The Invisible Guardian

Travel Guide

Elizondo – Baztan Valley

The ancient Kingdom of Navarre comprise the autonomous communities of Navarre, Basque Country and La Rioja.

Elizondo is a town located in the province and is located on both banks of the Baztan River. The town is the capital of the Baztan valley and is one of Elizondo is one of fifteen settlements in the valley.

The history of the Baztan valley dates back to around the year 1025. During the War of the Pyrenees in late July 1794, the Battle of the Baztan Valley took place in the area. In 1813, British General William Stewart located his headquarters in Elizondo during the Battle of the Pyrenees. That’s not the history of the area explored in this trilogy however – rather the exploration of local superstitions woven into the plot is the history and landscape of this novel.

References to the Spanish Inquisition added another layer to the overall story.

A story which is infused with the myths, folklore, history, culture and magic of the Basque region.

All from a remote location amidst a wooded valley with grey skies, endless rain and mist, a claustrophobic atmosphere and the villages remote from themselves as from each other dripping with ancient traditions and ghoulish ideas. There’s a sprinkling of magical realism throughout the novel and a great deal of superstition. Many locals blame the murders on the basajaun, a local version of Bigfoot, although he is not generally thought of being evil. They read tarot cards for example and cut crosses in bread to keep out any evil spirits. When the new and modern ways of trying things of getting their children to stay away from drink and drugs etc doesn’t seem to work then they resort to the old traditions of leaving things as offerings to the spirits in the woods in an attempt to restore an order of sorts.