Pyrenees Trip June 2024 - Part 5 Bardenas Reales desert, Spain

Originally we had planned to visit Pamplona, but upon researching what to see and do there, it didn't sound very interesting! So we decided to go somewhere that my brother had found out about which although further away from the mountains, sounded fascinating.

It is an amazing desert landscape in Navarra, northern Spain, called Bardenas Reales, which became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2000. Below are some old rock dwellings which look very basic; my brother was the only person who ventured up there and said there was a load of rubbish inside some of the 'rooms' which is a shame. After this we set off on the circular route given to us by the Information Centre.

This map shows where we were over the last few days: Broto (red marker), Ainsa off to the right, then Jaca and then Bardenas Reales.

La Bardena Blanca, the most fragile part of the desert area is the middle section of the huge desert, which stretches for many kms in all directions, and part of it is in military use.

On the left, and in the photo below this one, is the rock formation known as Pisquerra, which would have been a bit more spectacular if we had been closer!

Our route was on a gravel road, which was good because it meant that people had to drive more slowly in this fragile ecosystem. In a motorhome you have to drive slower than a car due to things rattling so it took us a good few hours to do the circuit!

Of course we stopped a lot too to take photos and just look around. There are crop fields all through this desert area and I've seen photos of it looking green in the spring, but it was extremely arid when we were there. I guess there was enough moisture in the soil in spring for the wheat (or whatever) to grow, though I doubt the harvest would be very good in this kind of place.

I loved this pyramid although it doesn't seem to have a name.

Looking towards one of the most photographed rocks, called Castildetierra

The road ran right by Castildetierra, which has appeared in films though I don't know which ones, although Game of Thrones was filmed at Bardenas Reales - seems like many places in Spain that we have visited have been filmed for that show! (So much for the fragile ecosystem though, having hundreds of extras, the actors and all the film crew milling around ..... we at least kept to the roads.)

I just love this rock!

Our next destination was extremely green, in stark contrast to this landscape!