Parque de la Taconera

The Parque de la Taconera is the oldest and most traditional public park in Pamplona, laid out on the edge of the old town on land that was once part of the city's defences. The park lies beside the walls, near the citadel and the Cathedral, and it is reached on foot from the Plaza del Castillo in a few minutes. Its location tells you something about its history. For centuries, this corner of the city was a military zone, with bastions and moats, and when the fortifications were no longer needed, the empty ground was made into gardens for the people of Pamplona. The Portal de la Taconera, a seventeenth-century gate in the walls, still stands at the edge of the park, with the coat of arms of the city above the arch.

The landscape combines formal and informal elements. Wide gravel paths lead beneath tall trees, chestnuts, planes and limes, which cast deep shade in summer and turn gold in autumn. Flower beds, lawns and hedges are neatly kept, and there are benches and small fountains. Several parts of the park follow the line of the old moat, which now holds gardens instead of water, and the ramparts above provide a green frame and a series of walks. The Baluarte de la Taconera, a bastion, can be explored as part of the walls, and from it there are views over the park and the surrounding city.

One of the best-loved features of the park is its collection of animals. A small enclosure holds deer, and peacocks walk freely on the grass, spreading their tails when they are in the mood. Ducks, geese and swans live on the ponds, and children come to feed them. These animals have been part of the park for generations and give it a gentle, rural character in the middle of the city. A bandstand hosts concerts, and there is a playground for small children.

The park plays a part in the life of the city all year, but it is especially busy during the festival of San Fermín in July, when Pamplona fills with visitors and the green spaces are used for rest and gatherings. Outside the festival, it is a calm place for a morning walk, an hour with a book or a picnic, and the cafes and bars around its edge are convenient for refreshments.

The park sits next to the city walls, the Ciudadela, the Navarre Museum and the Cathedral of the Savior and the Holy Spirit, so it works naturally as a pause in a day of sightseeing. It suits families, walkers and anyone who enjoys a green setting. It is free and open at all hours.