El cerco

General view of the Cerco de Artajona.;Monumental enclosure that originally had fourteen towers, of which nine have been preserved, cubic and crenellated, linked by the twelfth-century wall and by a promenade. Donated in 1084 by the Bishop of Pamplona to a community of canons from Toulouse (France), it enjoyed great prosperity until the 16th century, when the priory of Artajona was dissolved. The whole complex protects the church-fortress of San Saturnino, which served as a bell tower and lookout point. Built in the 13th century on the ruins of a Romanesque temple, it formed part of the defense of the complex, with its robust walls and buttresses, among other elements. Its monumental Gothic portal from the end of the 13th century stands out, with images of the martyrdom of San Saturnino and Queen Juana of Navarra and her husband Felipe el Hermoso. Inside you can see a Gothic altarpiece made from 1505 to 1515, with a seated carving of San Saturnino, a Gothic carving of the Virgin and Child and a Calvary in the Hispanic Gothic style -Flemish, with paintings and abundant gold. Another curious piece is the medieval cistern, recently found on the north side of the church. The restoration process, which has lasted from 2003 to 2009, has been the culmination of a series of tasks carried out since the 70s to put an end to the danger of ruin it presented. Tourist Information Office: Cerco de Artajona, in calle San Saturnino nº 13, (in front of the church of San Saturnino) From November to May. Weekends and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. From June to October: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. without interruption. Holiday Mondays open. Consult schedules, since they vary according to the seasons. Outside opening hours, service to groups by making an appointment. Telephone 617189957 Artajona guided tours - vivamus (rutasvivamus.com) info@rutasvivamus.com