The Salazar Valley (, ) is a valley in the east of the Foral Community of Navarre in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. It lies within the Merindad of Zangoza-Sangüesa and within that, the

Comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...

of Roncal-Salazar. The Sierra de Abodi, part of the Western

Pyrenees The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...

, forms the natural boundary in the north. There is a

ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area–a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North Am ...

in Abodi.

Etymology

The first mention of the name was in documents of the Monastery of Leire, with the denomination of ''Sarasazo'' (924). Later ''Sarasazu'' (1055), ''Sarasaz'' (1111 and 1469), ''Sarasaitz'' (1205) especially in texts written in

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

. Zaraitzu seems to derivate from an older form: ''Sarasaitzu''. The Castilian official denomination began being used widely in the 17th century probably influenced by the ''Salazar'' surname, famous in the Nobility of the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...

. In fact ''Salazar'' is not a common surname in Navarre, but it is very common in the west of the Basque Country, which indicates its origins.

Zaraitzu Basque

The local

Basque language Basque ( ; ) is a language spoken by Basques and other residents of the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country, a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Basque ...

dialect was the Salazarese, although nowadays Spanish among the elder population and Spanish and Euskara Batua between younger generations is spoken. However, the last publications of works about the Basque of Zaraitzu (dictionary, learning method, text collection and oral recordings) and some courses of this dialect in the valley have been addressed to the local population in order to maintain it to some extent.

Municipalities

The traditional names of the towns are in brackets. * Uscarrés (Uskartze) * Esparza de Salazar (Espartza Zaraitzu/Esparza) * Ezcároz (Ezkaroze) * Gallués (Galoze) * Güesa (Gorza) * Ibilcieta (Ibiltzieta/Ibizta) * Iciz (Izize) * Igal (Igari) * Izal (Itzalle) * Izalzu (Itzaltzu) * Ochagavía (Otsagabia/Otsagi) * Oronz (Orontze) * Sarriés (Sartze) * Jaurrieta (Eaurta)

Demographics

References

External links

Salazar Valley site
Valleys of Spain Comarcas of Navarre Landforms of Navarre {{navarre-geo-stub