Corners of Bera

Town hall

Built in 1776 in the neo-classical style, with subsequent alterations. Its portico comprises six stone arches. In 1983, while the façade was being renovated, remains of paintings were found on which Julio Caro Baroja based himself for doing the sketches of the current drawings, painted by Juan Larramendi, a local artist from Bera.

St. Stephen's church

This was originally a Gothic casa-torre (fortified house) which, after the 16th century, would be used as a church. It was renovated and extended in 1632. It was built in the shape of a Latin cross with a cross vault. There are hardly any remains of the original building. The main altarpiece is in the neo-classical style from the 19th century. It contains the image of St. Stephen - the patron saint of the town - beside the Bortziriak coat of arms. The most noteworthy piece on the inside is, without any doubt, the organ. Created by Amezua and Jauregi, it is considered to be the finest Romanesque organ in Navarre. Beside the three-keyboard are two rows of wooden choir stalls of great beauty. On the outside can be seen funerary steles from the old cemetery.

Aroztegia (Larunbe)

The Legia arms are displayed high up on the façade, together with the year in which it was built - 1796. Joseph Bonaparte slept in this house on his way to France, after fleeing from the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. The Duke of Wellington would later stay in the same place.

Donfelipebaita (Larratxe)

A fine example of 18th century architecture with subsequent additions. Especially of note is a south-facing stone gallery with five arches per floor.

The square of the Fueros

The law modifying the fueros (charters granting rights and obligations) came into force on 16th August 1841, making Navarre a province, although its fiscal privileges would be recognised. Foru plaza were created in many Navarrese municipalities in the wake of this modification to the law. In the very same square is the bust of Fermin Legia, a soldier who was born in the Urrola farmhouse in Bera in 1787. When Espoz and Mina troops arrived in Bera, he was enlisted as a volunteer. In March 1813, he seized control of the castle of Hondarribia in charge of 15 men, this castle hitherto being held by the French. Espoz was promoted to rank of lieutenant as a result of this feat.

Eltzaurpe-ttiki house

This house retains some Gothic vestiges: the door on the façade with the following carvings - the inscription IHS, the sun, the moon and work tools - and a side window. This type of house was commonplace in Bera prior to the fire which swept through the town in 1638.

Lazarobaita

Stud wall façade with typical carvings from the 17th and early 18th centuries. It has two access doors at each end of the building and a wide central recess flanked by two Tuscan columns which would have been moved from the central hallway. The pretender to the throne Charles VII is alleged to have stayed in this house some time during the Second Carlist War.

Karnaxenea

On 16th July 1638, a fire started by the French razed many of the houses in the town to the ground. A reminder may be found of that tragic event on the beam of this house, in which it would seem that Salbat de Altzate y Urtubi (Lord of Altzate) played an active part.

Altzateko square

The name of this public space refers to the members of the Altzate nobility. What was once the fortified stately home would have been located close to the square, beside the Zia stream.

Zelaia

Architecturally-refined stone house. Of special note is the fact that the façade is nearly the same length as the sides. There remains a large central space on the ground floor which used to be a right of way, with stables and pigsties on the sides.

Itzea

House of the Baroja family, which lends its name to the district. The family settled in this house in 1912 and, since then, many of the works by Carmen, Pio and Ricardo Baroja, and also by Julio Caro Baroja himself, have been created within these walls. The house was built in the second half of the 17th century. Of special note are the double wooden eaves derived from Renaissance models which were commonplace in houses and palaces in Navarre and Aragon at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries. On the other side of the river can be seen the funerary stele built by Jorge Oteiza in memory of Pío Baroja. The house is not open to the public.

St. Michael's bridge

This historic remain testifies to those who were injured in the 1813 war in Bera. A stone plaque commemorating the death of the soldier killed defending the bridge, Daniel Cadoux, is on the same bridge.

Ibardin

On the border with Lapurdi (Labourd), the Alto de Ibardin affords beautiful views. There is a shopping centre where the visitor can find all kinds of things: food, clothes, souvenirs, household utensils and also bars, restaurants, etc.