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Natural Monuments

San Juan Xar Cave Shrine

Natural Monuments

San Juan Xar Cave Shrine

Highlight • Religious Site

San Juan Xar Cave Shrine

Name: San Juan Xar Cave Shrine
Rating: 2

Recommended by 12 hikers

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Location: Igantzi, Nord Occidental, Navarra, Spain

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Best Hikes to San Juan Xar Cave Shrine

4.9

(7)

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1. Unanua (654 m) – San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Igantzi

11.5km

04:00

530m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.8

(6)

hikers

2. San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Arantza

12.0km

04:10

570m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.8

(5)

hikers

3. San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Arantza

5.43km

01:39

170m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Carlos Dominguez

April 2, 2021

A spiritual sanctuary within another natural sanctuary. That is San Juan Xar. An area declared a Nature Reserve in 1987 for housing the only native hornbeam forest or Carpinus betulus, also known as birches, on the peninsula. In addition to the hornbeam, we can see century-old chestnut trees, maples, oaks and ash trees.

In the heart of this unique spot located in the heart of the western Pyrenees, we find a cave-hermitage with a fountain with three jets whose waters, according to popular belief, have miraculous healing powers against skin conditions.

It is tradition that you first drink from each of the pipes and then rub the affected part with a wet cloth. Then, the handkerchiefs are left in the surroundings of the fountain, and later the priest will pick them up and burn them. The custom has been around for a long time, for this reason, before the image of Saint John the Baptist, who today inhabits the cave, arrived here, the prayers and offerings were for the lamiak, nymphs who, according to mythology, inhabited this area since the dawn of the weather.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 140 m

Weather

Tuesday 16 December

14°C

7°C

-- %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: -- km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Igantzi, Nord Occidental, Navarra, Spain

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San Juan Xar Cave Shrine

1. Unanua (654 m) – San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Igantzi

2. San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Arantza

3. San Juan Xar Cave Shrine loop from Arantza

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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