Pamplona

Pamplona is a big city in Spain.

It sits near the Pyrenees mountains. A river called the Arga flows by the city.

The city is famous for a big party. People run with bulls in the streets!

This party happens every year in July. It is a very fun and busy time. Many people visit the city to see it.

Pamplona is a large city in Spain.

It is the capital of the region called Navarre. The city sits on a flat area near the Arga river.

This river flows into the Ebro river. The weather can be wet or dry. It sits between rainy areas and dry lands.

Pamplona has a very long history. A Roman leader named Pompey may have started it. Long ago, people called the city Iruña.

It was once a kingdom. The city was also a strong fortress. In the past, different groups fought to rule it.

Today, many people know the city for a big festival. It is called San Fermín. It happens every year in July. During the party, people run with bulls in the streets.

A famous writer named Ernest Hemingway wrote about it. There are also 208,243 people living there now. This makes it the 29th largest city in Spain.

Pamplona is a major city in Spain.

It serves as the capital of the Chartered Community of Navarre. The city sits on a flat flood plain. This area is created by the Arga river.

The Arga river is a tributary of the Ebro river. The weather here is a mix of two types. It sits between the rainy Atlantic area and the dry inland areas. As of 2024, the city has 208,243 people living in it. This makes it the 29th largest city in all of Spain.

The history of the city is very old. Some people say it began in the late Bronze or early Iron Age. A Roman general named Pompey may have founded it around 75 BC. He likely named it Pompaelo. The local people, known as the Vascones, called the place Iruña. This name means "the city."

Later, it became a capital for the Kingdom of Pamplona. It also served as a place for Christian leaders to grow their influence.

Many different groups fought to control the city over the years. During the eighth century, it was in the middle of many military battles. The Visigoths, Franks, and Umayyad troops all had a presence there.

In the year 778, the walls were destroyed by Charlemagne. Later, Eneko Arista became the king of Pamplona in 824.

For a long time, the city was more of a fortress than a town. It only truly grew back into a busy urban center after the 11th century.

In the 12th century, the city grew into three separate areas. These were called boroughs. They were named San Cernín, San Nicolás, and the Navarrería.

These groups often had many quarrels with one another. Some fights were very serious and led to people being killed.

Eventually, King Charles III joined them all together in 1423. He made them one single city. He even filled in the gap that divided the boroughs.

This new space is now where the city hall stands.

Today, Pamplona is famous for its big festivals. The San Fermín festival happens every year from July 6 to July 14.

During this time, people participate in the running of the bulls. A writer named Ernest Hemingway made this event famous in his 1926 book.

People also enjoy the local food, like a dish called cordero al chilindrón.

If you like sports, you might know the football club Osasuna. It is the only club from Navarre to play in the top Spanish division.

Pamplona is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre in Spain.

It sits on the flood plain of the Arga river. This river is a second-order tributary of the Ebro river. The city is located at near sea level within the Cuenca de Pamplona. The local climate is transitional in nature. It sits between the rainy Atlantic northern façade of the Iberian Peninsula and the drier inland regions. As of 2024, the city has a population of 208,243 people. This makes it the 29th largest city in Spain.

The history of the settlement is very ancient. Some evidence traces the population back to the late Bronze or early Iron Age. Traditional history suggests the city was founded by the Roman general Pompey around 75 BC.

He likely established a camp called Pompaelo during the Sertorian Wars. The local Vascones people called the site Iruña, which means "the city."

In Roman times, it was a civitas stipendiaria in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis. It sat on the road from Burdigala to Asturica. This road connected modern Bordeaux to modern Astorga.

During the early Middle Ages, the city faced constant military disruption. The Germanic invasions of 409 caused destruction and a period of decline. During the Visigothic period, Pamplona shifted between self-rule and foreign domination. The Visigoth king Liuvigild seized the city around 581 and founded Victoriacum. Later, the Umayyad invasion arrived in the early 8th century. By 714–716, the town submitted to Arab military commanders through a treaty. Berber troops were stationed at the fortress. They established a cemetery near the Castle Square.

The city was often a prize for competing empires. Charlemagne destroyed the city walls in 778 during a failed expedition. This happened because he feared the town might be used against him. Later, the Banu Qasi and the Franks fought for influence. In 824, Eneko Arista rose to power and was crowned king of Pamplona.

For a long time, the city functioned more as a fortress than a large town. In 924, Cordovan sources described the inhabitants as poor and dedicated to banditry. They primarily spoke the Basque language. The city only regained its full urban shape after raids by Vikings and Andalusians ended.

Economic recovery began after the 11th century. Traffic on the Way of St James brought new cultures and prosperity. This pilgrimage route helped commercial and cultural exchanges with Christian Europe. By the 12th century, the city grew into three separate boroughs. These were the Navarrería, San Cernín, and San Nicolás.

These boroughs often fought with each other. In 1258, the borough of San Nicolás was burned. In 1276, the Navarrería was destroyed and its population was massacred. The site remained abandoned for nearly 50 years.

King Charles III eventually unified the city in 1423. He merged the three boroughs into a single urban entity. He ordered the gulf between the boroughs to be filled. This new common space is now the site of the city hall.

After the Spanish conquest in 1512, Pamplona remained the capital of the semiautonomous kingdom of Navarre. The city became a Castilian-Spanish outpost. Because of new artillery technology, the fortifications had to be updated. Starting in 1569, King Philip II built new fortifications. These were designed by Giovan Giacomo Paleari and Vespasiano Gonzaga.

Today, Pamplona is a world-famous center for culture and sport. The San Fermín festival is held every year from July 6 to July 14. It is famous for the running of the bulls.

The writer Ernest Hemingway brought the festival international fame in his 1926 novel, "The Sun Also Rises." The city also has a strong sporting identity. It is home to Osasuna, a football club. Osasuna is the only Navarrese club to play in the Spanish top division. Visitors can also enjoy local food, such as cordero al chilindrón.