The Monasterio de Irache is a large monastic complex set among vineyards, its documented history reaching back to 958. It was the site of Navarra's first pilgrim hospital, and its buildings span Romanesque through Baroque periods. The church has a fine Romanesque apse; the Renaissance cloister is elegant; the Baroque additions are grand if less subtle.
Like many Spanish monasteries, Irache served as barracks for Napoleon's troops during the Peninsular War and as a military hospital during the Carlist Wars. It was abandoned in the 19th century and has been partially restored.
Free admission, though the monastery opens at 10:00 — later than most pilgrims departing from Estella would like. The park opposite has picnic tables and shade trees, making it a good rest stop regardless of whether the monastery is open.
The earliest documented reference to Irache dates to 958. The Benedictine monastery became one of the most powerful religious houses in Navarra, with the first pilgrim hospital on the Camino Francés within Navarra. The Romanesque church dates to the 12th century, with later additions in Renaissance and Baroque styles. The associated Bodegas Irache continue the monastery's winemaking tradition.
