The best MTB trails around Arce/Artzi

In choosing San Salvador as the patron saint of this church, the patronage was not placed under the protection of one of the many people we venerate as blessed or saints and ask for their heavenly intercession with God. Rather, the patronage was entrusted to God himself—in the person of his incarnate Son, Jesus Christ—who is venerated here under the honorary title of "San Salvador" (Redeemer and Savior).

Even if you don't plan or have the ability to walk the entire Camino Frances, the stage that reaches Roncesvalles is a must for the beauty of the landscapes and the evocative atmosphere it offers, especially when—descending from the Ibañeta Pass—the boundless Spanish landscape suddenly opens up before your eyes in the golden light of sunset. It's a magical moment, ideally shared with other pilgrims and then enhanced with a visit to the Collegiate Church. The stamp on the Credencial is also beautiful.

Don't miss a visit to the Pilgrims' Hospital and the Collegiate Church of Santa María. Also, learn about the history of Roncesvalles, as it's very interesting.

The ATALOZTI Pass is located in the heart of the Navarrese Pyrenees, where the Navarre Mountains meet, on the border between Navarre and Lower Navarre, between the municipalities of Auritz-Burguete, Erroibar, and Urepel—the former disappearing into the Sangüesa Sea and the latter into the Baigorri-Ortzaize region—and also on the watershed, where the vortex streams meet at the Irati River beach, the Mediterranean Sea beach, and the northern banks of the Errobi River, the Bizkaia countryside, meeting the Atlantic. The Atalozti Pass is situated in a charming location, between the peaks of Lindus (1,218 m) and Mendiaundi (1,213 m). The climb from Burguete along a track has extremely steep slopes.

Hemmingway loved this place.

Anyone who would like to have the church illuminated can switch on the lights for 8 minutes for a 1 € coin.

One of the most inhospitable and spectacular mountain passes in the eastern Pyrenees, with several slopes, all of them very difficult. The landscape is wild and wonderful. You can breathe absolute tranquility and you can dedicate yourself exclusively to enjoying the views, the horses, the sheep, the cows and the suffering on the bike. The summit is on the border with Spain, although there is no road that crosses the border, so the pass runs entirely in France. I have climbed it on 2 of its slopes. The first time I climbed it on the slope that crosses the Col d'Orgambide, on the D428 road, which starts from Estérençuby. The first 3 km are very easy, until you cross the detour to go up to Artaburu, where the road begins to have slopes of more than 10%. From there, to the summit, the climb is very hard, around 9%, on a very rough and bumpy road, with a lot of humidity and crossing a wonderful beech forest. Once you reach the top of the Col d'Orgambide, you turn right and continue climbing for another half kilometre with a gradient of 11%. There comes a small descent, to face the last 3 kms, the first 2 very hard with several 13% gradients. The last kilometre is very easy and has panoramic views that are simply wonderful. The second time I climbed it on the side that starts from Arneguy and Ondarolle. This side is harder than the previous one, with a central section that is hellish, being 6 kms at an average of 10%, and a very hard km at 12% and 18% gradients!!! The final part is more gentle. You cross the Croix de Thibault in the penultimate kilometre of the climb. The final kilometre is very gentle and with beautiful and exciting panoramic views.

It is a beautiful border pass between Spain and France, well known for being part of the most traditional route of the Camino de Santiago. Sportingly, the climb on both sides is easy, although on the French side it is much longer as it starts at a lower altitude. The Spanish side is just 6 km from Burguete, the last being the most difficult with an average gradient of 7%. On this side you pass the famous and well-known monastery of Roncesvalles. The French side is 18 km from Arnegui and an average gradient of 4%. The hardest part is 5 km from the summit, with one kilometre at 7%. The landscape on this side is of lush vegetation going up a very closed valley that hardly leaves room for views of the surrounding mountains. The road is very twisty. It is a port with very good asphalt and a lot of traffic in general... so, be careful!