Camino Photo of the Day: Pamplona’s Walls

After crossing the Puente de la Magdelena, we come at last to the city walls of Pamplona. They are just massive. Although these particular walls were built in 1515 as a defense against France, Pamplona had city walls for more than 1500 years before then. From the time the city was founded by Pompey the Great in 74 BC, it was a strategic military center. Its fortifications were used by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors, and the Kingdoms of Navarra and then Spain. Indeed, Charlemagne reportedly tore down the Navarrese walls, which may have led to the ill-fated withdrawal fancifully recounted in the Song of Roland.

Date: 03 April 2013
Place: Pamplona! (Navarra, Spain)

Maps! On the way from Zubiri to Pamplona – almost there!