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PAMPLONA: THE PRIVILEGE OF THE UNION
The Way of St. James: the
path that shaped the city
If there is one element that explains the
rise and open character of Pamplona, it is
the Camino de Santiago. Since the Middle
Ages, the city has been one of the first ma-
jor stages of the French Way after crossing
the Pyrenees. Through its streets passed
merchants, pilgrims, nobles and clerics
from all over Europe. That blend of people
and cultures turned Pamplona into a stra-
tegic commercial hub and a crossroads of
languages and customs.
The flow of pilgrims brought with it the ex-
pansion of trades, the flourishing of hospi-
tals and guesthouses, and the consolida-
tion of its urban life. In fact, many historians
agree that the very spirit of tolerance that
made the Privilegio de la Unión possible
has its roots in the coexistence forged du-
ring those centuries of Jacobean transit.
Today, the Camino de Santiago remains a li-
ving thread connecting Pamplona’s past and
present. Every year, thousands of walkers
enter the city through the Portal de Francia,
rest in its hostels and wander the cobbled
streets of the Navarrería before continuing
on towards Puente la Reina. For them, Pam-
plona is far more than a stage: it is a place
where hospitality has become culture. The
sound of bagpipes and the smell of freshly
baked bread in the ovens of the Old Town ac-
company their departure, as if the city itself
wished to bless their journey.
Magdalena Bridge
Interior of Pamplona Cathedral
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