Kartxela, Mountain summit in Roncal-Erronkari Valley, Spain

Kartxela is a 1,982-metre summit above the Belagua valley, on the boundary between Navarre and Soule, though not itself a border peak. With Barazea (1,893 m) and Otsogorrigaña (1,922 m) it forms a geological cirque. Its lower slopes are forested, the upper part bare grey and brown rock ending in a jagged pointed peak.

Kartxela forms a geological cirque with the neighbouring peaks Barazea (1,893 m) and Otsogorrigaña (1,922 m), a structure shaped over geological time on the Pyrenean chain between Navarre and Soule. The summit lies on the historic transhumance ground of the Belagua and Uztarroze shepherds on the Spanish side and those of Sainte-Grave on the French side, who brought flocks up from the valley floors each summer.

The name Kartxela is often rendered locally as Lakartxela, a Basque form heard in the Belagua valley. The peak is climbed from four different valleys, each with its own starting village: Belagua and Uztarroze on the Navarrese side, Santa Grazi and Logibar in Soule. Basque and Navarrese shepherds and hikers use the same summit, and the mountain appears on both the Soule and Navarre peak lists.

The usual ascent starts at the Belagua refuge (1,428 m) and takes about two hours. From Uztarroze (806 m) the climb via the Mintxate track takes about three hours; from Santa Grazi (475 m) about five; from Logibar (380 m) about five and a half. The summit lies between Navarre and Soule, so plan the return side in advance.

Kartxela is the fifth-highest mountain in the Basque Country, at 1,982 m. With Barazea (1,893 m) and Otsogorrigaña (1,922 m) it forms a geological cirque. The usual ascent from the Belagua refuge (1,428 m) takes about two hours; from Uztarroze (806 m) via the Mintxate track it takes three.