Urigoiti: Hikes, Rocky Landscapes and Romanesque Heritage
Accommodation in Urigoiti
Hikes from Urigoiti
The linear route from Urigoiti to the Gorbeia Cross is 11.4 kilometres long. The route is scheduled to take 4 hours and 45 minutes; the elevation gain is 1,158 metres. The destination of this hike is the Gorbeia Cross, also known as Gorbeiako gurutzea and Cruz de Gorbeia.
A second option is the 8.3-kilometre circular hike from Urigoiti to the Aldabide Cascade and Atxular Pass. This loop takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to walk. Atxular Pass is a natural opening in the rock and offers views.
The Aldabide–Atxular route also starts in Urigoiti. It has an elevation gain of 707 metres and is rated as moderately difficult. The route to Aldabide Spring also begins in Urigoiti, meaning that the village appears as the starting point for several of the routes described.
Nature and Terrain
Beech forests and pasture alternate along the Aldabide–Atxular route. The trail leads to Atxular Pass, whose natural opening in the rock shapes the character of this section of the landscape and provides views.
The hike to Aldabide Spring runs beneath the steep rock walls of the protected Itzina biotope. The landscape described also includes forest, pasture, and distinctive rock formations. Aldabide Spring and the rock walls of the Itzina biotope thus form separate points of reference within the hikes from Urigoiti.
The Gorbeia mountain, Oketa summit, and Ubegi Spring are located in the surroundings of Urigoiti. The Salto del Nervion waterfall lies in the wider regional area around Urigoiti. Thus, the named natural destinations range from the immediate surroundings of the village to the wider regional area.
Culture and History
Despite extensive alterations in the 19th century, San Lorenzo de Urigoiti preserves a Romanesque window. It probably dates from the 13th century. The historic building fabric is combined here with a single surviving detail whose Romanesque origins predate the later alterations.
The wider regional area around Urigoiti is home to three museums with different names and distinct profiles: the Museo De Arte E Historia De Durango, the Museo Diocesano De Arte Sacro, and the Kurutzesantu Museoa. They complement the cultural attractions named around San Lorenzo de Urigoiti with institutions in the surrounding region.
Geographical Setting
The Gorbeiako gurutzea monument, also known as Cruz de Gorbeia, is located in the surroundings of Urigoiti. The Gorbeia mountain, Oketa summit, and Ubegi Spring are also located in this area. These three natural destinations and the monument are therefore assigned to the immediate surroundings of the village, while the Salto del Nervion and the aforementioned museums lie in the wider regional area.
Getting There
From Zubiaur in Orozko, take the BI-3513 road towards Areatza. At Ibarra, turn off towards Urigoiti.
For the main travel overview: Orozko.
