Ujué/Uxue, Medieval hilltop settlement in Navarre, Spain
Ujué is a medieval settlement perched on a steep hillside in Navarre, with stone buildings and narrow lanes climbing toward a central fortress church. The architecture clusters around this religious structure, which occupies the highest point and anchors the entire layout.
The settlement developed in the Middle Ages as a fortified location with a church built in the 12th century, which was later expanded into a fortress structure. The site served important defensive and religious functions for centuries in the region.
The name comes from the Basque word for dove, rooted in a local legend about a shepherd following a bird to discover a sacred place. The community still speaks both Spanish and Basque, with place names reflecting this linguistic heritage.
Access to the town requires driving up winding mountain roads with steep sections that demand careful navigation. Accommodation options within the village itself are limited, though larger nearby communities offer more facilities.
In 1035, King Charles II of Navarre died and his heart was entombed in the church, where it remains in a special shrine to this day. This unusual burial practice makes the site a destination for those interested in medieval religious customs and royal history.
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