The Salazar Valley ( eu, Zaraitzu Ibarra, es, Valle de Salazar) is a valley in the east of the Foral Community of Navarre in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It lies within the

Merindad ''Merindad'' () is a Mediaeval Spanish administrative term for a country subdivision smaller than a province but larger than a municipality. The officer in charge of a merindad was called a merino, roughly equivalent to the English ''count'' or ...

of Zangoza-Sangüesa and within that, the

Comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) 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, ...

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

Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

, 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 Nort ...

in Abodi.

Etymology

The first mention of the name was in documents of the

Monastery of Leire The Monastery of San Salvador of Leyre ( eu, Leireko San Salbatore monasterioa; es, Monasterio de San Salvador de Leire) is a religious complex to the south of the Sierra of Leyre, in northern Navarre, Spain, representing one of the most importan ...

, 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 branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

. 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 (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...

. 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 dialect was the Salazarese, although nowadays

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

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