Starting point The Sanctuary of Urkiola

Today we spend the day in Durangaldea, the epicentre of Basque mythology. The region has been home to many special beings, and in fact all the characters of Basque mythology have lived in the Urkiola Natural Park. That’s why we advise you to start in the park itself. To be precise, at the Sanctuary of Urkiola. Before Christianity our ancestors also considered this place sacred, and although the date the Sanctuary was built isn’t known, it’s said to date from the 8th-11th centuries.

The stone in front of the sanctuary is striking. Locals say it’s a meteorite, but it’s actually iron ore. Legend has it that if single men and women walk around the stone they will find a wife or husband. Very close to the Sanctuary, on a signposted path, is the Three Crosses viewpoint, a true paradise overlooking the Atxarte gorge.

The park has the Toki-Alai Interpretation Centre, with a permanent exhibition of the park and information on routes, points of interest and tourist information. It must be said that among the mountains and peaks in the Urkiola Natural Park, Anboto (1,331 m) stands out, the tallest and most significant mountain in Durangaldea. Many legends are told about this mountain. There you’ll find the cave of Mari, considered the home of the Basque goddess.

This tour through the Durangaldea region then takes you to the town of Durango, a town steeped in history and culture where you can enjoy the local cuisine. Durango is a town of medieval origin, with a historic quarter declared a Monumental Complex in 1997. Among other buildings and palaces, the Basilica of Santa María de Uribarri, the church, the Santa Ana Arch and the Kurutziaga Cross stand out.

In the afternoon, head to the Gerediaga Assembly House. The hermitages of San Salvador and San Clemente, the Campos Forales, oak trees and Renaissance stone crosses make up the sworn assembly site of Gerediaga. Political decisions relating to the 12 parishes that made up Durangaldea were taken at the Provincial Assembly of Gerediaga, and today it forms the oldest European parliament. A short distance from there is the charming and peaceful village of Garai, on the slopes of Mount Oiz, as well as the Momoitio hermitage and the necropolis dating from the 9th century.

The last stop is Elorrio, with an extraordinary monumental heritage. Elorrio has a historic and artistic complex of great value, with palaces, coats of arms, fountains and crosses adorning every quarter of the town. It’s the municipality with the most coats of arms in Bizkaia with 69. In Elorrio you’ll find the Argiñeta Necropolis which, both for the number and the chronology of the sarcophagi built from the 7th-9th centuries to the Middle Ages, is one of the most important funerary monuments in the Basque Country. The sarcophagi were built to be used in the necropolises of the various surrounding neighbourhoods, but they were regrouped in their current location in the 19th century. In the municipality you can also visit Solatsu Telleria-Baserria, with its interpretation centre about tile making.

Starting point Pozalagua Cave

Our day plan takes us to Karrantza, the westernmost valley in the Enkarterri region. We start the day by visiting the Pozalagua Cave.

The cave is situated in the heart of the Armañón Natural Park. This cathedral-like underground world is home to the highest concentration of eccentric stalactites in the world. These peculiar formations grow randomly in all directions, defying gravity and forming a spellbinding mosaic. The cave was discovered by chance following an explosion in a nearby quarry that opened up a hole in the mountain. On the other side, a dazzling underground universe emerged. The visit takes you past stalactites, stalagmites and flows, and culminates with a viewpoint that presents the cavern in all of its splendour.

Facing the cave is the Parketxea or Armañón Natural Park Information Centre, which presents all of its secrets through a permanent exhibition and viewpoint with spectacular views.

Once the visit is over, you can recharge your batteries at the bar-restaurant next to the cave or head to the centre of the valley where there’s a wide and varied range of cuisine on offer. In Karrantza you can opt to visit BBK Karpin Fauna, a refuge for more than 55 different species of animals that can no longer live in the wild, or immerse yourself in part of industrial history by visiting the Dolomitas Museum.

Lastly, around 15 km from the Karrantza Valley, is Lanestosa, a charming town where time seems to have stood still since its foundation in the 13th century. The municipality, the smallest in Bizkaia, is perfect for delving into and walking around its historic centre of cobbled alleyways, medieval bridges and traditional houses with continuous balconies. The surroundings of the town are encircled by great mountain massifs full of hiking routes and perfect viewpoints.