Castillo de Javier History
The Castillo de Javier is situated in the small town of Javier, less than an hour’s drive from Pamplona, the capital of the province of Navarre.
In the 10th and 11th centuries, prior to the construction of the castle, a watchtower stood here, to which new buildings were gradually added.
In the 16th century, Cardinal Cisneros ordered the castle to be redesigned as a fortress, but in recent times the complex has been restored, including its towers and drawbridge. It now hosts a Jesuit college.
St Francis Xavier, a missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order, was born in this castle in 1506.
Preserved here are the saint’s bedroom and a chapel containing a Gothic walnut crucifix. According to legend, at difficult moments in the saint’s life, and on the anniversary of his death, droplets of blood appeared on the crucifix.
The walls of the chapel are decorated with a macabre mural of grinning skeletons, a fine depiction of The Dance of Death. Every year from 4–12 March, the inhabitants of Navarra make a penitent pilgrimage to the castle chapel.
The Castillo de Javier (Castle of Xabier) can be visited daily between 9:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 20:00.
Castillo de Javier Location
Address: Castillo de Javier, Calle del Santo, 1, 31411 Javier, Spain. Get help with directions using the map provided below: