We will begin route PR-Ri 142 at the Lekeitio bus stop on Larrotegi Street. From there, we will head towards Atea Street
Time
90 minutes
Distance
5000m.
Height
120m.
Difficulty
Medium-High (on the strech of march)
Route type
enjoy landscape
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
1
We will begin route PR-Ri 142 at the Lekeitio bus stop on Larrotegi Street. From there, we will head towards Atea Street, passing the Mandaska fountain on our right until we are facing Santo Cristo del Portal Viejo (also known as the Portal de Atea), where prayers were once offered upon entering or leaving the town. We cross the pedestrian crossing and turn left towards Esperanza Fountain, a few metres away. Next, at the beginning of Dendari Street we will come across a narrow path to the right. On the left side of this path, at its most narrow part, is where a medieval wall begins. On the other side of the wall we come to a fork in the road where there is a picture of Our Lady of Sorrow, and one of our PR-Ri arrows.
2
We will take the fork to the right and follow a cobbled path past Stations of the Cross until we come to a level area that was formally the town’s water tank. Here we will find another arrow that offers two options: the Lumentza cave or Mount Lumentza. We will continue to the top of the mountain, although we may go 5 minutes out of our way to visit the area in front of the Lumentza cave, now closed to the public.
3
From the water tank, we continue along the main path, go through an oak wood, and follow the Stations of the Cross until we come to three Crosses on the mountaintop. During the Carlist Wars, the top of the mountain was flattened so canons could be placed there to fire against the enemy. Now the levelled ground makes an excellent lookout over the entire medieval town of Lekeitio. We can also see some of the surrounding lands (Ispaster, Mendexa) and some magnificent views of the Golf of Biscay. A panel provides information on the principal landmarks.
4
After enjoying the lovely view from the mountaintop, we will go hack down along the same path, noticing the surrounding Cantabrian oak grove. When we come to the fork in the road where the image of Our Lady of Sorrow is, we turn right and go down some stairs that lead to the cemetery. At the bottom of the stairs, we turn right again, pass Santa Maria church to our left and enter Santa Elena Avenue. Following this avenue, we will cross Uribarren Park above lsuntza Beach, until we come to lsuntza Bridge. We will cross the bridge from the right, leaving an information panel with a description of the bridge’s history behind us. On the other side of the bridge, we will go down to the right until we come to the former Marierrota Mill. Here we can read about the history of the tide mill and how it worked.
5
We continue our route along the Ria, taking into account that this stretch is not recommended to the general public due to the nature of the path. For those with more experience, we will leave the information panel behind and continue along the cement road first, then along the gravel road, and finally along the dirt road next to the building that holds the water pump. We will follow the canal until we come to a house. There we will cross a little wooden bridge and head towards the cypress trees along the edge of the fence. Then we will climb up a ways and turn right along a wider road.
After walking a few metres through some eucalyptus trees, we will come to an intersection, where we will take the road down towards the Telleria farmhouse. We will leave the farmhouse to our left and continue along the path, cross a brook, and go through some oak trees, always along the edge of the marsh. Finally, after going through a gate, we will come to a bucolic field on the banks of the Ria, where the barges from fiesta de los gansos or Goose Fiesta are kept. We will continue to climb up the path and then head down to the right until we come to an open area where we cross two fences for cattle and come to Leagi Bridge. We will cross the bridge and continue along the main road for around 20 m. Thea we will take the first graver path to our right and continue along the paved road that goes around the water-treatment plant. Next we will return to the main road and follow it to Lekeitio.
6
At ow tide we can leave Marierrota and head for Garraitz Island. To do so, we will cross the bridge again and before coming to the park, we will go down to the right to Isuntza Street and from there to the beach. Facing the beach there is a jetty that was built to prevent the sediment from the Ria from entering the port. The jetty is only visible at low tide, which is the only time we can access Garraitz Island.
To end our route, we will cross the jetty again and cross Isuntza Beach until we come to Independence Square. Going up the steps next to the Town Hall, we will go straight ahead until we come to Gamarra Square. From there, we go along Dendari Street where the artisans worked in medieval times, until we come to Atea Street and the bus stop.
Aulesti
This is the best route to see the town and its neighbourhoods. We will start our journey in Aulesti´s main square, in front of the church of San Juan Bataiatzailea (it is worth visiting it as well). We will go across the town until we reach the chapel of San Blas. From there, we will take the road to Gernika close to the pelota court, and we will head towards the Urriola neighbourhood.
This itinerary is an easy trace and of short route. It allows knowing the Gizaburuaga surroundings, from the valley, to the Lea river bank, and the Menditxiki and Tarteka mountains hillside; walking around the enclaves like the Telleria forest. Solabarria and Madalenbaso or the well preserved Okamika and Eguen farmhouses. The proposed itinerary allows doing a pleasant walk, half morning trip, enjoying of a natural environment.
Time
1 hour 15 min.
Distance
5.085 m.
Height
160 m.
Difficulty
Average
Route type
Landscape - Architectural
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
1
From the Gizaboruaga´s town square, in front of the town hall and close to the pelota-court, it takes the road of Munitibar to Lekeitio in direction to Munitibar, passing through, the fronton-probadero a pulling stone pediment, and following the Lea river course. About 400 m, it comes into Oibar hermitage, a baroque style building of the XVIII century. In this spont, we cross the road, and take a concrete path that goes softly uphill to the front of the hermitage.
2
About 75 m, to the right, the Oihar cave is located, from which the entrance can be seen, with a crystalline stream-water fountain. We go back to the path that leads us until the Kamikagoieskoa farmhouse and continues by the access road to the industrial zone, few metres upwards.
3
We take the first path in the left and in the next cross, left again, following the path that goes uphill among pines until we reach the half level of the slope, a place known as Telleria. In ancient times this place supplied the population of Lekeitio with water, and, nowadays it supplies to Gizaburuaga. The shady zones are covered with moss carpet and hepatic that grows by the moisture. About 975 metres we reach to a split of paths where it leaves the path that goes to the Urdaibai to the left and follows fron, the right until another split, where it takes to the left passing through a water ditch in front of Gizaburuaga. The path goes among pines reaching to a recently cut down tree area in the right allowing the view of Landeta farmhouse, just downhill. The path leads us to a split of paths, in the hill that gives as the access to 286 metres high Tarteka mountain. It follows to the fron, leaving Tarteka mountain to the right, passing closed to a big hill that is on the left.
4
The path joins a concrete path that links Gizaburuaga with Ispaster. In this spot, we must continue until we reach the Eguengoikoa farmhouse to the right, located in the area of the town Gallete, in which surroundings are lots of green houses. Softly following downhill from the path that leads us to the Eguenerdiko farmhouse to the left, until we reach to a path’s split.
5
We take the left path that gives access to Berezikoa farmhouse. The path to the right leads to the industrial zone of Okamika. In the level of the farmhouse we leave the cemented path to follow through the middle of a field coming into a pinewood that following an ancient path leads us until pulling stone pediment of Gizaburuaga.
Ispaster
ISPASTER-ZATIKA-KURTZIAGA-ARRAKIS-ISPASTER
Time
3 hours
Distance
5.500m.
Height
250m.
Difficulty
Medium
Route type
Scenic
Itinerary
On foot, bicycle
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Step by step
1
After looking at our route on the information panel, we will leave the bus stop and head towards the frontón, or Basque pelota court. From there, we will take the uphill country road that goes uphill to Kortazar, leaving the parking area to our right. After walking a few metres, we leave the ruins of a farmhouse to our left and the paved road, and take a dirt path that goes uphill to a gravel path. Here we turn to the left and proceed upwards through planted pine trees. Around ten minutes later, at the edge of some planted eucalyptus, we will come to a path painted red and white, indicating the GR-123 (return to Biscay). We take that path going through eucalyptus, pine trees, holme oak and chestnut trees, following the sign to Zatika, until we come to the village.
2
When we arrive at Zatika, we pass the farmhouses to our left and go down the cement road through vegetable plots and orchards, overlooking a splendid view of Lekeitio Bay. until we come to the Lekeitio-Gernika road. We cross the road and continue our route along a paved road that goes uphill to Artika and Kurtziaga. Eventually, we will come to a sign announcing that we have arrived at Kurtziaga.
3
A few metres further on, we will come to a crossroads in front to the Agarre farmhouse, where we join the GR-38.1 road. We will continue straight uphill, passing two large oak trees on our left, and take the dirt trait to the right. After a few metres, we will come to two roads. We will take the uphill road to our right, entering Arrakis land, and continue our route, crossing several fences among pine, oak and chestnuttrees. following the marks made with red and yellow paint. After around thirty minutes, we will come to a crossroads from which we will see a group of farmhouses. We take the track to our left and will soon come to the Lekeitio-Gernika road.
4
A few metres away from that road, in the direction of Gernika, we will go downhill to our right, taking the country road towards the Txumutegi farmhouse. Next, we will pass the Axpe farmhouse on our left, a 16th century Gothic building, and turn left. After walking a few metres, we will pass the Legortza farmhouse, and then come to a road to our right, heading towards the centre in Ispaster where our route ends. Near the Legortza farmhouse, we will find the hermitage of Santiago.
Munitibar
Astoaga Road
Time
Distance
Height
Difficulty
Route type
Itinerary
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Amoroto
Amoroto route
We will cover 7.700 meters altogether.We will start our journey in Elexalde, taking the road to the right of the cemetery. Thus we will arrive at Odiaga, and when we reach the cross we will turn left, to go to Belakola farm.
Time
Distance
Height
Difficulty
Route type
Itinerary
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Step by step
Aulesti
Aulesti, from chapel to chapel
Time
Distance
Height
Difficulty
Route type
Itinerary
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Ziortza-Bolibar
BOLIBAR-ZIORTZA-ZIARREGI-ZEINKA-BOLIBAR
Time
1 hour 30 min.
Distance
5.900m.
Height
220m.
Difficulty
Medium, steep climbs
Route type
Cultural, Scenic
Itinerary
On foot, bicycle
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Step by step
1
We will start at PR-Bi 140, in the square of the town of Bolibar, in front of the former Bolibar family mansion, where we will take the local BI-2224 road towards Munitibar-Gerrikaitz. After walking a few metres, we will come to a sign that indicates the Camino de Santiago (the Way to Santiago) and then to panel with information on our route. Here we will take a cobbled path to the right of the paved road. This path used to give the pilgrims who were headed for Santiago access to the Collegiate Church of Cenarruza.
At the end of the path we will come to a paved road from which we can see the Collegiate Church of Cenarruza.
2
Leaving the East gate of the Collegiate Church of Cenarruza, we will
continue along our route, following the white and yellow PR signs that
along this stretch coincide with the Way to Santiago. We will go through a path lined with pine trees and a few cypress trees. After crossing a wooden bridge, we will come to the Gontzugarai farmhouse.
3
At this point of our route, we will come to local road 81-2224. We will cross it and take a steep path that leads us to the village of Gerrika. On the edge of the path we will come to the hermitage of Santa Lucía of Gerrika.
4
Leaving the hermitage of Santa Lucia behind, we will continue towards the village of Gerrika. Just as we enter the village, we will turn to the right and head towards the village of Ziarregi. Following the paved road to the village of Zeinka, we will find the hermitage of Santa Maria Magdalena to our right with its superb view. Then we will head down towards the village of Zeinka.
5
In Zeinka, we will take a turn to the left, in the direction shown by an arrow. The path goes down through fields and pastures first, and later through plantations of pine trees. We will come to the Zugadia farmhouse, which is in a rather precarious state, and finally we will arrive at the village of Bolibar, at the end of our route.
Etxebarria
ETXEBARRIA-MUNIBE-MUGARTEGI-SAN MARTIN BASELIZA-IBARGUEN-ARRIAGA-SANTIKURUTZ BASELIZA-GALARTZA AUZOA-ETXEBARRIA
This route starts from Etxeberria´s town centre, close to the town hall and next to the church, and it offers a walk through Urko´s river valley. From there, we can visit places like an ancient recovered milestone oven, Ansoatogi palace, several farmhouses and two hermitages San Martin and Santa Kurutze. Everything is surrounded by a rural landscape among pine tress, fields and some leafy grounds, like the zone’s vegetation testimony. However, the most singular are the three grouped granaries that can be seen along the route in the Galarza de Etxeberria area of the town.
Time
1 hour 15 min.
Distance
8.748 m
Height
175 m
Difficulty
Average
Route type
Landscape - Architectural
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
1
The itinerary starts frorm the town hall square, close to the Urko river, and on this place a turn of direction is made. The route continues the fluvial upstream, by a pedestrian that leads us to a bike-line entrance. This entrance is an ancient path known as andabide, a path that was used to take a died person from the farmhouse to the cemetery. The route follows the bike-line towards Markina, through a soft and easy walk, in the bounding of a rural and industrial world. We pass through the Ansoategi palace until we come to Munibe, a place where we abandon the bike-line to take a path on the left. It’s In a height of a grotto, where a virgin’s image is kept.
2
The path links with a path that surrounds the Munibe country house and follows to the left side. In this spot it links with the PR Bi-23. That is marked with buoys. These marks go uphill until the Erlatx larmhoose, and follow among pine trees until the Barenda farmhouse. From its surroundings we can go uphill until San Martin hermitage, that is located in an enjoyable and carefully treated landscape. The path comes into Irunbeñe farmhouse where the first granary of the route is located. We go downhill to the road that joins Markina with Eibar, where we can contemplate the most visited granary of Biscay, the Ibarguen granary.
3
We cross the road to continue by an asphalt path that goes uphill, following the marks of PR, towards Kalamua. We pass by a farmhouse called Arriaga, that it’s also got another granary, in order to follow among plantation of young pines until an enclosure, whole the path splits into two. In this spot the PR BI-23 is abandoned to turn to the left until we link with another going downhill path, that follows also to the left. The path guides us to the Etxarte farmhouse, which is located close to Santikurutz, hermitage. From Etxarte we take the path to the right, passing by several farmhouses and the Urrusolo mill, just close to the main road. This road follows to the right until the starting point of the pedestrian road.
Ondarroa
GOROZIKA-SANTIKURUTZ-ANTIGUA-SANTA KLARA
Our route begins at the bus stop on ltsas Aurre Street, in Ondarroa.
Time
2 hours
Distance
5500 m.
Height
291 m.
Difficulty
Medium
Route type
Scenic - Architectural
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
1
Our route begins at the bus stop on ltsas Aurre Street, in Ondarroa. From there, we will towards the centre of town and follow the river, leaving Zubi Zaharra behind. We cross the bridge and continue until we come to the PR-Bi 144 information panel.
About 100 m. past the panel, the path begins to climb. We will pass a plantation of pine-trees and the Zaldu River and arrive at a crossroads where we will take the path to our left. The path leads to another crossroads where there are information panels indicating where the Santikuruz Hermitage, and the village of Gorozika and Ondarroa are located. From this point, we can see the Iramategi Bekoa and Goikoa caserios or farmhouses.
2
We come to a signpost that points to the right so we will head in that direction towards the village of Gorozika. Half way along the path, we will see the Mokao farmhouse. We pass it on our right and continue until we come to the information panel at the entrance to Gorozika.
Gorozika, located on a rise, belongs to the town of Ondarroa. It is a farming village, with a number of historical buildings of great artistic and ethnographic value. Gorozika is one of the few villages in Biscay that still has a group of popular Gothic buildings, comprising the San Juan Hermitage and the Antzone and Gozizko farmhouses. The buildings are all late fifteenth century.
After looking at the rich heritage that is preserved in this village, we will return along the same path until we come to the signposts pointing to Santikurutz.
3
From the crossroads, we will go straight ahead towards Santikurutz until we come to the first crossroads. Here we will stop at a small lookout from which we can enjoy an incomparable view over the town of Ondarroa.
We will continue our route until we come to a turn-off. We will take the dirt road to the left until we come to the link with GR-123. Here we have to climb over the small fence that encloses the field where the Santikurutz Hermitage stands.
From the Hermitage, we take the Stations of the Cross, go through a small beech woods, and arrive at the Burgoa farmhouse. We descend along the same path until we come to the coast road that links Ondarroa and Mutriku. We will head towards Ondarroa until we come to Astilleru Street.
4
This last lap of our route begins next to the PA-Bi 144 information panel on Sabino Arana Street. We will follow this street until we come to the bridge, cross it, and continue along it until we come to Erribera Street. We go up Erribera until we come to Kale Handi and next, to Pedro M Unanue Square. Next, we will take Txomin Agirre Street until we come to Bide Zaharra and go up it until we come to a crossroads.
After looking out over the stunning view, we will turn back along ti same road until we come to the crossroads again. Now we will contini our way along the narrow path that climbs to the left until we come another crossroads, where we will go straight ahead. Finally, at the ne fork in the road, we will turn right and continue until we come to V Santa Clara Hermitage.
It is a pleasant itinerary, where an easy stretch and a little slope are combined going through the valley, in the bank of Artibai river, with a mountaineer path, that goes uphill to Mereludi area and the hillsides of Zabalamendi and Kalamendi Mountains, from where splendid views of Berriatua and surroundings can be seen.
In this route encounters nature, the landscape, the rural environment with well preserved farmhouses like Lekoiabekua, the religious tradition, represented in the San Antolin hermitage, the history of Andonangi complex, with the palace and the mill and the rests of the ancient foundries or the Mugartegi farmhouse and cultural signs that have been reflected in the pulling stone of the Idi-frogak, this is a Basque rural sport which consists on pulling a stone carried out by two oxen.
Time
1 Hour 5 min.
Distance
7.066 m.
Height
25 m.
Difficulty
Average
Route type
Lanscape - Architectural
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
1
The route starts from San Pedro parish church, following the main road that comes from Ondarroa to Markina, in the same direction of this last town. Turn the first crossroad to the right, that goes through a main road parallel street until a path surrounded by fields, orchards and fruits farms, coming down to the Artibai river. On its river bank, in the right side, stands out Errementari farmhouse and Andonegi, mill on its left. After crossing the bridge the route follows to the right through a track parallel the to river, passing between the mill and rests of the two old foundries that worked until the end of the XIX century.
2
The itinerary follows close to the river, leaving the tracks that are in the left side, arriving to a wide esplanade in the meander that draws the fluvial curse of the river. Here, until recent times, there were estended lots of greenhouses, that in view of the next new ring road construction translated to other areas.
3
Following Artibai river trajectory, without drawing the meander, leaving the right and left direction, the track goes straight on. This track becomes a narrow country road with the river in our right side. In the left side we can find Mugartegi and Muinisolo farmhouses. About 300 metres to the left, the path takes the way that goes uphill to the Mereludi area of the town.
4
lt follows through a concrete path that ends up in the Lekoiabekoa farmhouse, an old house of the XVI century. About 100 metres before arriving to this specified farm house, we follow through a path that comes to the left side on a bend, leaving aside the path that guides us to Mereludi area in the left.
5
We arrive to an esplanade where a cross made of stone and pulling stone is located in the right side, where there is an ancient school called Mereludi. The route follows by a road to the right until we reach to San Antolin hermitage. Close to that, a path starts on the left side that is not taken, we must follow in direction until arrives to the Lekoiagoikoa farmhouse proximity. A path on the left side is taken a bit before, surrounding the farmhouse that joins with the main path, which splits in two. Taking the path to the right, we pass to a lower height in the middle of a hillside. Then, we leave the first cross to the left, the second to the right and the third to the left. Abandon the main track that leads to Kalamendi, to take a path going downhill to the right. This path joins with a concrete path and continues to the right side. This path leads us to an asphalt road that goes to Asterrika area of the town. Going downhill, to the right side, we arrive to the road from Ondarroa to Markina, in Askartza.
Crossing the main road and continuing by another narrower road we arrive to Obekula farmhouse. Some metres before of that farmhouse, we leave the road to follow a track going up hill that gets into a field. We cross a field to continue by a track among pine trees that goes down hill to the Artibai river. Crossing the access road that goes to Cikautxo Company and following through the left side of the river bank. Then, we pass through a recreate area of Ibarra, until the bridge located in the town centre of Berriatua. From this place we continue to the left side arriving to the San Pedro new church.
In this route, two parts can be dlfferentiated, the onn that joins the high zone of Mendexa where are the areas of the town located with the valley that forms Lea river, just close to the sea mouth. The areas of Leagi, Zelaia and Iturralde, Leagi Tower, Ospital Zaharra (Old hospital), Leagi Bridge, the walk close to the river bank and the views of Otoio and Talaia Mountains and of Amoroto Town and the lluntzar and Berdantzandi Mountains are its main interesting places.
The second part goes from Zelaia area towards the east along pine trees and eucalyptus plantations, and some, Txakoli (Basque wine) countryside, offering splendid views of the Gulf of Biscay coast trace.
Time
1 hour
Distance
6.718 m.
Height
176 m.
Difficulty
Average
Route type
Landscape - Architectural
Itinerary
On foot
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Step by step
PR 1 DESCRIPTION
1
The itinerary starts from parking situated close to the town hall and next to the San Pedro parish church. From there, we follow to Lekeitio direction, leaving the church, the pelota court and the town hall on the back. The first cross follows to the right and the second to the left. We continue through a narrow road that offers Otoio and Talaia mountain views in the front, and Pagumendia mountain and the sea in the north. We leave a crossroad with a cross in the left side until arriving to Leagi area, where it links with another road that follows to the left until we arrive to Leagi tower proximity. In front of the tower, we take the path that starts between the limits of the fields and pine trees plantation, and we go downhill until the Ospital Zaharra hospital, Lea river proximity.
2
In the first cross we continue to the right, in the second and the third cross to the left and the following two are to the right, following the ancient path until we join with a chipping path, in the LeaGoikoa farmhouse proximity. We continue to the left until the Etxetxu farmhouse. The path rounds the closest part of the river, following to a downstream fluvial curse. We pass through the Oleta ditch, going always parallel to the river until the Ipidegi farmhouse.
3
We cross an asphalt path and we take a path that crosses a stream and follows in a middle of hillside until Ugaran area proximity that it’s in the Lea river bank. We leave a path on the left and another one going downhill to the mill, over Ugaran area of the town, on the left side that is no taken.
4
Once we flank a fence, we follow through a path to the right, which joins another path on the left side, which is around 387 metres away. We follow close to the right bank of the Ballastegi river, leaving a path and two tracks to the right, so we follow the river from the left side. We take to the left in the next split, that goes uphill leaving the river at the back and abandon all the paths to the left until arrive to the Zulueta farmhouse.
5
From the aforementioned farmhouse, we follow the asphalt road that goes uphill through a beautiful valley with pine trees and holds, parallel to Zulueta stream deilimited by the riverside vegetation until Alloa farmhouse. The asphalt road becomes a path, leaving another to the left, still in the farmhouses surrounding. About 400 metres from the farmhouse, we abandon a path to the right on a bend in a pine trees zone. This is just after passing from a big appearance pine that grows among rocks in the right side of a path and close to some ash trees, that turns to the right in the next intersection. The path goes taking highness and joins with another one that comes from the left, some metres before than linking with an asphalt road, which continues to the right.
6
About 200 metres away this road links with another road. If we follow to the left, it goes back to Ispaster, the starting point of the route.
PR 2 DESCRIPTION
1
The start of this route matches with PR 1. It starts in the parish church and town hall nearness, from where we continue to Lekeitio, to the west until arriving to the first crossroad with a cross that takes to the left. It follows it until Iturreta area by a main asphalt road, whore we continue to Baurdo, leaving the path that goes to Loikiz, an asphalt road to the right that belongs to the PR 1.
2
The next crossroad we follow to the right, passing through a water ditch and leaving a crossroad to the left that goes to Ikua area. We follow through the asphalt road leaving the GR 123 crossroad until we arrive to an intersection of roads, in which, a store looking cider house, is located to the right. We leave the asphalt path in this place, to follow through a path to the left that leads us to Txakoli countrysides, pine trees and beautiful views of the coast until Agirregoikoa farmhouse.
3
From there we take the path to the left, that goes into an eucalyptus plantation until we arrive to a path intersection. In this intersection we follow by the left and about 300 metres we take to the left again until we come into a road that goes from Mendexa to Ondarroa. We follow this road to the left, from which the church and the pelota court of Mendexa´s highest zone can be seen it.
Points of interest
CITY WALL
The primitive centre of Lekeitio was surrounded by a wall. In 1334, King Alphonse XI ordered a wall to be built around the town.
The current wall, what we can see today, has an ashlar construction arranged in rows. It was built on top of the original wall towards the end of the 15th century. The walls are between 1.70 and 2 m. thick. The wall had square watchtowers at regular intervals.
SAN PEDRO APOSTLE CHURCH
This is a building of the XII century, and restored in the XVI century. The building presents a saloon layout, with three naves of the same height. The tower is a Neoclassical building of the XIX century. In the past, the portico was the meeting place of Berriatua´s brotherhood and is formed by several columns, bearing the weight of a wood structure. Close to the church, we can find a town hall, a pelota court, a covered square and a kiosk.
OKAMIKA´S INDUSTRIAL AREA
In the heart of the Lea valley stands out the industrial area of Okamika, from its creation in the 80 s, it’s become in the main motor of the valley’s economy with its 30 companies and more than 400 employees. Among its activities are graphic arts, food industry, rubber industry, carpenter and reparation and machinery distribution. It’s made an attempt to take care of its integration on the natural medium and minimise the environmental impact by implantation of advanced purifying plant systems.
SANTA CATALINA CHURCH
It’s unknown the construction year, but it is known that it was an unattached church in the XV century. It belonged to the Adan de Yarza family and it was dependent of Santa Maria of Lekeitio. As Glzaburua was growing, started the first attempts to separate from Lekeitio, that was reached with the Leon X Popes bull In 1519.
The building origin is of the Renaissance period, with gothic construction signs of the XV century. In the XVIII century, it was enlarged and remodelled by Ignaclo de Ibero, a remarkable Basque architect, who also did San Ignacio de Loycla sanctuary and San Nicolas de Bari church In Bilbao, giving on it a Neo-classical character. It is a rectangular layout building with a single nave that has semicircular apse ending. Adjoining to the building stands out the Torre Campanario and sacristy.
CAVE AND OIBAR HERMITAGE
The hermitage of Nuestra Seiñora De Oibar or Santa Maria de Oibar is a baroque of the XVIII century building, although its first initial construction was before that date. In 1752 was rebuilt by D. Ignacio do Villareal y Berriz, noble of Lekeitio and canon D. Ignacio de Herquiaga. It is a rectangular layout building with stone and masonry in the corners, in the starting points of the gaps and in the main façade. The walls are supported with two buttress, two to each side.
It belongs to the Zenarruza patronage, locating in the ancient routes that lead towards there. Close to that, stands out the Oibar farmhouse, that in ancient times was a hostelry.
In the surroundings is located the entrance of the Oibar cave, from where a crystalline stream-water springs and according to the legend the mermaids used to live there.
THE COMPLEX OF BENGOLEA
The complex of Bengolea is comprsing the house tower Bengolea, the ironworks, the prey, the mill and the bridge.
The most significant building is the tower Bengolea, that is a baroque
palace that replaces a factional tower that existed since the century XVI. Is a building of quadrangular plant and cover to four water. All around underneath of the roof has some lights that simulate battlements. In the main façade lights up the shield of the Bengolea.
This was one of the ironworks that, in name of his wife, administered Pedro Bernardo Villarreal of Berriz, noble scholar author of the first manual of machinery and engineering hydraulics, which renewed almost all the installations at the beginning of the 18th century. Since the technological point of view is one of the most complex ironworks found in the Basque Country, being in its moment one of the workshops preindustriales more important.
The workshop of forges is of large dimensions, has high contrafuertes and cover to two water. A poyo central of stone of some 5 meters of height, elevates all the structure of the covered with wood in order to reducing the risk of fire.
The building is situated in an unevenness so that possesses two incomes, one situated to certain height, adintelado and another in the lower part of half a point. The mill presents a complex plant, fruit of different added and is found next to the prey. It possesses estolda low arch of half a point and preserve the metal hydraulics wheel.
The prey, built in silieria limestone is of smooth wall end has two contrafuertes. it takes advantage of perfectly the motor force of the water by being the main floodgate united to the wall. As opposed to other prey of the outskirts possesses a single stirrup (with form of prism) and the forward part is totally straight.
· Bridge Bengolea. The bridge constitutes the main access to the house-tower of Bengolea, that is located in the right margin. It is built in masonry, presents a profile alomado and has two eyes in arch of half a point built in sillarejo, of 6,5 m of light and 4,5 m of height and two tajamares, one head office and another lateral one. At another side of the tajamar central exists a shield of Bengolea low coat.
TARTEKA MOUNTAIN
In the highest zone of the Tarteka mountain, over limestone develops the Cantabrian holm-cak tree. The conservation of this type of vegetation presents an ecological interest due to the diversity that offers to the landscape. Introducing a Mediterranean forest in an Atlantic environment, it enhances and protects sloppy hill lands, growing over dry and not so deep lands, that present a lack of worth to other uses as the agricultural or woodland. The surroundings are occupied by radiata pine plantations, that it has become the identification image of the landscape, not only in the region, in the whole Basque Cantabrian side. This pine was introduced at the end of XIX century and now occupies big extensions of land, being with difference the most repopulating exotic conifer used, although it can be seen others such as, larch tree, cypress of Lawson, fir Douglas, etc. This plantations occupies lands of leafy origin vegetation, but most of the cases, this spices were introduced in lands of current deforestation process.
RIVER LEA
With an extension of 81,42 km2 the basin of the river Lea is one of the better river ecosystems conserved of Bizkaia. The aliseda Cantabrian occupies the margins of the river in good part of its traveled through, offering protection set against the large avenues. This gallery forest type is used to being accompanied by ash and oak tree pedunculado that indicates the transition toward the forests.
This river counts on an important presence of common trout that appears accompanied by piscardo, loina, bach and eel. In these last years is working itself in the introduction of the salmon and harbors besides other species threatened as the otter.
·Bridge of Erretabarri. Bridge with supports, pillar and two arches of half a point they lower, all of concrete, being the remainder of masonry. Metallic banister. Lights of 6 m. and height of 4 m.
·Old Platform-Bridge. Runway of concrete with two vain of 5,5 m. they separated by a pillar of 0,3 m. of width. Panel of 2 m. of width. There is not protection.
A ROUTE AROUND ELEXALDE
Time: 45 minutes
From the bus stop, we will head towards the Santiago hermitage, following the paved road. Before coming to the hermitage, we will take the first turn to the left.
We will pass the Legortza farmhouse on our right arid continue until we come to Larrinaga. We will pass the Larringa farmhouse on our left and the Arana house-tower on our right and go downhill until we come to the main road, which we will follow until we arrive back in Elexalde, the end of our route.
SAN MIGUEL CHURCH (15th CENTURY)
This 15th century church is a perfect example of a single aisle Renaissance temple. The shape of the apse can be seen on the outside of the church, as well as the high chapels between the buttresses.
Towards the end of the church, the tower with its four tiers stands out from the façade.
The steeple disappeared in 1860, when it was hit by lightening that also destroyed part of the roof, the master wall, part of the vault, the choir and the organ. When the church was rebuilt, a neoclassic tower replaced the steeple.
Inside the church you will find a large Baroque altarpiece by José Eguskiza and an even more valuable wooden, polychrome altarpiece in the “Romanist” style.
THE TOWN HALL
A masonry building with liberal use of cornerstones, windows and segmented arch that leads to the porch. It was built in 1817, with seven constructions added on at a later date.
Over the balcony there is an inscription that reads, “yspaster Town Hall, built in 1813 as a military hospital for the Biscay Volunteers and burned down by the French for that reason. Rebuilt by Yspaster in 1817”.
THE ISPASTER BASIN
At Ispaster and Mount Otoio, we will find a very particular landscape called a karst terrain, caused by the chemical aggression of water on limestone. The most common manifestations of this are dolines, oval depressions that frequently have curving contours. Several adjacent dolines may eventually join each other and form a basin as in the case of the depression where Ispaster is located. This area lacks a proper river network because the water runs underground.
The aquifer is replenished by rainwater that filters through a series of pits.
THE AIXPE AURREKOA FARMHOUSE
A Gothic framhouse built during the first quarter of the 16th century, with a wooden framework and a façade in three sections. The middle section has a covered porch, while the two side sections are made of masonry with smaill pointed arches for ventilation.
Although it has been renovated, the farmhouse has kept its historical structure intact. It is still the oldest farmhouse in the region.
THE SANTIAGO HERMITAGE
A large, rectangular Gothic hermitage with a gabled roof, built in 1500. It has thick masonry walls with two pointed arch entry doors.
Besides the arched doors, there are also two loopholes and two lintelled windows.
Under the roof, an opening on one of the side walls holds a bell.
The masonry walls are edged with cornerstones. In the Renaissance, some renovations took place but they did not interfere with the overall appearance of the hermitage. Inside there is a choir and a wooden vault over the presbytery.
SAINT MARTIN HERMITAGE (15TH CENTURY)
A solitary Gothic hermitage with a simple rectangular structure and a gabled roof. In one of the side walls there is a pointed door with engravings of several crosses.
The hermitge also has two loopholes and a lintelled window, and an opening with a bell finishing with a cross, masonry walls and cornerstones. The statue of Saint Martin was lost in a fire in 1984. The hermitage was restores in 1985.
The hermit´s dwelling is added on to the back of the hermitage.
THE ARANA MANSION (1700)
A classic Baroque country mansion, with a good ashlar façade framed by two towers on either side, that is accessed through an arched porch, similar to 18th century farmhouses.
Actually, the mansion is the extension of a Gothic farmhouse built in 1500. It still preserves a Gothic door at the rear.
The mansion was the birthplace of Jacinto Arana, inquisitor and bishop of Zamora.
BOLIBAR
Bolibar has existed since the 11th century and has produced many illustrious men, such as Diego de Irusta, who took part in the unforgettable battle of Navas de Tolosa, in 1212. Other distinguisehd men were Diego and Bernardino de Irusta, abbots of the Collegiate Church of Cenarruza, and the heroic general Pedro de Zubiaur, and many other outstanding military men.
However, Bolibar is best known as the birthplace of the ancestors of Simón Bolibar, who brought about the independence of South America from Spain.
THE CHURCH OF SANTO TOMAS OF BOLIBAR
This temple-forttress was founded in the 10th century and rebuilt during the 17th-18th centuries.
Its structure is a single nave with a polygonal apse, two towers at the base and a ribbed, vaulted ceiling. Inside it has a Neo-classical statue of the Apostle Saint Thomas. Above the statue there is a bust of Saint John the Baptist and a picture of the Calvary crowns the altarpiece. In the atrium there is a chapel of Our Lady of Coromoto, the patron saint of Venezuela that replaced a tribute to the Liberator in 1959. On the floor of the atrium, facing the chapel, are some burial stones with sculptures decorations, now very deteriorated.
THE MUSEUM AND MONOLITH OF SIMON BOLIBAR
The museum is located in the Errementaikua farmhouse that once belonged to the Liberator´s ancestors. It is dedicated to the history of Simón Bolibar (Venezuela 1783-Colombia 1830) and to his ancestors from the town of Bolibar. The Museum was renovated and inaugurated on July 24, 1983, on the bicentenary of the birth of Simon Bolibar “The Liberator”.
The monolith that commemorates Simon bolibar was built in 1927, at the request of the Venezuelan government. Made by Pedro Ispizua, the monument shows the family coat of arms and a bas-relief of the Liberator.
OLD MEDIEVAL ROAD
The old medieval road begins on the outskirts of bolibar, next to the crossroads that leads to the Collegiate Church, to our right. At the beginning of the 20th century, when a new road was built, the old road became hidden by undergrowth and forgotten. In 1982, it was rediscovered and restored. It was the Way to Santiago, the oldest road on the Cantabrian coast.
Lea Artibaiko Garapen Agentzia
Xemein Etorbidea, 12. 48270 Markina-Xemein
Trekking
The primitive centre of Lekeitio was surrounded by a wall. In 1334, King Alphonse XI ordered a wall to be built around the town.
This is a building of the XII century, and restored in the XVI century. The building presents a saloon layout, with three naves of the same height. The tower is a Neoclassical building of the XIX century. In the past, the portico was the meeting place of Berriatua´s brotherhood and is formed by several columns, bearing the weight of a wood structure. Close to the church, we can find a town hall, a pelota court, a covered square and a kiosk.
In the heart of the Lea valley stands out the industrial area of Okamika, from its creation in the 80 s, it’s become in the main motor of the valley’s economy with its 30 companies and more than 400 employees. Among its activities are graphic arts, food industry, rubber industry, carpenter and reparation and machinery distribution. It’s made an attempt to take care of its integration on the natural medium and minimise the environmental impact by implantation of advanced purifying plant systems.
It’s unknown the construction year, but it is known that it was an unattached church in the XV century. It belonged to the Adan de Yarza family and it was dependent of Santa Maria of Lekeitio. As Glzaburua was growing, started the first attempts to separate from Lekeitio, that was reached with the Leon X Popes bull In 1519.
The hermitage of Nuestra Seiñora De Oibar or Santa Maria de Oibar is a baroque of the XVIII century building, although its first initial construction was before that date. In 1752 was rebuilt by D. Ignacio do Villareal y Berriz, noble of Lekeitio and canon D. Ignacio de Herquiaga. It is a rectangular layout building with stone and masonry in the corners, in the starting points of the gaps and in the main façade. The walls are supported with two buttress, two to each side.
The complex of Bengolea is comprsing the house tower Bengolea, the ironworks, the prey, the mill and the bridge.
In the highest zone of the Tarteka mountain, over limestone develops the Cantabrian holm-cak tree. The conservation of this type of vegetation presents an ecological interest due to the diversity that offers to the landscape. Introducing a Mediterranean forest in an Atlantic environment, it enhances and protects sloppy hill lands, growing over dry and not so deep lands, that present a lack of worth to other uses as the agricultural or woodland. The surroundings are occupied by radiata pine plantations, that it has become the identification image of the landscape, not only in the region, in the whole Basque Cantabrian side. This pine was introduced at the end of XIX century and now occupies big extensions of land, being with difference the most repopulating exotic conifer used, although it can be seen others such as, larch tree, cypress of Lawson, fir Douglas, etc. This plantations occupies lands of leafy origin vegetation, but most of the cases, this spices were introduced in lands of current deforestation process.
With an extension of 81,42 km2 the basin of the river Lea is one of the better river ecosystems conserved of Bizkaia. The aliseda Cantabrian occupies the margins of the river in good part of its traveled through, offering protection set against the large avenues. This gallery forest type is used to being accompanied by ash and oak tree pedunculado that indicates the transition toward the forests.
Time: 45 minutesTX.jpg)
This 15th century church is a perfect example of a single aisle Renaissance temple. The shape of the apse can be seen on the outside of the church, as well as the high chapels between the buttresses.TX.jpg)
A masonry building with liberal use of cornerstones, windows and segmented arch that leads to the porch. It was built in 1817, with seven constructions added on at a later date.
At Ispaster and Mount Otoio, we will find a very particular landscape called a karst terrain, caused by the chemical aggression of water on limestone. The most common manifestations of this are dolines, oval depressions that frequently have curving contours. Several adjacent dolines may eventually join each other and form a basin as in the case of the depression where Ispaster is located. This area lacks a proper river network because the water runs underground.
A Gothic framhouse built during the first quarter of the 16th century, with a wooden framework and a façade in three sections. The middle section has a covered porch, while the two side sections are made of masonry with smaill pointed arches for ventilation.TX.jpg)
A large, rectangular Gothic hermitage with a gabled roof, built in 1500. It has thick masonry walls with two pointed arch entry doors.TX.jpg)
A solitary Gothic hermitage with a simple rectangular structure and a gabled roof. In one of the side walls there is a pointed door with engravings of several crosses.tx.jpg)
A classic Baroque country mansion, with a good ashlar façade framed by two towers on either side, that is accessed through an arched porch, similar to 18th century farmhouses.tx.jpg)
Bolibar has existed since the 11th century and has produced many illustrious men, such as Diego de Irusta, who took part in the unforgettable battle of Navas de Tolosa, in 1212. Other distinguisehd men were Diego and Bernardino de Irusta, abbots of the Collegiate Church of Cenarruza, and the heroic general Pedro de Zubiaur, and many other outstanding military men.tx.jpg)
This temple-forttress was founded in the 10th century and rebuilt during the 17th-18th centuries.tx.jpg)
The museum is located in the Errementaikua farmhouse that once belonged to the Liberator´s ancestors. It is dedicated to the history of Simón Bolibar (Venezuela 1783-Colombia 1830) and to his ancestors from the town of Bolibar. The Museum was renovated and inaugurated on July 24, 1983, on the bicentenary of the birth of Simon Bolibar “The Liberator”.tx.jpg)
The old medieval road begins on the outskirts of bolibar, next to the crossroads that leads to the Collegiate Church, to our right. At the beginning of the 20th century, when a new road was built, the old road became hidden by undergrowth and forgotten. In 1982, it was rediscovered and restored. It was the Way to Santiago, the oldest road on the Cantabrian coast.
