Castillo de Javier Description
The Castillo de Javier is situated in the small town of
Javier, less than an hour 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 cofounder 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.
Facts
The Castillo de Javier (Castle of Xabier) can be visited
daily between 9:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 20:00.
Castillo de
Javier
Map&Location
Address: Castillo de
Javier, Calle del Santo, 1, 31411 Javier, Spain. Get help with directions using the map
provided bellow:
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Castillo de Javier Photos
Castillo de Javier - Church way
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