Castillo de Javier


This 10th-century castle, strategically located on the border between the kingdoms of Navarra and Aragón, is Javier's main attraction. Inside, there's a small museum dedicated to the life of San Francisco Xavier, the patron saint of Navarra, who was born here in 1506.

Xavier spent much of his life travelling, preaching, teaching and healing in Asia. Today his body lies in a miraculous state of preservation in a cathedral in Goa, India.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Monasterio de San Salvador de Leyre

3.65 MILES

In the shadow of the Sierra de Leyre, this historic complex is packed with architectural treasures. Highlights include an 11th-century crypt containing…

2. Castillo de la Peña Feliciano

6.69 MILES

The 12th-century keep and some of the walls are all that remain of the castle that once guarded the frontier between the two Christian kingdoms of Aragón…

3. Iglesia de San Esteban

6.69 MILES

This Romanesque-Gothic church, with a weathered Romanesque portal, has a deliciously gloomy crypt decorated with medieval frescos.

4. Ayuntamiento

6.74 MILES

Lording it over Sos's little central plaza, the Renaissance-era town hall is one of the village's grandest public buildings. Duck inside to admire the…

5. Casa Palacio de Sada

6.78 MILES

Fernando II of Aragón was born in this building in 1452. It's an impressive mansion – more so now than back then, following a major expansion around 1600…

7. Iglesia de San Martín

16.63 MILES

This Romanesque-cum-Gothic church contains a museum of colourful religious art from area churches, the highlight being San Martín's own gilded-wood mid…

8. Castillo

16.7 MILES

Uncastillo's castle, rising unmistakably above the rest of the village, dates back to the 11th century and contains remains of a 14th-century Gothic…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "spain/navarra/javier/attractions/castillo-de-javier/a/poi-sig/1129957/1315816",
      "position": "superzone"
    }