Vizcaya Natural Reserves
Urkiola Natural Park
Surrounded by wonderful landscapes, with rugged limestone peaks,
meadows and woods, Urkiola is a favourite among all nature lovers
throughout the year.
Over the centuries, the Sanctuary of Urkiola, dedicated to the
saints San Antonio Abad and San Antonio de Padua, and located
at the very centre of the Park, has been the destination of pilgrims
from near and far.
The peaks of the Urkiola mountain range have long been a favourite
among mountaineers and hillwalkers. The precipitous rock faces
of Atxatxiki, Urrestei and Alluitz are perfect for rockclimbing
and have been the training ground for many of the great Basque
mountaineers. Anboto, the highest peak in this range, is very
popular among climbers but only the most daring visit the cave
on its northern face. According to Basque mythology, this cave,
which climbers call Mari, is the home of the "Lady of Anboto".
There are other important caves such as Bolinkoba, Gentilkoba,
Baltzola and the bridge of the Gentiles, etc.
There are a large number of recommended routes through the Park:
These are marked as GRs and PRs, the didactic or specific routes
of the Park, and these are described in brochures that can be
acquired at the Toki Alai, the Parketxe or Information Centre.
There are a number of areas equipped for picnics and leisure pursuits.
As it is forbidden to camp here, there are also two shelters in
the Sanctuary for those who want to spend the night in the Park.
The villages in the surrounding area contain a large number of
restaurants and offer traditional Basque cooking and accommodation
at reasonable prices and there are a large number of rural guesthouses
and farms.
Gorbeia Natural Park
This Park, located at the foot of Mount Gorbea, contains landscapes
of great beauty. You can enjoy seeing the local flora and fauna
in their natural habitat. A visit to the Oro Sanctuary and the
Gujuli waterfall are well worth the trouble, as are the local
crafts workshops that produce a range of different products.
This Natural Park is located between the provinces of Vizcaya
and Álava, around Mount Gorbeia, and is part of the mountain
range that forms a watershed between the Cantabrian Sea and the
Mediterranean. Due to its great height, Gorbeia Natural Park has
a typical mountain climate and acts like a huge barrier stopping
the damp winds from the Bay of Biscay. It is largely responsible
for the major climactic differences between its north and south
faces.
Gorbeia is a traditional reference point for Basque mountaineers.
The attraction of peaks such as Gorbeiagane, Aldamin, Oketa, Berretin...
, the quality and spectacular nature of its landscapes, together
with the strategic situation of this mountain range which is close
to a number of neighbouring population centres, have made Gorbeia
one of the most frequented mountain ranges. The tracks and paths
of this mountain range are used by hykers, mountain bike enthusiasts
and horse riders. These activities are made much easier by the
existence of a network of signposted paths in the Park, in addition
to the GR and PR designed by the Mountain Federations.
Inside the Natural Park or on its edge, there are a large number
of well-equipped recreational areas. Pagomakurre is the main one
on the Bizkaia side, while on the Alava side there is the recreational
area of the Baias Centre, with the recently created Parketxe or
Park Reception Centre.
These rugged mountains are crowned by steep limestone cliffs or
by the rounded silica peaks of the provinces of Alava. The many
rivers and streams in the Park have sculpted deep, craggy ravines.
The uppermost reaches of these streams run through areas of open
grazing land and heather and only on the steep mountainsides are
their banks covered with trees and other vegetation, dense woods
of beech, Pyrenean oak, chestnuts - as well as plantations of
conifers..
The great diversity and extension of these woodlands has allowed
the reintroduction of deer into the Gorbeia Natural Park. There
are large numbers of these animals distributed in the Alava sector
and today they hae become an emblem of the wildlife in the Park.
Itxina Biotope
The Itxina massif is found within the Gorbeia Natural Park and
represents a key element in its landscape. It comprises a large
outcrop of limestone of the Urgonian complex, formed by coral
reefs that grew in shallow seas 110 million years ago.
Rainwater dissolves the rock causing depressions (dolines) and
breaks up the rock in the form of grooves and channels (lapiaces).
These are the so-called Karst formations. Among the most noteworthy
of these is the famous Ojo de Atxulaor, the central Gran Grieta,
the Axlaor doline and the Supelegor cave.
The filtered rainwater forms a large, enclosed subterranean basin
that feeds the main spring, which is called Aldabide, to the north
of the massif. One peculiar feature is the use of some of the
deep Karst cracks as refrigerators to keep snow well into summer.
In fact, in Itxina, one of these, in Neberabaltz, is in perfect
condition.
The flora in the Park is extremely varied and is of great interest
to moss experts. There are more than 175 species of mosses and
catalogued hepatics. One aspect which has contributed to this
abundance of species is the large amount of rotting wood in the
Park, something which is difficult to find in other places in
the Basque Country due to the massive forestation in this region.
This wealth of flora is increased by the presence of singular
species on the crests and vertical rock faces. Some beech trees
grow in the harshest and most unexpected places and today there
is still evidence of the use of these trees for producing charcoal.
With regard to fauna, one curious detail is that there are at
least eight species of bats. In years gone by, these animals were
associated with witchcraft and evil practices, but they are beneficial
to man as their main diet consists of insects.
Urdaibai Biosphere Reservation
Unesco declared Urdaibai a biosphere reserve in 1984. It comprises
a large marsh formed by the river Oca as it flows into the sea,
thereby providing a rich source of food for a large variety of
seabirds. Inland, Gernika is situated at the vertex of this enormous
delta. Gernika is the town immortalised by Picasso in his painting
of the bombing raids perpetrated during the Civil War. It is also
the town where in ancient times the Lords of Vizcaya took their
decisions in the shade of a large oak tree, the Oak of Gernika.
Nearby, you can visit the Santimamiñe caves, well known
for their prehistoric paintings. And on the coast, you can visit
Elantxobe at one end of the river estuary and Bermeo at the other.
Both towns have a long seafaring tradition and celebrate festivities
in remembrance of centuries-long disputes over the island of Izaro,
which is situated halfway between them.
You should not forget to take a walk through the forest of Oma,
where the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola has created picturesque
shapes and figures in several colours in harmony with this natural
space. In short, Urdaibai represents an important part of the
history, culture and natural heritage of the Basque Country.
Vizcaya guide