Artajona, human settlement in Spain
Artajona is a small town perched on a hill in Navarre, Spain, surrounded by a medieval fortification wall called El Cerco. The town has nine surviving towers from its original fourteen, narrow stone streets, and the church of San Saturnino built as a fortress church that was integrated into the defensive system.
El Cerco was built around the 11th or 12th century and stands as one of Navarre's best-preserved medieval fortifications. The town developed as a key defensive position, and the church of San Saturnino was constructed as an integral part of the fortification with thick walls and defensive capabilities.
The name Artajona comes from Basque and means "place of oaks". Narrow streets wind through the town with stone houses built close together, and visitors walk these paths to experience how medieval communities organized their daily life within protective walls.
Access to the walls and fortress is straightforward with a large parking lot behind El Cerco and well-maintained pathways throughout. Guided tours for visiting the church or climbing the walls are available through the local tourist office.
Artajona is the only place in the world where bells are swung upside down. The oldest bell dates from 1735, and since 1896 bell ringers from Navarre have used this unique technique to create distinctive sounds.
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