The enigmatic ruins of the Royal Munitions Factory in Eugi

Hidden in the beautiful Pyrenean forests of the north of Navarre are the vestiges of the historic Royal Munitions Factory of EugiThe ruins of this amazing place, of which enigmatic ruins survive, today represent an attractive walk that is a journey through history, in the midst of a majestic place that is well worth seeing.

The Quinto Real forest

If you like natural places, but you are also interested in history, photography and the hikingThe legendary Eugi Weapons Factory, hidden in this forest, has all the ingredients to become a fascinating adventure of interest to you, and one that you can fully enjoy. free.

8 km from Eugi, about 9 km from the French border and almost 17 km from Pamplona, is this enigmatic place, of which only the ruins of its buildings and the memory of the many stories that form part of the region's identity survive.

Important historical episodes took place here, and today they form a spectacular contrast that transcends the boundaries of space/time, through vestiges that survive in a beautiful green mountainous area in the heart of the Pyrenees.

A legendary story

According to the historical evidence that has been uncovered, it is certain that at least since the 15th century there was already activity in the area linked to the manufacture and repair of weapons, through various workshops and forges.

Even some legendary and highly valued armour, such as that of Philip III and Philip IV, was made here, where ammunition, helmets and other paraphernalia characteristic of military activity were also prepared, which for a long time remained one of the priorities of the crown, which also acquired various territories in the region.

It was on this basis that, in 1766, the formal founding and construction of the Royal Munitions Factory of EugiThis was particularly true of Olaberri, as its proximity to the French border, as well as the ruggedness of the area, made it a strategic point for maintaining a good supply of ammunition and military equipment.

The Royal Munitions Factory of Eugi

It was thus that this facility began to operate under royal auspices; however, it was not just another factory, but also an unprecedented system of military production, by means of which a more efficient system was to be implemented, whereby what had in part been a privately owned system began to become part of the king's domain.

It was a large installation -around 10,000 square metres- where the following converged in an organised fashion different phases of the arms production process; The military industry not only had material processing units such as furnaces, coal bunkers and mills, but also produced bombs, cannons and ammunition of various calibres, as well as specialised workshops for cleaning, calibration and other activities necessary for the military industry.

Of course, in order to keep all this going, considerable manpower was also required, which is why, in parallel with the development of the a population The number of people who lived directly or indirectly from the activity carried out in the factory grew to approximately half a thousand.

This of course also led to the creation of other facilities, such as a school, a medical unit and even a church, the remains of which can also be found within the enigmatic ruins that remain in the area.

The lethal blow

In reality, the existence of the Eugi Arms Factory was relatively brief, for although the foundations were beginning to be laid for a town that was expected to remain stable for a long time, in reality it lasted less than 30 years.

It was in 1794 that the Convention War This provoked the arrival of French troops in the area, who of course knew the strategic importance of this arms production centre for the Spanish crown, so they arrived with the intention of destroying most of it, leaving the facilities unusable and the population too devastated to be able to rebuild.

Although troops were sent to try to contain the French onslaught, the outcome was a bloody battle that left around two hundred dead and some 700 people wounded, and caused significant damage to the factory.

There is evidence that, like other military factories that were devastated, such as the one in Orbaizeta, attempts were made to reactivate work at the end of the armed conflict with France; however, in the case of the Eugi facility, these efforts were in vain and it was never definitively reactivated.

According to documentary evidence from 1843, the place was already in ruins and abandoned, although some of its emblematic facilities would survive over time.

One of the tourist destinations in Navarre that you must visit

Today, the river Arga still flows under the arches of what was once this royal armoury, which is not only one of the best-preserved installations of the old factory, but also one of the most beautiful and emblematic postcards that can be seen of this mysterious place.

It is worth noting that perhaps in our times, this image could be even more spectacular, because in ancient times, due to the fact that the arms industry needed a huge supply of wood resources, the environment in the area was somewhat different; however, after several centuries, nowadays there is still a dense forest with huge beech trees that generate a fascinating atmosphere, where a beautiful natural environment converges with the vestiges of a historical place that keeps a great variety of stories to tell.

Today it remains protected as a Asset of Cultural Interest, And although you can visit it on your own, there are also interesting and recommendable guided tours that allow you to learn intimate details and interesting stories about this historic and enigmatic place.

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• Between the port of Urkiaga and the village of Eugi lies the Arrobi Borda GuesthouseIn the heart of Quinto Real, you will feel right at home.