Metal Bridge over the Aragón River in Sangüesa, Navarra (Spain)

Sangüesa was the first place where the Saint Francis rested on his way to Santiago. The saint made a bush grow next to the hermitage that dried every time the monks left the site, greening up when they returned.

Legend of Sangüesa

Bridge over the Salado River in Cirauqui, Navarra (Spain)

Esta noche ha pasado Santiagosu camino de luz en el cielo.
Lo comentan los niños jugando
con el agua de un cauce sereno.

¿Dónde va el peregrino celeste
por el claro infinito sendero?
Va a la aurora que brilla en el fondo
en caballo blanco como el hielo.

Poem by Federico García Lorca

Roman Bridge over the Belagua River in Isaba, Navarra (Spain)

There was a palace in which a princess who was suffering from stomach and kidney ailments lived . Her slave Cliastela suggested to go to the source of Liscar, famous for its therapeutic powers, but to reach it was necessary to cross the river by boat and a flood had taken her. The devil appeared to Cliastela as a man and promised to build a bridge during the night (22:00 to 6:00 ) in exchange for her soul. The slave accepted the proposal. The devil just finished work at six o'clock . When Cliastela arrived , she told him the devil to look up the clock tower sun , miraculously marked the seven o'clock .

Legend from Navarra

Bridge over the Ebro River in Tudela, Navarra (Spain)

Adiós, puente de Tudela,

torre de la catedral,

al viento lanzo un suspiro

por si no te viera más.

Song from Navarra

Darwing of the Bridge over the River Arga in Puente de la Reina, Navarra (Spain)

In the highest part of the bridge, there was a cover turret guarding an image of the Virgin. A legend says there was a txori (bird in Basque) that came there from time to time and removed with its wings the cobwebs, and, dipping his beak in the water, cleaned the image, motivating exalted religious fervor in the locals...

Legend of Puente de la Reina

Roman Bridge over the Belagua River in Isaba, Navarra (Spain)

Los mozos y mozas del valle
Llegando van, ya llegan;
danzaris de Ochagavía
Han Venido a bailar;
la torre Anuncia la fiesta,
es la fiesta del Roncal;
Autoridades y vecinos
Hoy celebran la hermandad.

Carmelo Erdozáin

Puente de Piedra (Stone Bridge) crossing the river Anduña in Ochagavía, Navarra (Spain)

Puente de las Cabras (Goats Bridge) over the Salazar River in Lumbier, Navarra (Spain)

In the forests of Irati and the Roncal Valley walks strides the Basajuan, a big monster, with long hair, beard and one eye. It has great strength and agility. It is a good monster that helps shepherds if he is not attacked. It is said that this monster only wants to be loved..

Legend from the Roncal Valley

Bridges over rivers Esca and Belagua in Isaba, Navarra (Spain)

Noche de luna en verano, 

paseo por el Roncal; 

y lejos se oye el recuerdo 

de Gayarre en un cantar.

Jot dance lyrics 

Supension Bridge crossing the Irati River near Arizkuren, Navarra (Spain)

Río Irati, río Irati,

agua fresca, sol y nieve,

las canciones de mi pueblo

hoy se escuchan en tus fuentes,

las canciones de mis padres

se las sabe la corriente.

Carmelo Erdozáin

Bridge across the Aragón River in Sangüesa, Navarra (Spain)

Burgos la cabeza, 

Sangüesa el pie, 

de convento en convento 

todo lo andaré.

Proverb from Navarra

Reparatzea Bridge over the Bidasoa River in Oieregi, Navarra (Spain)

Espejo del Bidasoa
que vas a perderte al mar,
¡Qué de ensueños te me llevas
a Dios van a reposar!

Miguel de Unamuno

Romanesque Bridge crossing the Arga River in Puente de la Reina, Navarra (Spain)

“I am a part of all that I have found in my way.”

Alfred Tennyson

Bridge across the Zia creek in Vera de Bidasoa, Navarra (Spain)

Stone Bridge crossing the river Anduña in Ochagavía, Navarra (Spain)

Cuando el viento huracanado agita las fronteras de Irati, los aezkoanos temerosos se refugian en sus casas, porque entonces los espíritus y las brujas recorren el bosque, a fantástica velocidad, llevando consigo un sudario que contiene un esqueleto en cuya cabeza fulgura una corona real.

Leyend from Ochagavía

Magdalena Bridge over the Arga River in Pamplona, Navarra (Spain)

Puente de la Trinidad (Trinity Bridge) crossing the Ulzama River in Arre, Navarra (Spain)

Bridge over the Bidasoa River in Sumbilla, Navarra (Spain)

«Soy un río pequeño, pero con gracia y con más fama que muchos ríos grandes. De mí han hablado Estrabón, Tolomeo y Plinio. En mí hay un poco de la severidad de Navarra, algo de la blandura de Guipúzcoa y de la cortesía de Francia. Recojo las canciones de mis arroyos. Tengo fuentes milagrosas. Paso por valles anchos y soleados, y por cañadas estrechas. Reflejo las faldas verdes de los montes, los palacios y las chozas de las orillas. En invierno mujo como un toro y me lanzo en olas furiosas llenas de espuma; en el verano tengo remansos tranquilos y verdes».

Pío Baroja, about the Bidasoa

in La leyenda de Juan de Alzate

Pilgrims Bridge crossing the Arga River in Puente de la Reina, Navarra (Spain)

Caminante, son tus huellas

el camino, y nada más;

caminante, no hay camino,

se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace camino,

y al volver la vista atrás

se ve la senda que nunca

se ha de volver a pisar.

Antonio Machado

Puente de la Cárcel (Bridge of the Prison) spanning the Ega River in Estella, Navarra (Spain)

A noble woman pilgrimaged to Santiago to pray for the life of her husband, wounded at war. He was sick when reaching Estella and in the hospital of pilgrims was diagnosed with abortion. Her maid accused her of causing the abortion to herself and was brought to trial. The resolution of the case was conducted by "the test of the water". The defendant  had to be thrown into the river in a metal shield, with her hands and foot tied. If she was guilty he would sink. If not, God would save her. Asked by the brothers of the lady, a squire proposed a way to save her sister's life. He would offer the metal shield of his master, but then he would change it for one of wood simulating metal. So, the lady was taken down by his brothers over the "metal" shield "from the bridge to the river Ega and sank, but soon rose to the surface and sailed at the mercy of the waters towards an island in the river. During the confusion, the squire changed again the shield. In this way the lady's innocence was proclaimed  and could continue her pilgrimage.

Legend of Estella