Visit of Urdax (Urdazubi), between heritage, culture, natural beauty and shopping!

Come and discover the town of Urdax (in Spanish, Urdazubi in Basque), which is located in the heart of the Pyrenees in Navarre, a few kilometers from the French border at Ainhoa. It is a peaceful town, with typical Basque architecture and colorful gabled houses. Located on the way to Santiago de Compostela, it attracts many pilgrims every year, but also curious people who come to immerse themselves in the depths of the caves of Urdax or to meet the animals of the Trikuharry animal park. Shopping aficionados like to find themselves in the nearby commercial and border district of Danxarinea, where many brands are grouped together in Ventas at attractive prices. Is that perhaps the only reason why you regularly come to Urdax? Push 5 more minutes to visit its charming town, you won't regret it. For a weekend in the Basque Country, a stay or even just a day, let us tell you about the wonders of Urdax-Urdazubi!

Photos of the article © La Grotte d'Urdax, Municipality of Urdax, Trikuharry park.

Urdax, a peaceful and dynamic city at the same time, in the middle of the Basque mountains

Urdazubi has everything to please, a remarkable heritage, generous nature and cultural attractions for entertainment. It is a small town that can be visited on foot. You will be charmed by the pretty traditional gabled houses (the Etxeas are old farmhouses ) in all colors but mostly red here. The streets and alleys are still paved and meet in a large square, in the center of which is the Monastery of San Salvador d'Urdax. The beginnings of this building and its function go back to the ^9th century, it was then a hospital for pilgrims and this activity continued until the ^18th century, when it suffered one of two serious fires (the previous one in the ^16th ) of its history. Today it is the Museum of Liturgical Ornaments, which also houses artistic exhibitions in the superb period cloister, all in sobriety and elegance.

The must-have postcard from Urdax is the view of its houses, with the canal in the foreground. This one, built by the monks, had the function of supplying a mill, but also of forging iron. The monks built bridges over this canal and the river, and we find this in the etymology of the name of the city (“ur eta zubi” which means water and bridge in Basque). The mill is open to visitors, it is in perfect working order! As you walk through the city, you will see 3 beautiful, imposing and multi-storey houses, these are the Casas de Indianos. The Indianobaita house, Donpedronea and the Mitxelena house. They bear witness to the return to the country of the “Indianos”, natives who left for the Americas to make their fortune. Back in Urdax, they built these sumptuous dwellings.

Urdax is located in the heart of the Pyrenees mountains in Navarre, it is an ideal place for hiking and several trails start from the town, with different levels of difficulty.

• The Sentier de la Forge: 3.4km, 240m drop for about 2 hours of family walk. You will walk along a river and walk through a pretty forest.
• The Otsondottiki trail: 8.4km, 433m drop for 3h30 of hiking. On the program, vegetation but also beautiful views, on the way back, you will take part of the Baztan route.
• The Azkar Tour: 6.9km, 485m drop, for 3h30 of hiking: In the mountains, you will see huts on the way, the ruins of a castle, a bird's eye view of the city.
• The corner of Axular: 5.7km, 240m drop for 2 hours of hiking: Pretty views of nature for this family hike. The hike passes by the birthplace of the writer Pedro Aguerre “Axular”.

Trikuharry is a somewhat special animal center, because 90% of the animals present are rescued from private homes, injured or mistreated. They have a second life in Trikuharry where they meet other animal lovers. Workshops are held to learn more about the species and entertain the children. The park is located in Urdax.

Visit Urdax Caves, Ikaburu Caves

Immerse yourself in the heart of a crystal cathedral. The Caves of Urdax are caves with natural concretions, where a stream, the Urtxume, flows. These are caves that were prehistoric habitats, populated by our ancestors around 13,000 years ago. Evidenced by the engravings found on stalagmites (in a part that we do not visit to preserve them). A 40-minute sound and light show allows the visitor to appreciate the beauty of the different concretions: stalactites, stalagmites, columns and jellyfish, draperies... The discovery is made in guided tours, to learn more about the different characters who occupied the caves. We recommend that you get to the caves by car, as the way is a bit long from the center of Urdax.

Shopping paradise: Danxarinea, one of the largest shopping centers in Navarre

Very popular with the French who come here to get tobacco, petrol or alcohol at great prices, the Danxarinea commercial area is the perfect place to spend part of the day. Family shopping or window-shopping with friends, getting ready for a night out or just keeping busy if it's raining... Locals as well as foreigners come to these Ventas (or Bentas), places where you can find the sale of local products with restaurants, aimed at travelers and traditional at the border. There are everyday products, everyday food or Basque and Spanish specialties. Ready-to-wear, toys, perfumery, certain products or objects for the home, there are all sorts of useful and futile things to be found there. La Venta de Danxarinea is a place where your friends will often ask you to bring them something! Don't forget to fill up with gas before you leave.

Here you are perfectly informed to prepare a day in Urdax, a charming town not far from the border. Do not hesitate to go there, to let yourself be impregnated with its sweetness of life and its history!

Did you like our article? Find more on the Basque Country Guide blog . We are also on social networks, come and consult the Facebook page of the Basque Country Guide , as well as our Instagram account @guidedupaysbasque