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| The first known documentation comes from Pamplona Cathedral and dates back to the 16th century. These valleys were either crown estates or in the possession of noble families; in some of the valleys Pamplona Cathedral and the religious order of St. John Juan of Jerusalem also had possessions. All of them were granted their “Fueros” (special code of laws) during the reigns of King Sancho VI “el sabio” (at the end of the 12th century) and Sancho VII “el fuerte” (at the beginning of the 13th century). In the reign of Teobaldo II the valleys came under the administrative jurisdiction of “la merindad de las montañas” (a “merindad” was a territory under the jurisdiction of a Royal “merino” who was charged with the government, defense and justice of the region), and formed a frontier with the territories of Guipuzcoa de Castilla. During the Carlist wars it was a Carlist stronghold and saw some significant military action in Gorriti (1834), Larraintzar (1835) and Orokieta (1872).
Although Romanesque art is scarce in this area, a unique example can be found in “el santuario de San Miguel” in the form of an enamelled altarpiece. There is an interesting series of protogothic churches dating back to around the 12th century (Eraso, Azpirotz, Arruitz, etc.), and gothic churches (Aldatz, Lekunberri, Itxaso, etc.); there are few examples of renaissance churches (Arraitz) as many were destroyed or transformed in the baroque period (Latasa, Baraibar, Uitzi, etc.). There are some examples of neoclassic art (in Madotz, Leitza, Auza…).
In terms of civil art there are some lovely examples of gothic palatial houses (“Alkatenea” in Lekunberri and “Apeiztizaharra” in Betelu), renaissance and above all baroque buildà (Beruete Town Hall and “Casa Juanmartiñena in Aldatz. |
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