegas Señorío de Otazu

Visit to the winery Bodegas Señorío de Otazu. A 90 minutes tour to know the winery history, the old bodega remodeled as a museum and an art-gallery containing pieces from prestigious sculptors such as Manolo Valdés or Xavier Mascaró. We will also visit the new wine-making area, including the subterranean casks bodega, known as the “Wine Cathedral”, considered an international architectonical reference.

The visit includes a wine tasting of two different wines: Otazu Chardonnay (young white wine) and Otazu Premium Cuvée (barrel-ageing red wine).

Cocktail (dinner) at the winery and return to Pamplona.

Wednesday full day: San Sebastián - Valle del Baztán - Parque Natural de Bertiz

                              San Sebastián                                                            Baztán Valley

                        Bertiz Natural Park

Departure from Pamplona to visit San Sebastián, a coastal city, with famous beaches such as La Concha, Ondarreta and Gros, that together to mounts Urgull, Ulía and Igueldo provide to San Sebastian its distinctive appearance.

The group will be divided into two halves. One group will first make a 1 hour trip in catamaran along the Concha Bay, enjoying from a different angle of The Concha Beach, Mount Urgull, Palace of Miramar, Moneo’s cubes, Mount Igueldo, Igueldo’s lighthouse, The Paseo Nuevo and the Peine de Los Vientos sculpture.

The second group will first visit the Parte Vieja (Old Town). We will stroll across the city centre, starting at “Paseo de los Curas”, we will continue to The Plaza de la Constitución, to visit 31 de Agosto (August 31) street, an emblematic street of San Sebastian as it was the unique undestroyed street by the fire that devastated  the city in 1813. Then we will move towards Fermín Calbeton street, the epicenter of the daily city culinary earthquake,  the Church of San Vicente,  the Bretxa market and finally go back walking along The Concha Promenade to enjoy a catamaran trip.

 After visiting San Sebastian both groups will meet to travel to the village of Astigarraga, for a short visit to a   Sidrería (Cider House) and having lunch at this “sanctuary of cider and good food”.

After lunch we will travel to the Baztan Valley, whose lookout offers a beautiful view of the area. Then we will continue to Bertiz Natural Park, a place with more than 2,000 hectares of beeches, oaks and chestnut forests sheltering many different animal species.  We will visit the Botanical Garden with more than 120 bush and tree species on the banks of the river Bidasoa. The garden was designed including waterfalls and artificial lakes were ducks and peacocks live.

Return to a Pamplona.  Dinner not included. 

Thusday morning: Iglesia de Santa María de Eunate - Puente la Reina - Estella

Departure from Pamplona to visit The Church of St. Mary of Eunate, an architectonical site on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela, standing in solitude on an open and beautiful landscape.  This small church in Eunate gathers together geographical and artistic interests to become one of the most interesting examples of the Navarre Romanesque architecture.
Then we will travel to Puente La Reina, crossroads where the Navarre and the Aragonese routes of the Pilgrim’s Way converge. Puente La Reina houses to important churches, the Church of the Crucifix (a 12th century church of Templar origin) and the Church of Santiago el Mayor with Romanesque doorway, Baroque tower and Gothic sculptures inside the church. The main Street (Calle Mayor) is a classic example of architecture influenced by the pilgrims, with emblazoned and noble houses ending at a medieval bridge built in the 11th century to make easier for the pilgrims to leave the town.

Finally we will travel to Estella, a city grateful to King Sancho the Great (1004-1035), who led the Pilgrim’s Way across this place. The old streets of the Franks concentrate most of the monuments of Estella.  Close to San Martin Square, one can find the former town-hall  (17th century), the Palace of the Kings of Navarre (12th century) and the Church of San Pedro de la Rúa, with a 12th century cloister. Other architectonical religious exponents in the town are the Church of San Miguel Archangel (12th-16th century) and the Church of Santo Sepulcro (13th century).

Lunch at  Estella area and return to  Pamplona

Thusday evening: ORAHS conference closing dinner

Reception and aperitif at Baluarte Auditorium and Congress Centre.

Dinner and party with music.

About Navarre

Navarre is located in the north of Spain and borders with France along 163 kilometres. It is excellenty connected by means of a wide network of motorways and A roads. There are air, railway and bus lines operating every day from the capital, Pamplona, to Madrid and Barcelona.

Navarre has preserved its different personality as well as self-governing institutions since the XI century. It was originally a medieval kingdom which arose from its fight against Muslims. Navarre is nowadays a Foral Community within the framework of Spanish Constitution dating from 1978.

There are 543.000 inhabitants which results in a population density 52 inhab/km2. Half the Navarrese population lives in the urban setting made up of Pamplona and its surroundings.