Nafarroa Behera

Nafarroa Beherea (or Behe-Nafarroa) is a province of Euskal Herria located in Iparralde. The province is bordered by Lapurdi to the NW, the Landas to the N, Zuberoa to the SE and Nafarroa to the S.

Along with Nafarroa, it was once ruled by the Kings of Navarre. Nafarroa Behera was historically part of the kingdom of Navarre. Its capital cities were Donibane Garazi and Donapaleu in Basque. In the extreme north there was the little sovereign principality of Bidache.

Its extent is of 1,284 sq.km., and has a decreasing population.

Although this denomination is not completely correct from the historical point of view, it is also known as Merindad de Ultrapuertos ("the regions beyond the mountain passes") by the southerners, and Deça-ports ("this side of the mountain passes") by the gascon-speakers.

Geography

Nafarroa Behera is a collection of valleys in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The Aldudes valley, around the town of Baigorri in the south of Nafarroa Behera, preserves many old traditions, with houses of pink sandstone and contests of Force Basque, the games of strength. The Irulegi (Irouléguy) wines are produced in the are around the town of Irulegi.

The river Errobi rises in Nafarroa Behera and flows through the province and on to Baiona, where it meets the Aturri. Beyond Donibane Garazi itself, the Errobi enters the Ortzaitze valley, with many beautiful old houses with carved lintels in the villages of Ortzaitzae Irizarri and Bidarrai. A reserve for the pottok, the wild Basque Pyrennean pony, in the valley conserves this rare breed.

North of Doninabe Garazi is the Mixe region around the town of Donapaleu, a former Navarrese capital. Although close to Béarn, Basque influence and traditions are strong. Lower Navarrese is a dialect of the Basque language spoken in the region. Just south of Donapaleu, the three principal routes to Santiago de Compostela on the Way of St James met at the hamlet of Izura Azme, bringing much wealth and trade to the area in medieval times.

The Way of St James headed south from Donibane Garazi towards the mountain pass above Orreaga. Pilgrims travelled across the Cixe region of Nafarroa Behera on their way to Nafarroa across the mountains. In these rolling hills, ewes' milk cheese, pur brebis, is commonly made, including Istara (Ossau-Iraty) cheese. Villages like Ezterenzubi and Lekunberri are popular for agro-tourism and the Irati beech forest on the border with Hegoalde is known for its views and history. Dolmens and other neolithic monuments dot the landscape, including the Tour d'Urculu high in the mountains at 1,149m—a 2,000-year-old circular platform of huge stone blocks.

So now you have basic information about the provinces of Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Lapurdi, Nafarroa and Nafarroa Behera. There is only one more to go, Zuberoa.

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