EAST OÑATI SL-Gi-10 At the foot of Aloña8,5 km- simple.2:00´

WEST OÑATI PR-Gi-107 Route around the Garagaltza district6,5 km- simple- 2:00’

ARAOTZ PR-Gi-102 The water path11,5 km- medium. 4:30`

ARRIKRUTZ PR-Gi-103 The smugglers route8,5 km.- medium -3:30’

KORTAKOGAIN PR-Gi-104 Past the Arantzazu farmhouses5,5 km.- simple-1:30’

ARANTZAZU PR-Gi-105 The hidden road7 km.- simple-2:30’

ARRASATE- ARANTZAZU PR-Gi-106 Pilgrim route16 km.- demanding-5:00’

CLASSIC ASCENT TO AIZKORRIThrough the Urbia fields820 m. climb - demanding.-2:00’

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Starting point

Classic route which offers beautiful viewsover the town of Oñati. The route beginsin the historic quarter and passes throughthe town’s most rural districts, offeringhikers wonderful glimpses of both naturaland ethnographic treasures. Points ofinterest: Zumeltzegi Tower (Middle Ages)and the Larraña, Olabarrieta and Murgiadistricts.

Route which offers an interesting viewover the Oñati valley. The route leavesfrom the town centre and runs pasta series of farmhouses in theGaragaltza district, along several oldpaths and roads that still survive inthe area. Points of interest: historicquarter of Oñati, Garagaltza district,Usako recreational area.

This route, which runs through six of Araotz’s neighbourhoods,takes us to an intensely rural world, offering a series of stunningviews. After visiting the magic cave of Aitzulo, we arrive at theAraozta reservoir and from therethe path leads on to The Chapel ofthe Holy Cross. Near AndartoTxiki we turn around againtowards Araotz, and enter anarea punctuated by farmhouses.Points of interest: Araotz’sSt. Michael Parish Church,Chapel of the Holy Cross,the house in whichGeneral Elorza wasborn, etc.

Extremely beautiful route which leads usfirst along a section of the old road toCalahorra, before heading off towards theMadina district. The route links part of theArantzazu and Araotz districts, as well aspassing through the beautiful Jaturabe area.Points of interest: Arrikrutz, Calahorra Road,Jaturabe, etc.

Route which passes through most of theArantzazu neighbourhood and which takesus first through an intensely rural areaand later around all the hidden enclavesof Okola and Iritegi. After passing ahistorical mill, the path leads us back towhere we started, passing over a canal.Points of interest: 18th century Arrolafarmhouse, Okolahollow, Akuegi bridgeand reservoir, etc.

Route which shows us the darkest side of Arantzazu. After walkingdown the ravine of the River Arantzazu and crossing the Iturrigorriarea, the path takes us around the summit of Arriona, througha stunningly beautiful forest and two of thearea’s wide open pasturelands. Points ofinterest: Arantzazu basilica, rocky summit ofGazteluaitz, Arantzazu gorge, etc.

Beginning in Mondragón andending in Arantzazu, this is thelongest and most demandingof the routes. It is a classicpilgrim route which passesthrough lands belonging tothree municipalities in quicksuccession: Arrasate, Aretxaba-leta and Oñati. The routeleads us through the Bedoña and Larriño districts, the Urkulureservoir, the Urruxola district, the slopes of Orkatzategi, thesurprising Jaturabe valley and the old Arrikrutz and Gesaltza inns,before finally arriving in Arantzazu along the old road. Points ofinterest: St. Eulalia Parish Church (Bedoña), Orkatzategi crags,Gesaltza-Arrikrutz galleries, etc.

Route which leads up to the Urbia fields and then on to the summitof Aizkorri, one of the most emblematic mountains in Gipuzkoa,watershed between Atlantic and Mediterranean waters and themythical mountain of the legendary Mari. The path starts at the carpark in Arantzazu (708 m) and in approximately one hour arrives atthe Urbia fields and restaurant (1130 m). The second part of theclimb, which takes approximately another hour, passes by the Arbelarhuts up to the summit of Mount Aizkorri (1528 m).

In addition to an area of stunning natural beauty,the Aloña range and the mountains of Alavaand surrounding landscape are also a favouritespot for hikers. With mountains of a variety ofdifferent heights, people of all ages and levelsof fitness can enjoy this exciting sport. MountAizkorri, standing at 1528 m above sea leveland located in the range of the same name,is topped by a small chapel and a shelter in

good condition that provides a roof over the head of those who decide tospend the night on the summit.Information: Aloña Mendi K.E. - Atzeko kale, 18 – Tel: 943 780810.

A walk around Oñati providesan insight into the art andunique history of this town.The old quarter contains awealth of monuments andpalaces, including the SanctiSpiritus University, St. MichaelParish Church, BidaurretaMonastery and LazarragaTower-House, among others.

The countryside around Oñaticontains a number of elements ofgreat interest and value. Among anumber of other projects, the OñatiTown Council plans to define, createand set up a unique attraction inthe Oñati-Arrikrutz Karst, locatednear the Arantzazu Sanctuary underthe Aizkorri massif. The project isalready underway, although it is notyet completed, and aims to inject new life and value into Oñati’s natural,social and cultural environment by means of a highly advanced computersystem which will provide internal guidance and information on a numberof archaeological, ethnographical and speleological attractions.

This Nature Reserve is one of the natural wonders of Gipuzkoa andcontains the highest peak in the province. The massif, which is made upby a number of different ranges, takes its name from one of the mostemblematic peaks of the highest range, Aizkorri,a rocky summit crowned by the chapel of theHoly Christ. The old medieval road which linkedFlanders and Castile runs by the range on thesouthern side, passing through one of the mostfamous passes in the territory: St. Adrian’s Tunnel.The Urbia fields, which form the heart of theNature Reserve, have been known to mankind

since prehistorictimes, as is evidentin the numerousdolmens scattereda r o u n d t h i sbeautiful valley.The most commontree is the beech,and the area boasts one of the mostimportant beech groves in Gipuzkoa.

A region steeped in history and thesite of numerous memorablemonuments, one of Oñati’s mostvaluable assets is its stunningnatural environment. Most of thearea is located on sandstone andlimestone, and the landscape isfilled with the formations typicalof these rocks: caves, potholes,dolines and karsts, etc. Someunderground complexes, such asGesaltza-Arrikrutz, are the most important of their kind in the BasqueCountry, and are extraordinarily deep and long, as well as breathtakinglybeautiful. Some of these cavities have been used by humans for aeons,

and are linked with a wide range of differentbeliefs. Flocks of sheep, beech groves, limestonerock faces, cliffs and peaks together form amagnificent landscape, watched over from theskies by griffon vultures soaring majesticallyin circles and criss-crossed all over by theconstant comings and goings of sheep and horses.By far the best way of exploring this wonderfulregion is to use the routes described below.

Information and guided tours:

Timetable:

April-SeptemberWeekdays: 10:00-14:00 /15:30-19:30Saturdays: 10:00-14:00 /16:30-18:30Sundays: 10:00-14:00October-MarchWeekdays: 10:00-13:00 /16:00-19:00Saturdays: 11:00-14:00Sundays: 11:00-14:00

POTHOLING

CLIMBING

HIKING

PARAGLIDING

BRIDGE SWINGING

MOUNTING BIKING

SHOOTING

FISHING

Outdoor Activities

GOLF

A walk around Oñati

Arrikrutz cave tourist project

Aizkorri Nature Reserve

Rocky crags and deep ravines

San Juan Kalea, 5

Due to the existence of a large limestone mass,the area has many karstic formations such ascaves and potholes. Among these, some of themost interesting are San Elías Cave (Araotz), theSubiondo sink (Oltza), the Ubao upwelling (Aloña)and, in particular, the Gesarribe system locatedin the Arantzazu and Araotz Valley. This systemis formed by the Gesaltza, Arrikrutz y Jaturabecavities which, at 15 kilometres, constitute thelargest network of galleries in Gipuzkoa.

8 kilometres from Oñati, the Araotz districtand the area surrounding San Elías Cave isan obligatory point of call for climbingenthusiasts. Being one of the most popularareas in the Basque Country for this sport,and without doubt one of the best for high-level climbing, the site is visited by a largenumber of climbers every year, from boththe Basque Country and other parts of Spain.

During the fishing season, enthusiasts can fish (mainlytrout) in a number of different areas from San Pedrobridge to Olate or the Araotz reservoir and its tributarystreams, as well as Olabarrieta and Zubillaga.

Mount Aloña and the Oñati Valley constituteone of the best spots in Gipuzkoa for hang-gliding and paragliding. Gliders take off froma summit which is accessed by a path beginningone kilometre before Arantzazu and, after anorth-south flight over a 5 km slope, land inthe St. Lucy district beside the Zelabarrefarmhouse. The Ipar-Haize club, which hasover 25 members, runs both beginner andadvanced courses. Tel: 943 781909.

In the Araotz district, just before theclimbing area, there is a bridge 17metres high and 5 metres wide, whichis often used for the popular sport ofbridge swinging. With just a bridge andtwo ropes, bridge swinging enthusiastsare guaranteed a thrilling few momentsin a beautiful natural setting.

Mountaineering and cycling come together inthis exciting sport which is very popular withoutdoor enthusiasts. Mountain biking is enjoyedby a wide range of enthusiasts determined tomake the most of their bicycles in even the mostrugged terrain.

The town has an Olympic pit shootingrange equipped with the very latesttechnology, located in the Uribarri district(Txopekua Restaurant). The range is openseveral days a week for training sessionsand official championships.

IRELORE golf school is located next to the Soraluze Hotel, on the road whichlinks Oñati with Arantzazu. The school runs both individual and group classes.For further information, call: 678 727 284.

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Local Police Station Foruen Enparantza, 1 943 78 04 11Fire Station Zubillaga s/n. 943 78 28 00Medical Center San Juan, 17 943 03 54 30Valley Hospital Zaldibar (Mondragón) 943 03 53 00Ambulances Gipuzkoa 943 33 03 30Red Cross San Prudencio 943 76 55 76SOS Deiak San Sebastián 112

Rte. Echeverria Kalebarria, 19 943 78 04 60Rte. Bar Polideportivo Zubikoa Bidebarrieta, 6 943 78 22 34Rte. Bar Garoa San Lorentzo, 29 943 78 13 55Rte. Bar Antxon Euskadi Etorbidea, 1 943 78 21 61Rte. Bar Etxe-Aundi H** Torreauzo s/n 943 78 19 56Rte. Bar Sindica HS* Arantzazu Auzoa 943 78 13 03Rte. Bar Goiko-Benta HS* Arantzazu Auzoa 943 78 13 05Rte. Bar Milikua Arantzazu Auzoa 943 78 13 04Rte. Hospedería Arantzazu H* Arantzazu Auzoa 943 78 13 13Rte. Bar Zelai Zabal Arantzazu Auzoa 943 78 13 06Rte. Bar Urtiagain Uribarri Auzoa 943 78 08 14Rte. Bar Txopekua Uribarri Auzoa 943 78 05 71Rte. Bar Urrintxo Lezesarri Auzoa 943 78 34 79Rte. Bar Soraluze H** Uribarri Auzoa 943 71 61 79Rte. Bar Goiena Kale-Barria, 46 943 71 81 27Rte. Bar Zotz Zubillaga auzoa, 1 943 78 35 45Rte. Bar Zurrust Bidebarrieta, 6 943 71 62 96Bar Arkupe Foruen Enparantza, 9 943 78 16 99Ongi Ostatua H* Kale Zaharra, 19 bajo 943 71 82 85Arregi Rural Guesthouse Garagaltza auzoa, 21 943 78 36 57

Lizar Etxe Olabarrieta Auzoa 943 78 18 96

Useful telephone numbers and addresses

Restaurants and Accommodation

Snack bars in the rural area

Emergency telephone numbers

Useful InformationTown Hall Foruen Enparantza, 1 943 78 04 11Culture Hall Sta. Marina Plaza, 1 943 78 03 53Historic Files of Guipúzcoa Ibarra zelaia, 4 943 78 12 05Basque Inst.of the P. Admon. Unibertsitate Etorb. 943 78 20 11Inter. Inst.for the Sociology of Law Unibertsitate Etorb. 943 78 30 64Post Office Unibertsitate Etorb. 9 943 78 08 54Court Bidebarrieta, 1 943 78 02 54Taxi Stop Foruen Enparantza 943 78 03 65Sports Center Bidebarrieta, 6 943 71 63 75Elders’ Social Club San Juan, 2 943 78 09 61Tourist Office San Juan, 14 943 78 34 53Youngsters’ Social Club Foruen Enparantza, 4 943 71 60 94Oñati’s Tourism Develop. Agency San Juan kalea, 5 943 71 88 08