Sunday 17th December 2023
Pamplona, the next stopover on our way south, is about 75km from St Jean de Luz, where we were last night. As such it should have been an easy day, but a combination of wrong-turnings which resulted in an “interesting” tour of local neighbourhoods, and a lot to see once we did arrive, added up to a tiring day.
We stayed on a designated Camping Car Park, which allowed a 24 hour stay for free. It is nice to get some good weather, the sun has shined and we have wandered around the city without the need for coats.
Thoughtfully, there are lifts from the parking level, up to the rampart level of the city.
Pamploma is the fortified capital of the Navarre region of Spain and is nearly 1500ft above sea level. The old part of the city is sited atop steep medieval ramparts and there is a citadel which is described as one of the most complete examples in Europe.
Interestingly the military arsenal (pictured below) was designed by a man called “Vaboom”.
There are many old and very ornate buildings and clearly this city has not been shy of displaying its wealth over the centuries. The result is fascinating, with high, balconied accommodation on either side of narrow streets in the old part of the city and modern pedestrian-focused buildings in the surrounding area.
Entrances have a lot to say about who is within:
The town hall is particularly ornate…
…and perhaps, where the locals used to go “clubbing”.
The tourist offices appeared to be decorated for Christmas:
The city is famous for the “running of the bulls”, as a part of a festival which occurs in July each year. Bullfighting is a part of Spanish culture, nowhere more so than here with its large bull-fighting ring. There are bulls everywhere:
…and bull fighters are assumed to have special powers:
In the “Running of the Bulls”, young men are chased through the town streets by several bulls. There is a large sculpture depicting this event in the city centre:
"See-u-Later" 