José Antonio Miquelestorena Endara (1710-1785)

Clergyman and Writer. Author of Cerura nai duenac ar dezaquean vide erraza (The easy path which those who want to go to heaven can take), edited on a number of occasions in the second half of the XVIII century.

Pedro José Zarandia Endara (1783-1861)

In 1813, he put up the Duke of Wellington in his house while the latter was preparing his invasion of France. He was named Bishop of Orense in 1847 and of Huesca in 1851.

Francisco María Ubillos Arruti (1791-1854)

Born in Tolosa, he became Mayor of Lesaka and a Member of the Navarrese Parliament.

Juan José Barberena Oyarzabal (1827 - 1872)

Member of the Navarrese Parliament. A moderate liberal closely affiliated with the neo-catholics. Defender of Basque-Navarrese union in 1866. Commissioner in Madrid in 1867 against the Law of Rural Wardenship.

Manuel Albistur Boloqui (1841 - 1917)

Vice-president of the Navarrese Parliament between 1905 and 1909. Close to the integrist stance and Carlism. Helped to have the Gipuzkoa-Navarra railway line built.

Cándido Albístur Iturria (1882 - 1955)

Composer, Musician. Director of the Lesaka and Elizondo bands. His best-known work is Lesakako Oroipenak.

Paulo Yanci Petricorena (1882 - 1962)

Bertsolari (Basque poet). Born in Igantzi, he set up home in Lesaka when he got married. The publishing house Auspoa published a book of his verses in 1968.

Eladio Esparza Aguinaga (1888 - 1961)

Journalist and Author. In 1937, Franco named him Civil Governor of Alava. Director of Institución Principe de Viana and its magazine (1940 - 1955), and member of the Academy of the Basque Language (1941 - 1947).

Celedonio Larrache

Priest who worked in Lesaka. He stood out as an excellent hand-pelota player, earning great admiration among spectators. He served a twenty-ounce ball on the rebound.

Ramón Latasa Lazkao

Painter. Studied at the Special Painting, Sculpture and Engraving School. He was a disciple of Carlos Haes, who steered him towards landscape painting. Several of his works were hung at the National Exhibitons in 1881 and 1887.

Miguel Echeveste (1893 - 1962)

Organist and Composer. Gave recitals in France, Belgium, Germany and Holland. Head of the Pamplona Music School from 1940 to 1957.

José Lecároz Goñi (1900 - 1964)

Journalist. Director of El Día and manager of Diario Euzkadi. Basque Government Representative in the Higher Council of Culture during the Republic. Extradited from France by the Nazis, he spent many years in prison.

Luis Taberna Tompes (1909 - 1993)

Organist. Played in the Festivals of Spain, touring the USA, Cuba and Mexico. Seat of the Organ at the Pamplona Conservatoire. Co-author of the book "Organos de Navarra" (Organs of Navarra).

SANTIAGO IRIGOIEN

A life dedicated to the txistu (Basque flute). Significant figure in the Lesaka music world.

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Emilio José Esparza Viela (1919 - 1970)

Lawyer, clerk of the Delegation of Information and Tourism in Navarra. Helped popularise the "olentzero" (Basque Christmas figure) in Lesaka. He published a work on the placenames of Bortziriak.

Rafael Olaechea Albístur (1922 - 1993)

Historian, member of the Royal Academy. Lecturer at the University of Zaragoza. Most of his research and publications centred on the XVIII century.

Ramón Esparza Viela (1923 - 1997)

Haute-couture fashion designer. A close work partner of Cristóbal Balenciaga for many years, he went on to work for Chanel, finally presenting his own fashion collection.

Elias Garralda Alzugarai (1926)

In 1930, when he was aged four, his family left Lesaka for Pamplona. They moved again in 1937, this time to France, first Bayonne and then Biarritz. They finally moved to Olot in 1942. At the the age of 16, Elias joined the Olot "Art and Trades School". Over time, he became a prominent member of the Olot landscape school. He is now considered the greatest painter of Green Spain, perhaps because his mists, glazing techniques and chiaroscuros lent astonishing intensity to his landscapes.

Miguel Arozamena Larralde (1930 - 1976)

Bertsolari (Basque poet). Champion of Navarra in 1962 and 1963. The pubishing house Auspoa published his book Nere Aldia.

María de Endara

Noble lady born in Lesaka in 1585. In 1610, she was arrested by the Inquisition accused of witchcraft and of attending a coven in Zugarramurdi. She gave birth in jail. She was finally released after spending many years in jail.

Gabriel de Amasa (1564 - 1634)

Was named a "hidalgo" (noble title) in 1606 as the heir of the house bearing his surname and, on his mother's side. the Palace of Zabaleta, both in Lesaka. He founded the first Capuchin convent in Pamplona's San Pedro district in 1606.