Elizondo

Elizondo is a small town in the Baztán Valley in Navarra, Spain, featuring narrow stone streets and traditional white-walled houses with wooden balconies. The Baztan River flows through the center, and the town contains several grand manor houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Baroque Arizkunenea Palace.

Elizondo developed as a frontier town from the Middle Ages, experiencing conflicts as a border area between Navarra and neighboring territories. Wealthy families who made fortunes abroad returned in the 17th and 18th centuries to build grand mansions, transforming the town's architecture and importance.

The town's name comes from Basque words meaning "place of oaks," reflecting the forested landscape around it. Local families displayed their wealth through grand mansions with wooden balconies and stone details along the main streets, shaping how the town looks today.

The town center is walkable and most sights are close together along the main streets and around the Plaza de los Fueros. Visit during drier weather since the valley receives frequent rain and fog that can affect roads and views, making conditions less favorable for exploring.

Author Dolores Redondo set her crime novels in this town, making it famous among readers worldwide. Visitors today follow the paths of her detective stories and explore real locations like the Txokoto bridge or Elena Ochoá's house that appear in her books.