Navarre

Navarre, known in Spanish as Navarra and in Basque as Nafarroa, is an autonomous community and historic kingdom in northern Spain. Its capital is Pamplona (Iruñea). The territory sits in the Pyrenees and the Ebro valley, bordered to the north by France, to the west by the Basque Country, to the south by La Rioja, and to the southeast by Aragon. It covers about 10,391 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 650,000.

Historically, Navarre was an independent medieval kingdom that stretched along the Pyrenees. In the 16th century, much of its territory was incorporated into the Crown of Castile, while the northern part became part of France. The present-day Spanish Navarre corresponds to the portion that remained under the Spanish Crown and became an autonomous community in 1982.

Autonomy and government: Navarre has a Statute of Autonomy and a distinct fiscal arrangement known as the Concierto Económico, under which the region collects most of its own taxes and pays a quota to the central government. The Parliament of Navarre elects a regional president and government. Spanish is the official language throughout, with Basque having official status in the Basque-speaking zones.

Economy and culture: The economy is diversified, including agriculture (notably Navarra DO wines and fruit), industry, and services. Pamplona is famous for the San Fermín festival in July and the Running of the Bulls. The Camino de Santiago route passes through Navarre, contributing to its cultural and tourism profile.