Aiako Harria Natural Park

The impressive massif of Peñas de Aia (Aiako Harria) stands out between the Rivers Urumea and Bidasoa. Declared a Natural Park in 1995, this exceptional setting of 6,913 ha is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in far eastern Gipuzkoa. Its unmistakable outline is also remarkable because of its height that, although moderate in absolute terms (833 m), is considerable if we take account of the fact that it is so near the coast (less than 10 km away as the crow flies).

Clasificación:

Natural parks

Municipios:

Gipuzkoa: Hernani, Irun, Oiartzun, Errenteria, Donostia/San Sebastián.

Información:

Oarsoaldea Tourism Office
Phone: 943 494 521
Fax: 943 494 614
E-mail: turismo@oarsoaldea.net

Arritxulo Refuge
Phone: 943 580 010

Servicios:

Informa de la existencia de una ruta-circuito para hacer gimnasia o deporte

Datos de interés:

Between the sea and the mountain. Natural park Peñas de Aia - Aiako Harria. Explore its summits, mines and historic fortifications.

The Aiako Harria Natural Park is an enclave of singular beauty located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the eastern tip of Gipuzkoa.

The three main peaks are Irumugarrieta (806 m), Txurrumurru (821 m) and Erroilbide (843 m) and which can be reached along several well-marked itineraries.

From Aiako Harria you can admire the Bay of Txingudi, with the towns of Hondarribia, Irún and Hendaya; Mount Jaizkibel and the Oiartzun Valley. The Aiztondo ravine, with a 100-metre waterfall, offers a unique landscape.

Within the rocky mass of Aiako Harria there are dozens of mining shafts and tunnels. The Arditurri mine (Oiartzun), offers a very interesting visit from the Natural Park House, which was once the mines' laboratory. From here you can see the mining operations that took place from Roman times until 1984.

The proximity to the French border led military engineering to look to the mountainous terrain of the area to install fortifications in the territory of the current park that are easy to visit.

The interpretation centre of the natural park is located at one of the entrances to the Aiako Harria natural park, in Oiartzun. It offers an impressive mining landscape which, on the surface, has imposing tailings deposits, opencast quarries, inclined planes and levellings, mine entrances, old mine buildings and even the route of the railway that transported the ore to the port of Pasaia, converted into a pedestrian walkway and greenway. The human footprint is even more extensive underground, with dozens of kilometres of passages.

Address: Minas de Arditurri, Oiartzun (Gipuzkoa)
Phone: +34 943 495 069
E-mail: arditurri@gipuzkoantura.eus

Enjoy the natural park

Plans and activities to experience the area

Here are just some ideas to come and visit us.

Hiking trails Follow in the footsteps of the Basque predecessors.

An extensive network of 19 footpaths allows walkers to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Peña de Aia natural park, observe its flora and fauna and discover the human footprint through the many traces that can be seen. Here are three interesting ideas to discover this natural park:

SL-Gi 1007. Arditurri tour: with this route discover the surroundings of the Arditurri Mines, both the mining infrastructures and the seams, witnesses to the mining exploitation that took place until recently. The route starts at the Arditurri interpretation centre and, taking the track that heads towards Unaileku, you reach the canal. From there you can access the Arditurri cycle path to start the climb up to Otsamantegi. Once you reach the sculpture, descend to the interpretation centre.
- Distance: 3,5 km
- Elevation change: 110 meters
- Circular
- Track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/aiako-harria-sl-gi-1007-arditurriko-bira-vuelta-a-arditurri-12142938
PR-Gi 1001. Ugaldetxo Forests: starting from Ugaldetxo, the itinerary allows us to connect the hills of Untzegi and Lizarregi. Along the way, the Oberan beech grove and views of Añarbe are some of the things to enjoy. We will also have the opportunity to climb to the top of Urdaburu!
- Distance: 10,5 km
- Elevation change: 575 meters
- Circular
- Track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/aiako-harria-pr-gi-1001-ugaldetxoko-basoak-bosques-de-ugaldetxo-121241942
PR-Gi 1006. Heart of Aiako Harria: it allows us to get to know both the high part, including the summit of Zaria, and the riverine areas of the Park. Different ecosystems and spectacular landscapes can be enjoyed along the way.
- Distance: 14 km
- Elevation change: 660 meters
- Circular
- Track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/aiako-harria-pr-gi-1006-aiako-harriko-bihotza-corazon-de-aiako-harria-121242190

Arditurri Greenway, by pedal power It connects the Cantabrian Sea from San Sebastián to the natural park.

The Arditurri Greenway is an open door to encountering nature and history, a gentle landscape of escape to areas that captivate with their richness and variety of landscapes. This exclusive path for pedestrians and cyclists allows you to cover a distance of more than 2,000 years of history in just a few hours.

The Greenway crosses the entire Oarsoaldea region and ends in Oiartzun, at the foot of the imposing Aiako Harria, running parallel to the Oiartzun River, along the old railway line that linked the Arditurri mines (exploited by the Romans since the 1st century BC) to the port of Pasaia.

This greenway, fully integrated into the natural environment of the Oiartzun valley, is now linked to the Errenteria and Lezo bidegorri (cycle paths), as well as the Pasaia one, in order to reach Donostia-San Sebastián.

Walking along the Greenway you will come across different bars and restaurants with traditional cuisine, where you can enjoy the good work of their kitchens.

Distance: 12 km.
Connection from San Sebastián: 6 km.
Track of the route: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-gravel-bike/arditurri-bide-berdea-via-verde-119223067
APP of the Greenway: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oiartzun.arditurri

Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria, where the sea tells its story Relive the adventure of the 16th century Basque whalers in Pasaia.

At the entrance to the bay of Pasaia (Gipuzkoa) is Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria, a museum located in a renovated shipyard next to the old Jaizkibel dredger.

In this magical and secluded place, shipwrights build and restore traditional boats of great ethnographic and historical value.

Albaola evokes the great maritime odysseys of the whalers and their boats in the New World. More than just a museum, it offers a dynamic way of getting to know the history of the Basque maritime world by building a reconstruction of one of the best known ships in the world in front of the public: The 16th century whaler SAN JUAN.

Here, at the Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria, you can see the construction process of the whaler. It is a dynamic process that evolves over time, with the different stages of construction taking place in an imposing wooden shed where the large structural parts are assembled.

This whole process is contextualized by a permanent exhibition based on the whaling theme and Basque maritime activity during the 16th century.

Albaola rounds off the experience of your tourist visit by offering you the chance to sail around the Bay of Pasaia: access can be by sea via a maritime transport service located at the 'Muelle del Hospitalillo' (Hospitalillo Wharf). Park your car in the free Trintxerpe car park on the same quay and take the green boat that will be the start of this exciting journey.

Web: https://albaola.org/