The gastronomy of Navarre, worthy of a museum

If you think of museums, you probably conjure up an image of paintings, sculptures and so on. But the option available in Navarre (in northern Spain) is something completely different: visits to various gastronomic museums dedicated to some of its most delicious products, such as honey, truffles, wine, oil and cheese. You'll learn the secrets of how they are made, and you can also take a souvenir home with you. Get ready to see… and to taste.

Cheese and Cattle Migration Museum. Uztárroz
You'll find this curious museum in the heart of the Roncal valley, the perfect place to enjoy the delicious cheese from Roncal with its own Navarre Designation of Origin. Visitors to the museum (entrance is free) can see various utensils, photographs and clothing related to the annual capital migrations and the production of this cheese (shepherd's clothing, sheep shears, cattle branding irons, etc.)

Truffle Museum. Metauten
This is the first national museum dedicated to this delicacy. Visitors will find a modern building with interactive multimedia projections, exhibitions, a children's area (where younger visitors will meet 'trufita') and an area selling products. Simply exquisite. And if you fancy yourself as a gourmet, why not visit the Truffle Fair which is held in winter in Valdorba, and where you can see a demonstration of how truffles are collected?

Ezkurdi Beekeeping House-Museum. Eltso
Traditionally-produced honeys, honey jam, chocolates, soaps, creams, candles, pollen, wax, royal jelly… these are just a few of the products that you can acquire in this charming museum located in a typical family house. And while you're there, you can also see how honey is made in the beehive, as well as an exhibition on the history of beekeeping. Sound interesting?

Vine and Wine Exhibition Centre. Olite
Located in an old palace, you'll find the centre alongside the lovely Royal Palace in Olite. Its three floors cover the historical evolution of wine in Navarre (with curious facts about myths and rituals), including the utensils used by wine producers and the various wine-making processes. And as a special treat the visit ends in the basement of the building in the room entitled 'Wine and the senses'. There you'll be able to smell a range of natural aromas and taste various sweets to learn to differentiate the different flavours of wine… It's a chance to become a genuine expert.

Oil Museum. Arróniz
This museum has an area of 120 m² containing the original machinery of an early oil press (where the olives were crushed to extract the oil) which was in use until the 1960s. This is a unique opportunity to see archaeological items, scales, carts, tanks and earthenware storage jars, and to learn how this treasured liquid is produced.

Remember that some of these museums may require advance booking for groups and on particular days of the week. You'll find all the information you need at the web page of the Navarre tourist board . Are you ready to start tasting?