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Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park
Oñati, Guipúzcoa - Gipuzkoa
(1)
Where the highest peaks of the Basque Country can be found
Oñati, Guipúzcoa - Gipuzkoa (1)
Where the highest peaks of the Basque Country can be found
Guipúzcoa and Álava, in the Basque Country, share the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park. Located to the south of Guipúzcoa and to the north of Alava, together with the Sierra de Aralar, it constitutes one of the ecological corridors that unites the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains and also separates the historical territories of Alava and Gipuzkoa. This area includes a long mountain range where the highest peaks in the Basque Country are located, Aitxuri 1551 m and Aizkorri 1544 m. The Aizkorri, which has on its summit a hermitage dedicated to the Holy Christ, next to the Aratz, gives its name to the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park which extends through the Álava municipalities of Aspárrena, Zalduondo, San Millán and Barrundia and by the Guipuzcoans of Salinas de Léniz, Eskoriaza, Aretxabaleta, Oñati, Legazpia, Zerain and Zegama, as well as the land corresponding to the Parzonería General de Guipúzcoa and Álava.
The abrupt limestone crests, which testify to its geological value, such as the rocky wall of the Aloña-Aizkorri-Aratz, contrast with the rounded hills and siliceous hills covered with vegetation. Ridges and hills that have a common denominator, its substratum formed by reef limestone, also known as urgoniana, whose erosion gives rise to dolinas, torcas, ravines... places as famous as the Hoya de La Lece, the tunnel of San Adrián, the depression of Urbia or the ravine of Arantzazu. This spectacular place is completed by beautiful beech and oak forests as well as extensive pasture plains, such as in the Urbia valley. Human presence also left its unchangeable mark on the megalithic monuments. Dolmens, tumuli and monoliths from thousands of years ago are intermingled with hermitages and farmhouses, resulting in an interesting historical-architectural heritage added to the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.
With a total area of 19600 hectares, the beautiful Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park is a true paradise for hikers, mountaineers and visitors wishing to enjoy the history and culture that it keeps in hidden corners while its beautiful landscapes flood its retinas. Mountain routes and hikers that hide, in their tours, places as historic as the tunnel of San Adrián, mythical passage of the ancient medieval road that linked Flanders with Castile. Themed and well signposted hiking routes that would lead the walker to follow the routes that were once made by shepherds, charcoal burners and smugglers. The mountaineers are approached to tread the highest peaks of Euskadi such as Aizkorri, Aitxuri, Aratz from where you can enjoy the characteristic landscape of the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz where there are dense forests, such as the famous and monumental forest of Iturrigorri, which is the most important of all Guipúzcoa.
All of them share the limelight with the green meadows, such as the fields of Urbia, an extensive grazing area where you can find sheepfolds of shepherds and prehistoric dolmens. Enjoy such emblematic places as the Sanctuary of Arantzazu and its ravine, the Urkulu reservoir, the Hoya de la Leze, crossed by an underground river, or the Arrikrutz underground cave in Oñati, with galleries adorned with giant stalactites. Due to the great diversity of ecosystems that converge in the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, there are numerous species that have made this place their habitat, both in the woods and in the meadows or rocks, alpine newt, Egyptian vulture, chough, chough piquigualda, chough piquirroja, peregrine falcon, griffon vulture, marten, turkey, wild cat... that if you are lucky you will be seen and we will be reminded that we are in your space, that we enjoy it and take care of it as the precious jewel that it is.
Since time immemorial, the Parzonería General de Gipuzkoa y Álava has existed in the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park. This is an uninhabited local entity whose surface area has been completely declared Public Utility Forests in which the neighbouring municipalities have the sole function of administering their territory in accordance with their statutes. For this reason, and since ancient times, grazing, charcoal and many other activities have left their peculiar stamp in the area.
The declaration of Aizkorri-Aratz as a Protected Natural Area in the category of natural park was in 2006. Likewise, the European Commission included it in 2004 in the list of Sites of Community Importance (SCI) of the Natura 2000 Network. The main entrances to the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park are in Zegama and the Arantzazu Sanctuary near Oñati, in Guipúzcoa. While in the province of Alava its main accesses are in Zalduondo and Araia.
Reaching the summit of Aizkorri is a goal for mountaineers who enter the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park. This is the magical peak of a hermitage which, according to legend, houses a miraculous Christ. This Christ, no matter how much the people of the place insisted, to protect the image, in lowering it to the temple of Zegama or to that of Araia, always reappeared at the top of Mount Aizkorri.
MORE ROUTES AVAILABLE, DON'T MISS IT...
MORE PLACES AVAILABLE, DON'T MISS IT...
Oñati is reached by the GI-2630 road, which connects it with Legazpi and the AP-1. It also has a bus service that connects it with Mondragón, Legazpi, Bilbao, Arrasate, Bergara and Durango, as well as with the different localities along the routes. From Oñati, a winding road leads to the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, where the House of the Park, Parketxe, and spacious car parks are located. There is also a bus service that connects the Sanctuary of Arantzazu with Oñati at different times.
From Alsasua, take the GI-2637 road that leads to Zegama. Along this road you will find the different detours that lead into the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.
To get to Araia, in Alava, we have to follow the A-1, it is between the towns of Salvatierra and Alsasua where we will find the well signposted detour that will take us to the town of Araia, one of the main entrances to the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park in the province of Alava. Once there, all you have to do is follow the street that leads into Araia and will take you to the access to the House Park, Parketxe, where you will have an area set aside for parking.
SENDITUR is not responsible for any variation in the information described, as well as for the misuse of its guides and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. Likewise, we invite you to document yourself with books and specialized guides to complement the information described. From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go. For any suggestion, SENDITUR invites you to send an email to
Me encanta el Parque Natural de Aizkorri-Aratz, un montón de rutas de senderismo, rincones con encanto y sitios que visitar, siempre que voy me sorprende… lo recomiendo no os lo perdáis.
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5:50 h.17.5 km.
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3:00 h.7.8 km.
13:15 h.8.7 km.
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1:35 h.4 km.
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4:10 h.8.9 km.
172:00 h.340 km.
13:15 h.12.2 km.
Home of the Patron Saint of Alava, a jewel of Alava's Romanesque style.
One of the most important funerary monuments of Euskadi
Between the mountains and the Middle Zone of Navarre
Sanctuary of the Santos Antonios, one of the oldest and most venerated in Vizcaya
Jewel of Romanesque architecture, centre of spirituality
At the bottom of a valley near a river and as horizon the sky
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