Estella-Lizarra is one of the localities that make up the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain – Paths of Sefarad.

In fact, shortly after reaching the midpoint of the 11th century, it is known that there was a Jewish presence in the Estella-Lizarra area, but the city itself was not founded until 1090, when King Sancho Ramírez decided to secure the area against Muslim aggression and protect the Camino de Santiago.

To this end, he chose a location where there had been a Vascon settlement, in a strip of land between the Ega River and the mountain, which was initially inhabited only by Frankish citizens, that is, merchants and free men without vassalage, with no nobles, clergy, or peasants. The king granted the city a charter modeled after that of Jaca, aiming to guide it towards development based on trade and services, which the chosen location for the foundation favored.

It is most likely that from practically the moment of its foundation, Estella-Lizarra had a Jewish community, which would be located in the Elgacena neighborhood, what would become the oldest Jewish quarter in Navarra. Decades later, as the reign of Alfonso I the Battler was coming to an end, the community grew and expanded, occupying a terrace of the Ega River to the south of the city.

Despite suffering setbacks such as the conversion of the synagogue into a church in 1144, during the 12th century, the Jewish community was integrated into the life of the locality and its institutions.

However, in 1328, a terrible event occurred, namely the assault on the Jewish Quarter, and by the end of the 15th century, expulsion followed.

For more information, visit the website of the Network of Jewish Quarters.