Arrizabalaga (Campanas) y Artederreta (Carrascal)

Abstract

In the heart of the middle zone of Navarra, on the N121 Pamplona to Zaragoza road, «El Carrascal' and «Las Campanas' are to be foúnd. Both are examples of Basque toponnymy made Spanish.

The term «El Carrascal» is applied to a railway station, a mountain pass and the area where a hermitage exists, all in the parish of Untzue (Orba). The original place name 'Arte ederreta' or «Artederreta' was used for the «Plana» (Artederreta Zelaia), as well as the church, hospital and monastry which used to stand in the 'Portus' (pass). The name Muru 'cabe Artederreta', transformed into Muruarte de Reta in the official modern version originates here.

«Las Campanas», a suburb of the parish of Tiebas-Muru, was initially the Spanish name for an inn beside the medieval church of St. Nicolas in the place known as 'Arrizabal', 'Arrizabalaga' or «Arrizabaleta', which is between Monreal and Puente la Reina on the cross-roads of the Road to Santiago ( erromes kamio) and the road from Pamplona to Tudela. The Church of Arrizabalaga had two bells, hence the name Las Campanas (the bells) which came into use in the 17th century after the disappearance of the old monastry in 1808.