Stage Notes & History

HISTORY: The attractive town of Puente la Reina owes its name to Queen Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho Garcés III, el Mayor (King of Navarre 1005-1035). She ordered the construction of the beautiful bridge over the river Arga to make the route for pilgrims to Santiago easier. The bridge, with six arches and five pillars, is one of the most beautiful structures on the route.

HISTORY: Originally, it had 3 towers, one at each end and one in the middle. The middle tower housed a 16th century image of the Virgin carved in stone of la Virgen del Puy. There is a story concerning the image of the Virgin and a small bird. Txori is the Basque word for a small bird and the image is now often referred to as the Virgen de Txori. The story starts around 1824 when a small bird started visiting the image and using its wings to wipe away cobwebs and filling its beak with water to clean the image of the Virgin. The residents viewed this as a miracle and a blessing and greeted the little birds return each year with the pealing of bells and lighting of fireworks. The visits continued until 1843 when after the First Carlist War the triumphant authorities order the destruction of the central tower (the town had been on the losing Carlist side). Before the destruction of the tower the image of the Virgin was transferred in solemn procession to the parish church of San Pedro where it remains today.

HISTORY: The church of Santiago has a notable statue of Saint James inside. Iglesia del Crucifijo (church of the Crucifixion) originally founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th c. The porch is decorated with scallop shells. At one side is the original pilgrims’ hospice, one of the oldest still extant.

HISTORY: Church and Mass - Iglesia de Santiago. Daily 10:00 (Sunday 12:00) and 19:30.

DIRECTIONS: Bar la Torreta has 12€ menu. Opens at 06:30 in summer.

PLAIN: Tourist information: Casa del Vínculo, c/Mayor 105.