- Region: País Vasco
- Province: Guipuscoa
- Declared a Natural Park: 1994
- Park surface area: 10,596 hectares
- Towns and villages: Abaltzisketa, Amezketa, Ataun, Zaldibia and Bedaio
Points of interest
The Sierra de Aralar Natural Park is known for its beech forests that were pollarded in the past and used to make charcoal. It is a place of true scenic beauty and there are some fantastic walks in the area such as the plateaux of Ataun, created by the peaks of Jentilbaratza, Aizkoate, Aizkorrandi, Arastortz, Agautz, Leizadi, Asundi, Loibideko Mailoak and Ikarandieta. Txindoki is the most widely known and visited peak in the range whilst Intzeko Torrea or the tower of Intza, also called “Irumugarrieta”, is the highest mountain in the protected area.
The varieties of birds include griffon vulture, egyptian vulture, golden eagle, bearded vulture, Alpine chough and the elusive black woodpecker. Mammals include european mink, roe deer, wild boar, Pyrenean desmans and the european snow vole.
Between May and November, livestock, especially latxa sheep which provide the milk for Idiazabal cheese, dairy cattle and herds of wild horses graze the area whilst durng the winter months livesock is kept closer to the small villages in the area.
The Sanctuary of San Miguel in Excelsis, built in 1098, is a Romanesque church located in the southern part of the range near the town of Uharte-Arakil and mount Altxueta. Records about the church date from the 11th century and it contributes to the history of Christianity in northern Spain. San Miguel is one of the oldest saints of the Basques.
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Information/Visitors Centers
Sierra de Aralar Natural Park Interpretation Centre (Parketxe Lizarrusti)
Close to the town of Ataun, this information centre is located at the mountain pass of Lizarrusti and from here you will find the start points for some of the most popular walking routes. the centre also covers information about the fauna, flora and geology of the area.
Museo Barandiaran
Located in the town of Ataun, here you can learn about the life and extensive work of the famous Basque priest, anthropologist and ethnologist, José Miguel de Barandiaran. Ataun, the town where Barandiaran was born and lived most of his life, has a unique natural environment that houses incalculable historical treasures and from his birth in 1889 until his death in 1991 at the age of 101, the famous researcher dedicated his life to carrying out excavations of numerous dolmens and caves, studying history and the magical folk legends of the area.
The official website for the Sierra de Aralar Natural Park is here: https://turismo.euskadi.eus/es/espacios-naturales/parque-natural-de-aralar/aa30-12375/es/
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I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!