About Pamplona & Navarra
Pamplona
Pamplona (Basque: Iruña [iɾuɲa]) or Iruñea [iɾuɲea]) is the historical capital city of Navarre in Spain, and of the former Kingdom of Navarre. It is near the Atlantic Ocean, Pyrenees Mountains, and the French border (see the map below, where Pamplona is located at the orange dot.) The city's population is about 200,000. The weather in Pamplona is cooler in May and June than in Indiana.
The city is famous worldwide for its San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions. It is also the first main city in the pilgrim route of St. James (Camino de Santiago), which dates back to medieval times. In addition to its rich tradition and history, Pamplona is a city known for its charming modern characteristics, such as parks and gardens, lively nightlife, fabulous restaurants and bars, and high standard of living. In fact, Pamplona is a green city ranking highest in environment and recycling in Europe.
Take a look at the the video and slide shows below, and for more information, visit Pamplona's tourist portal or the Navarra government's Pamplona site. Students Enjoying Pintxos in the Old Town
Pamplona Old Town SlideshowNavarraNavarre is an autonomous region located in the Basque part of Spain between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River Valley. Conquered by Charlemagne in the 8th century, Navarra shortly thereafter gained its independence to become a kingdom. In the 11th century, the Kingdom of Navarra held control over Spain. The French influence returned to the Kingdom of Navarra in the 13th century and remained for the next three hundred years. When Ferdinand and Isabella came to the throne, Navarra was annexed to Spain.
With a population of about 630,000 and geographical area about 10,000 square kilometers, Navarra has enjoyed a dynamic economy and high per capita GDP of about EUR 28,000, which has been consistently higher than the EU average. Navarra is also rich in geographical diversity and history. The video below overviews Navarra's natural environment, tradition, culture, healthcare and education systems, infrastructure, and its policies to encourage sustainable development, cutting-edge innovation, quality workforce, and competitive business environment. |