The Alto del Perdón on the Camino de Santiago
The Alto del Perdón and the Camino de Santiago
The Alto del Perdón is located on one of the stages of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, between Pamplona and Puente la Reina.
It is a ridge and mountain in Navarre, with an altitude of 770 m, situated 10 km south of the city of Pamplona, between the Arga, Robo, and Elorza rivers. It is 699 km away from Santiago de Compostela.
This site serves as a viewpoint offering exceptional panoramic views. To the north, you can see the province of Pamplona and the Pyrenean mountains, while to the south, there are vast fields of cereals. Additionally, it features the first wind farm of the Foral Community of Navarre, which is a spectacle in itself upon reaching this peak.
What does the Pilgrim Monument at the Alto del Perdón represent?
Designed by Vicente Galbete, it features a group of figures made of metal sheets, symbolizing a procession of pilgrims heading towards their destination. Accompanied by mules, travellers from different eras are depicted against the backdrop of wind turbines. The artwork includes an inscription that reads: “Where the path of the wind crosses with the stars.”
This tribute was completed in 1996, thanks to the efforts of the company EHN (responsible for the wind turbines) and the Friends of the Camino de Santiago association, who promoted its construction.
Another interesting fact about this route is that every 30th of August, a pilgrimage is held in honour of the Virgin of Perdón. Residents from various nearby towns gather at a pedestal built from the remains of a church, which serves as a shrine for this cherished celebration.
The legend surrounding the Alto del Perdón is also well known: It is said that a pilgrim walking during the hottest months of the year arrived exhausted and thirsty at the Alto del Perdón, desperately seeking a place to refresh himself. At that moment, the Devil appeared, offering his help on the condition that the pilgrim renounce God. The pilgrim refused, choosing to endure instead. Despite his refusal, the Devil proposed another condition: renouncing the Virgin Mary. Once again, the pilgrim declined and stood firm. Aware of the pilgrim’s suffering, the Devil made one final demand: renouncing the Apostle Santiago.
Upon the pilgrim’s third refusal, the Devil vanished, and the Apostle Santiago appeared, guiding the traveller to what is now known as the Fuente Reniega, where he could finally quench his thirst. The pilgrim, nearly lifeless, reached the fountain and drank water from the Apostle Santiago’s scallop shell.
The fountain still exists today, and whether one is thirsty or not, it is said that drinking from it wards off the temptation to abandon the journey and helps maintain the pilgrim’s resolve.
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