Navarrete, La Rioja
Encyclopedia
Navarrete is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, with a population of 2,660 (as of January 2006) and an area of 28.49 km2. Named a conjunto histórico of Spain, Navarrete is located between Logroño
Logroño
Logroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as La Rioja Province.The population of Logroño in 2008 was 153,736 and a metropolitan population of nearly 197,000 inhabitants...

 and Nájera
Nájera
Nájera is a small town located in the "Rioja Alta" region of La Rioja, Spain on the river Najerilla. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.-History:...

 on the Way of St. James
Way of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....

, a medieval pilgrim route.

Economy

Rioja wine
Rioja (wine)
Rioja is a wine, with Denominación de Origen Calificada named after La Rioja, in Spain. Rioja is made from grapes grown not only in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, but also in parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava. Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja...

 is very important to Navarrete's economy. There are still some old potteries in the upper part of the town, although the industry has relocated to the lower part of town, next to the communication routes.

Geography

The historic centre of the town is built on a hill called Tedeón (512 m), from which the town has since expanded. The municipality borders Fuenmayor to the north, Logroño
Logroño
Logroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as La Rioja Province.The population of Logroño in 2008 was 153,736 and a metropolitan population of nearly 197,000 inhabitants...

 and Lardero
Lardero
Lardero is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain....

 to the east, Entrena
Entrena
In the South zone are the first spurs of the Mountain range of Moncalvillo. The village is located in this zone, on the hill called El Conjuro. Is urbanized in bastille with his streets staggered and concentric...

, Medrano
Medrano
Medrano is a municipality in La Rioja, Spain. It is situated 17 km from the capital Logroño. There are 188 inhabitants and it covers 7.46 km².- External links :*...

, Hornos de Moncalvillo
Hornos de Moncalvillo
Hornos de Moncalvillo is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain....

, and Sotés
Sotés
Sotés is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain....

 to the south, and Huércanos
Huércanos
Huércanos is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain....

 and Cenicero
Cenicero
Cenicero is a municipality in the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain.The municipality is the home of the world famous "Bodegas Berberana" winery, which lies close to the River Ebro....

 to the west.

History

The origin of the name Navarrete is uncertain. Navarrete was founded by the King of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...

 as part of a plan to defend his borders and the name appears to have some relation to the neighbouring Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....

.
One theory notes that the word "Nafarrate" in Basque
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...

 means "Door of Navarre"; the later castellanization
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...

 of the name would give rise to the present spelling.

Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...

 proposed to the inhabitants of the old villages of the zone that they relocate in a defensive place. These villages were known by the name of Corcuetos and their names were: San Llorente, San Antolín, San Pedro and Nuestra Señora del Prado.
Their population settled around a castle raised on Tedeón hill, thus founding the new villa of Navarrete. The castle was fortified and protected with a small wall, that enclosed the settlement and it defended it from the possible attacks that threatened from the north.

In 1192 important fueros were granted to the inhabitants of the new settlement. These fueros, or charter, gave rise to the use in common of river waters and the collective exploitation of grass lands and woods to the east of the town. The charter also allowed for the establishment of local markets and fairs. Thanks to these privileges, the villa reached a great importance.

In 1367 a battle took place in the locality which is sometimes called the Battle of Navarrete, but is better known as the Battle of Nájera.

Buildings and monuments

  • Parish church of the Assumption (Asunción de María). Construction began in 1553 and finished in 17th century. It consists of three naves and a baroque altarpiece.
  • Hermitage of Santa Maria del Buen Suceso. Located to the south of the municipality, in the direction of Entrena
    Entrena
    In the South zone are the first spurs of the Mountain range of Moncalvillo. The village is located in this zone, on the hill called El Conjuro. Is urbanized in bastille with his streets staggered and concentric...

    . The facade reliefs make references to the travellers of the Way of St. James
    Way of St. James
    The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....

    .
  • The Castle. This is the name given to the highest peak of the Cerro Tedeón on account of there once being a castle there. No trace of the castle now exists. There is a viewing point from which can be seen several towns and mountains.
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