Navarrete is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja. Named a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico of Spain, due to its historical and monumental character. Navarrete is located between Logroño and Nájera on the French Way, the most popular path on the Way of St. James, a medieval pilgrim route. Currently, Navarrete is the only pottery centre in La Rioja, and it has been one of the most important centres in Northern Spain.
Geography
Orography
The municipality has an extension of 28,49 Km², and it borders with Fuenmayor to the north, Logroño and Lardero to the east, Entrena, Medrano, Hornos de Moncalvillo, and Sotés to the south, and Huércanos and Cenicero to the west.
Most of the land is located on a glacis of the Iregua River, where currentely the Daroca River flows. Whitin its territorial jurisdiction there is also a reservoir called Valbornedo. The historic centre of the town is built on a hill called Tedeón, from which the town has since expanded.
Agriculture
is very important to Navarrete's economy.
Economy
There are still some old potteries in the upper part of the town, although the industry has relocated to the lower part of town, next to the communication routes.
History
The origin of the name Navarrete is uncertain. Navarrete was founded by the King of Castile as part of a plan to defend his borders and the name appears to have some relation to the neighbouring Kingdom of Navarre. One theory notes that the word "Nafarrate" in Basque means "Door of Navarre"; the later castellanization of the name would give rise to the present spelling. Alfonso VIII of Castile proposed to the inhabitants of the old villages of the zone that they relocate in a defensive place. These villages were known by the name of Corcuetos and their names were: San Llorente, San Antolín, San Pedro and Nuestra Señora del Prado. Their population settled around a castle raised on Tedeón hill, thus founding the new villa of Navarrete. The castle was fortified and protected with a small wall, that enclosed the settlement and it defended it from the possible attacks that threatened from the north. In 1192 important fueros were granted to the inhabitants of the new settlement. These fueros, or charter, gave rise to the use in common of river waters and the collective exploitation of grass lands and woods to the east of the town. The charter also allowed for the establishment of local markets and fairs. Thanks to these privileges, the villa reached a great importance. In 1367 a battle took place in the locality which is sometimes called the Battle of Navarrete, but is better known as the Battle of Nájera.
Parish church of the Assumption. Construction began in 1553 and finished in the 17th century. It consists of three naves and a baroque altarpiece.
Hermitage of Santa Maria del Buen Suceso. Located to the south of the municipality, in the direction of Entrena. The facade reliefs make references to the travellers of the Way of St. James.
The Castle. This is the name given to the highest peak of the Cerro Tedeón on account of there once being a castle there. No trace of the castle now exists. There is a viewing point from which can be seen several towns and mountains.
Demography
Demographic evolution of Navarrete, during the 20th century. Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray id:darkgrey value:gray id:sfondo value:rgb id:barra value:rgb ImageSize = width:500 height:300 PlotArea = left: 60 bottom: 30 top: 20 right: 20 DateFormat = x.y Period = from:1550 till:2110 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = late ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:50 start:1550 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:10 start:1550 BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo BarData= bar: 1900 text: 1900 bar: 1910 text: 1910 bar: 1920 text: 1920 bar: 1930 text: 1930 bar: 1940 text: 1940 bar: 1950 text: 1950 bar: 1960 text: 1960 bar: 1970 text: 1970 bar: 1981 text: 1981 bar: 1990 text: 1990 bar: 2000 text: 2000 PlotData= color:barra width:20 align:center bar: 1900 from:1737 till: 1550 bar: 1910 from:1611 till: 1550 bar: 1920 from:1672 till: 1550 bar: 1930 from:1683 till: 1550 bar: 1940 from:1706 till: 1550 bar: 1950 from:1836 till: 1550 bar: 1960 from:1862 till: 1550 bar: 1970 from:2015 till: 1550 bar: 1981 from:2019 till: 1550 bar: 1990 from:2048 till: 1550 bar: 2000 from:2087 till: 1550 PlotData= bar: 1900 at: 1737 fontsize:S text: 1737 shift: bar: 1910 at: 1611 fontsize:S text: 1611 shift: bar: 1920 at: 1672 fontsize:S text: 1672 shift: bar: 1930 at: 1683 fontsize:S text: 1683 shift: bar: 1940 at: 1706 fontsize:S text: 1706 shift: bar: 1950 at: 1836 fontsize:S text: 1836 shift: bar: 1960 at: 1862 fontsize:S text: 1862 shift: bar: 1970 at: 2015 fontsize:S text: 2015 shift: bar: 1981 at: 2019 fontsize:S text: 2019 shift: bar: 1990 at: 2048 fontsize:S text: 2048 shift: bar: 2000 at: 2087 fontsize:S text: 2087 shift: TextData= fontsize:S pos: text:Source Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España - Graphic manufacture by Wikipedia.
