Among the great natural expanses of the Basque Country, straddling Álava and Biscay, we encounter the Urkiola Natural Park, a place essential to Basque mythology. And, in the very heart of the park, the sanctuary of the same name, a center of pilgrimage and cultural reference in the region wrapped in a curious legend…
A Space of Collective Memory
The Urkiola Natural Park is one of those examples of protected places that demonstrate that vast areas are not required to host great richness. With less than six thousand hectares of surface, distributed mainly across the southern part of the province of Biscay—although a portion occupies the northern part of Álava—Urkiola is a benchmark in the Basque Country because, beyond being a superb destination for hikers and mountain lovers, it is also an emblematic space of the Basque collective memory.
The presence, within its borders, of some of Euskadi’s most well-known elevations, such as Anboto, makes these lands a major attraction for both the region’s inhabitants and those who come from outside. The mountains’ altitude is moderate, barely exceeding 1,300 meters at their highest point, precisely Anboto, but the steep topography of the Aramotz- Eskubaratz ranges and the Duranguesado mountains stand out prominently over the valley spaces.
