Baztan (valley)

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Baztan
Baztanaldea
Comarca
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Navarre
Capital Pamplona
Municipalities
List
  • See text
Area
 • Total 390 km2 (150 sq mi)
Population (2007)
 • Total 8,713
 • Density 22/km2 (58/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
View of the Baztan comarca

Baztan is a rural comarca located in a wide valley in Navarre, Spain, with the Baztan river running through it. Down the valley, the river is one of two forming the Bidasoa, on the Atlantic basin. The valley belongs to the Merindad de Pamplona, a historic administrative unit of Navarre.

The valley provides the access to the French Basque regions of Lapurdi and Lower Navarre by means of the Izpegi Pass and Dantxarinea.

In 1622, the remote Baztan valley had become the site of the last resistance to the annexation of the Kingdom of Navarre into what became Spain. Among the approximately 200 knights captured by forces loyal to the Castilian Count of Miranda was a brother of Francis Xavier.

Nearly a century later, villagers from Zugarramurdi were denounced by the abbot of Urdax as witches, which prompted a famous witch trial by the Inquisition at its nearest substation, Logrono, an event that Zugarramurdi commemorates annually by bonfires during the summer solstice, as well as with a museum.

Municipal terms

There are 14 villages in the municipalities: Oronoz-Mugaire, Arraioz, Almandoz, Berroeta, Aniz, Ziga, Irurita, Lecaroz, Garzain, Elbetea, Arizkun, Erratzu, Azpilicueta, and Amaiur.

See also

  • Comarcas of Navarra
  • Merindad de Tudela

References

    • Atlas de Navarra, Geografía e Historia, Departamento de Educación del Gobierno de Navarra y EGN Comunicación, 2006, ISBN 84-934512-1-5

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