Arribe at the foot of the Malloas
Accommodation in Arribe
Arribe lies at the foot of the Sierra de Aralar and the Malloas, a group of limestone ridges that shape the landscape. From Arribe, the Malloas are impressive, with an elevation difference of more than 1,000 metres. In Arribe, landscape and culture can be viewed as two distinct approaches.
The spatial sequence from the valley floor to the limestone ridges gives the landscape a recognisable vertical structure. The Araxes and the Malloas represent different geographical reference points: the river is part of the townscape, while the ridges define the mountain foothills and the view upwards.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Arribe, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages. Check these three details separately, then organise your plans for the area according to mountain landscape, circular route, summit ascents, culture or festival dates; the topics can be considered independently of one another.
Culture and history
The bridge over the Araxes connects the two sides of Arribe. In the late 18th century, Arribe was designated the capital of the Araitz Valley because of its location.
The Church of San Miguel in Arribe was built in the Middle Ages. Its main altarpiece dates from the 17th century. One of the altarpieces contains an image described as valuable, dating from the 15th century.
The hermitage of “Virgen del Camino” is one of the two hermitages mentioned in Araitz. For a cultural perspective, you can consider the building, altarpiece, image and hermitage separately; the years also provide a chronological structure.
Festivals
On 29 September, Arribe celebrates the feast day of Saint Michael, the town’s patron saint. Arribe’s local festivities take place on the third weekend of July.
The two dates are dated differently: one falls on a single calendar day, while the other falls over a weekend. For your planning, the annual cycle and hiking information can be considered separately.
Hiking
The PR-NA 306 Uba-Artegieta hiking trail begins in Arribe on the NA-1300 road between Betelu and Lizartza. From there, the route leads to the scattered houses of Uba, circles the area around the Santa Bárbara hermitage and reaches the border with Gorriti at Artegietako langa. The circular route then runs across the high plateaus of Pagozelai and over another ridge before descending to Atallu. It reconnects via the local Harritz Herri riverside path along the Araxes.
The sequence of named sections makes the course of the PR-NA 306 comprehensible: Uba and Santa Bárbara are followed by the border point, the high plateaus of Pagozelai and the descent to Atallu. The return route along the Araxes via Harritz Herri forms a separate part of the circular route. The Malloas, by contrast, represent ascents from different starting points.
The route information allows a comparison by route type and destination: a circular route follows a sequence of named places and landscape sections, while several ascents are directed towards summits. Several ascents to the summits of the Malloas are possible from different starting points in the Araitz Valley.
For the overarching travel overview: Araitz.
