Aizkorri or Aitzgorri (, meaning in Basque 'bare stone', literally 'red stone') is a
massif
In geology, a massif ( or ) is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. The term also refers to a ...
, the highest one of the
Basque Autonomous Community
The Basque Country (; eu, Euskadi ; es, País Vasco ), also called Basque Autonomous Community ( eu, Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoa, links=no, EAE; es, Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco, links=no, CAPV), is an autonomous community of Spain. It ...
(
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
) with 1,551 m
AMSL
Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''.
The comb ...
at its highest point (peak Aitxuri, meaning 'white stone'). The massif is formed by a crest of
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
summits aligned north-west to south-east all in a row at the south of the province of
Gipuzkoa
Gipuzkoa (, , ; es, Guipúzcoa ; french: Guipuscoa) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French depa ...
, namely Artzanburu, Andreaitz, Arbelaitz (1,513 m), Iraule (1,511 m), Aitxuri, Aketegi (1,549 m) and Aizkorri (1,528 m). Despite its slightly lower height, this summit is the most popular one. The Aizkorri massif is one of the most conspicuous geological formations on the
Basque Mountains range.
![Urbia 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Urbia_2.JPG)
The mountain range is delimited at either end by the Biozkornia and
San Adrian passes. On the one end the massif stretches west to the
Aloña massif, on the other one to the Altzania massif (highest summit
Aratz
Aratz (meaning 'pure' in Basque, after its stone surface devoid of vegetation) is a mountain of the Basque Country in Spain located at the mountain range Altzania (also called Urkilla) that provides the extension for the massif Aizkorri. It li ...
). The major Madrid-Irun railway cuts its way through the northern steep slopes of the mountain range, with two train stops, i.e. ''Otzaurte'' and ''Zegama Apeadero'' hardly operating any longer.
Access points
Nowadays, ''Zegama Apeadero'' is well known for providing access to one hard northern trail mounting up rather straight to a central pass by Andreaitz. The initial mud track going up west (PR-GI 70) peters out into a narrow trail at a major crossroads (col of Intzuzaeta) after taking a turn south-west. Signals are abandoned and the trail penetrates straight into an open
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
forest, where traces of the trail can go almost unnoticed. At the final stage of the ascension, the path winds up. At this point, autochthonous forest and steep slopes are left behind, yielding to a distinctive
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
and grazing landscape.
Yet the main ascension route comes from the south-west, from the
Sanctuary of Arantzazu
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu is a Franciscan sanctuary located in Oñati, Basque Country, Spain. The shrine is a much appreciated place among Gipuzkoans, with the Virgin of Arantzazu being the sanctuary's namesake and patron saint of ...
(
Oñati
Oñati ( eu, Oñati, es, Oñate) is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has a population of approximately 10,500 and lies in a valley in the center of the Basqu ...
), where a beaten trail goes up through a thick forest of
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
es and ends at the Urbia meadows. From there, the route climbs up to the summits (Aizkorri, Aketegi, Aitxuri and others). Way-marking will be easily found.
Another access point lies on the east at the
San Adrian tunnel and the Medieval road crossing it. At the southern exit of the tunnel, after a 50-metre walk, from a clearing a trail penetrates almost unnoticed up the forest on the right, so beginning a 30-odd minute uphill struggle (not in vain is it dubbed ''Kalbario Bidea'', 'Calvary Trail') with loose pebbles all along. At this point, an opening affords a beautiful view onto the north and the trail cuts along the verge of several
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
cliffs on its way north-west. In another 30 minutes, the Aizkorri summit may be attained. A stark refuge hut (built 1934 as a shelter for shepherds and hikers) and the ''Santo Cristo'' hermitage lie by the summit.
Events
The
Zegama-Aizkorri
The Zegama-Aizkorri (also known a Zegama-Aizkorri Maratoia or Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri) is an international skyrunning competition held for the first time in 2002. It runs every year in Spain from Zegama up to Aizkorri (1551 m MLS) and fini ...
Marathon, a popular cross-country endurance race, takes place in spring along a loop circuit around the Aizkorri massif (sometimes including
Aratz
Aratz (meaning 'pure' in Basque, after its stone surface devoid of vegetation) is a mountain of the Basque Country in Spain located at the mountain range Altzania (also called Urkilla) that provides the extension for the massif Aizkorri. It li ...
).
Adding to the appeal of the range, the whole Aizkorri and Aratz area was declared the
Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park
The Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park is the second-largest natural park in the Basque Country. Straddling the Cantabrian-Mediterranean watershed, it is named Aizkorri and Aratz, the two most notable mountains in the park. Declared a natural park i ...
in 2006.
References
External links
Natural Parks of Gipuzkoa.
{{Authority control
Basque Mountains
Gipuzkoa
Mountains of the Basque Country (autonomous community)