Salinas de Oro

Geographically nestled in the Guesálaz Valley.  The community was separated to become an independent Municipality in the mid-nineteenth century, physically separating the Muniáin and Irzurzu Councils from the rest of the Valley.  

The Municipality, resulting from the union of the villages Oro and Salinas, has an area of 14.10 kilometres, and vorders the Goñi Valley (to the North), Guesálaz -Izurzu and Muniáin (to the East), Vidaurreta – Etxauri Valley (to the West, South-West).  

In the municipality you can see 3 areas:  To the North, the mountains that form the southern edge of the Goñi Valley; South-East, the southern extension of the Sarbil Mountain Range, comprised of detrital conglomerate, culminating in Mount Esparaz (1,019 metres) and separates the basins of Salado - Guesálaz Valley (West) and the Arga – Etxauri Valley (East).  In the middle is the complex structure of the depression opened by the river, with clay, ophytes, gypsum and salt, and where the Saleras are located.

Sub-Mediterranean climate in the higher elevated areas to the North, and Mediterranean in the rest.  Ever green Oaks predominate (289 hectares), as well as repopulation of Oaks, Gall Oaks and Pines.

Sub-Mediterranean climate in the higher elevated areas to the North

Salinas De Oro Turismo Rural Navarra

History

The Municipality of Salinas de Oro was formerly called Yániz, it also unites the two medieval towns:  Zuazu and Oro.
The Yániz Village was founded on a hill sheltered from North winds, and under the protection of the mountains that dominate, separated from Guesálaz and shapes the diaper of Salinas de Oro.  

Near the village and in the highest part a castellated church was built to defend the village, you can see a large area of the Estella Region including the heights of Montejurra and Monjardín.  The village was also defended by the “Castillo de Oro” (The Gold Castle), built on the “Peña Grande” (Big Crags) or “San Jerónimo” (Saint Jerome), an area where they were strong, according to tradition, the Kings of Navarre and León defeated by Abd al Rahmán in the terrible battle of Valdejunquera, which occurred between Muez and Salinas in 920.

Salt farms

In Salinas de Oro, exists one of the few remaining salt productions made from natural spring water.

The salt farms are very old, the first written document dates from 1492 but it is believed to be prior to this time.  During this time salt played an essential role in food preservation.  Today salt is an economic product, but in ancient times it wasn’t.  Amongst its uses we can highlight the use as monetary exchange; this is where the word “salary” comes from, as a therapeutic or medicinal use or for food preservation.  

The best known use of salt is to season food, balancing and enhancing the flavors of food.

Our salt is characterized by its artisanal production using natural spring water.  Water in saline deposits is used in the process, which is accumulated in deposits, from where it is distributed into small pools.  The sun and the air evaporate, depositing the salt at the bottom of the pools.  The collecting of salt is done by hand, as our ancestors did in the past.  By this method we obtain a valued natural product.