Net of Natural
Trails

Tarazonica Greenway Nature Trail

Description

A peaceful walk among market gardens

The old railway track, which until 1972, across the lowland of the River Queiles, linked Tarazona to Tudela, two of the most important towns in the valley of El Ebro, has recently been converted into a gentle path which still links, as it did then, these historic municipalities. For centuries, they were an example of intelligent, fruitful co-existence between Arab, Jewish and Christian peoples.

Nogal junto al camino. Al fondo, el Moncayo cubierto de nubes

This route begins at Tarazona station, where bollards on the smooth surface prevent vehicles from gaining access to the route. The first leg of this journey to Tudela through the fertile lowland of the River Queiles crosses fruit orchards and farmlands that include reedbeds which alternate with other areas of kempt riverbank vegetation.

Although two parallel dirt pathways run along both sides of the track providing access to market gardens and crops, the route of this Nature Trail is perfectly signposted, with areas especially designated for resting, with gardens, benches and picnic areas, along the way.

Before reaching Malón, in a landscape presided by the harsh summit of El Moncayo, the route takes a left turn in the direction of Novallas, one kilometre away. This small municipality’s station, which is currently in disuse, shows signs of vandalism, as does the public street furniture on the route, the most frequented part of the Trail.

Continuing along an embankment elevated over the river, the route crosses the town centre of Malón, which has grown over the course of history under the protection of its castle, a witness to historic fights and subsequent harmony between the Kingdoms of Aragón and Navarre, whose current community border can be found on the boundary of this Aragonese municipality.

Further on, the pathway reaches Tulebras, a small town developed around the Cistercian monastery of Santa María de la Caridad, which offers trail users its traditional inn. After passing by Tulebras station, outfitted with a picnic area and a fountain, young olive tree plantations seeking higher returns through cutting-edge drip irrigation systems begin to crop up on the landscape.

The Trail continues to Cascante, whose station, located one kilometre to the left of the historic city centre, is located next to an industrial estate. This important Navarre town of Roman origin is worthy of a quiet walk around the mediaeval streets of its old district, rich in stately palaces, whose Basilica of El Romero, with its 39-arch arcaded gallery, is a must-see.

During the gentle downward journey towards Murchante, the next halt on the old train route, it is not unusual to see rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) which, coupled with a diverse array of birds, find shelter in the natural hedgerows of brambles and reeds covering this section, where old elm trees (Ulmus sp.) can also be seen. In the meantime, as part of the landscape, plots of irrigated olive trees are increasingly frequent and among which a gas pipeline steers clear of the route.

The disused station of Murchante, although like all the others it has a picnic area, is the one which most betrays the passing of time. At this point, as the area surrounding the lowland has fewer trees, a panoramic view of the valley can be seen with a second gas pipeline nearby.

The route continues by passing several crossroads before it reaches Tudela. It first passes below the AP-68 motorway, to then cross the Lodosa canal and, finally, a pedestrian walkway over the NA-3010 highway. This elevation, which is located next to the sculpture of El Escachamatas, made out of old train parts, affords privileged views of the surrounding area. The surroundings of the Nature Trail become gradually filled with houses and frequent walkers as you draw closer to Tudela.

After passing below two viaducts that stand parallel to the A-68 highway, the route goes as far as the tracks of the modern railroad and passes under a bridge to meet an urban bicycle path painted green. After following it, the journey ends at the train station of Tudela, very close to the Otoño Park where there is a small train engine on a pedestal.

Sites of interest

Mapa

Profile

Harshness of natural environment
1. The environment is not risk-free
2. There are more than one risk factors
3. There are various risk factors
4. There are quite a lot of risk factors
5. There are many risk factors
Guidance along the route
1. Well defined trails and crossings
2. There is a clearly marked trail and signage
3. Requires the identification of geographic features and cardinal points
4. Requires off-path navigation
5. The trail is interrupted by obstacles that have to be gone around

Route difficulty
1. Walking on a flat surface
2. Trails with different types of path
3. Walking on stepped paths or irregular terrain
4. The use of hands or jumping over the terrain is necessary
5. The use of hands is required to progress
Amount of effort needed
1. Up to 1 hour of continuous walking
2. Between 1 and 3 hours of continuous walking
3. Between 3 and 6 hours of continuous walking
4. Between 6 and 10 hours of actual walking
5. More than 10 hours of continuous walking

(Calculated according to the MIDE criteria for an average excursionist with a light load)

Highlights

Further information

Tarazona

In the Middle Ages, this municipality, which was already known as “Turiaso” by Celtiberians and Romans, was an important cultural melting-pot where Christians, Hebrews and Muslims demonstrated an enviable, fruitful co-existence for centuries.

In its narrow streets, the old district of Tarazona preserves obvious examples of the passing of these three cultures, including the noteworthy, well-preserved Jewish quarter, its hanging houses and the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Huerta, which was surprisingly deserted for 25 years and is currently being restored, and where Gothic, Classicist and Al-Andalus art motifs can be admired as proof of the cultural merger undergone by this town.

Worthy of note among its many monuments are the Episcopal Palace and the Convents of La Concepción and Santa Ana, with their Mudejar remains; the Tower of Santa María Magdalena, the Town Hall, with its Renaissance reliefs, and the octagonal floor plan bullring built in the 18th century, which has houses inside.

Tudela

This city of Mudejar origin, founded in the 9th century, which remained under Muslim influence until the 12th century, was home, throughout this period, to a large Jewish and another Mozarab community, whose fruitful co-existence left this city a splendid legacy.

A stroll around its streets serves as a reminder of its history, beginning at the church of La Magdalena, a Romanesque building built over a Mozarab temple, followed by the Cathedral, whose construction began over the Main Mosque in the 12th century and ended in the 13th century in transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, and the Dean’s Palace, the present Museum of Tudela, a building of renaissance style .

More recent are the Baroque church of San Nicolás, the Casa del Almirante, a beautiful Renaissance palace, and the Casa del Dean, whose façade is of the same style. A long historic-artistic tour which also includes the noteworthy 16th-century Town Hall, the Castel Ruiz Cultural Centre and the church of San Jorge, both from the 17th century, and the 18th-century palace of El Marqués de Huarte.