Peñas de Aya

Aiako HarriainBasqueorPeñas de AyainSpanish,is a massif east of the town ofOiartzunin theBasque Country.The riverOiartzunrises on its north-western face.

Aiako Harria
Aiako Harria from the southwest
Highest point
Elevation	837 m (2,746 ft)
Listing	Mountains of Spain
Coordinates	43°16′59.97″N01°47′4.74″W
Naming
English translation	The stone of Aia
Language of name	Basque
Pronunciation	Basque:[ˈajakoaˈria]
Geography
Aiako Harria Location in Spain
Location	Gipuzkoa,Spain
Parent range	Pyrenees
Climbing
Easiest route	From the pass of Elurretxe or Aritxulegi inOiartzun

The range is very popular with the inhabitants of the area. Other neighbouring towns areIrunon the north andLesakaon the east. The massif comprises three summits extending 4-odd kilometres north to south in a row, namelyIrumugarrieta(806 m),Txurrumurru(821 m) andErroilbide(837 m). Its characteristic shape can be made out approximately from as far asBayonne(north), the massif being dubbed the "face of Napoleon" on account of its similar outline, while its actualFrenchname isLes Trois Couronnes.At its western foot, the mountain holds the siteArditurrirelated to ancientOiassowith a network of mine corridors carved in the rock and put down to Romans. Some notable mountains around areBianditz(827 m) on the south,Jaizkibel(547 m) on the west andLarrun(905 m) on the north-east.

Mythology

The mountain and the surrounding area, besides being dotted with abundant prehistoric vestiges (stone circles,menhirs,etc.), is home to numerous fairy tales and rich mythological beliefs. The first one refers to the very creation of the mountain. According to a recurrent account inBasque mythology(e.g.AballarriinAdarra), it is made up of a stone kicked by mythological characterSanson(Basque development of biblicalSamson) fromJaizkibel,while another suggests that it fell down from a pocket of his when he was bombing the valley with huge rocks.

Another typical mythological character fromAiako HarriaandOiartzunis theintxixu,who dwells in the mine corridors ofArditurri.Theintxixusare mischievous but shy, so they are hard to see. A collected folk account goes that a warden came across one of them at the mines, and seized with fear he took to running right the town hall ofOiartzun.The warden reported the character to be half human halfbetizu(a wild cow of the region). Tradition credits them with the building of the megalithic monuments around.

Geology

Overview ofIrun,Hondarribiaand a tip ofHendaia

Besides being considered by some the westernmost tip of thePyrenees(rivalling with the coastal mountainJaizkibel), it stands out as a distinctive range of rocky prominences and gullies, otherwise uncommon. The conspicuous formations ofAiako Harriaconsist of aPaleozoicmassif with some of the oldest materials cropping out currently in theBasque Country.Later orogeny pushed a mass of igneous rocks to the surface, so metamorphosing the superficialPaleozoicmaterials as it tore its way out of them, which yielded the present daygraniticlandscape.

The materials held by the mountain enticed the Romans to these reaches, who settled in the riverside town ofOiassowith important port and factory vestiges unveiled recently. Ore was extracted from theArditurrimines (IPA: [aɾ'ðituri]), largely silver bearinggalenaandleadaimed at the elaboration of different metallic instruments, the site standing for one of the most significant ancient mines inHispania,second toLas Médulasmines in Leon but matching in importance those of Cartagena orRio Tinto.As late as the 5th century, the mines were abandoned by Romans, but were exploited in the Middle Ages foriron,so spurring the construction of many foundries around. The mines kept on running up to 1984, when the exploitation license expired.

Access points and trails

The trail northwards on Aiako Harria

There is a myriad of combinations and well signalled trails. The PR GI-20 route, marked with yellow and white, skirts all around the massif. The signalling for the central route of the summits is older. Two starting points may be highlighted, at the south and the north ends of the massif, i.e.Aritxulegiand the pass ofElurretxe.

Aritxulegi

FromOiartzun,after a long winding road up in the direction ofLesaka(GI-3420), the vehicle may be parked on the roadside before the tunnel (height 502 m). A pebbled track goes up on the right hand until a field and a hut on the pass. The trail heads north to the summits past a plantation of small trees in memory of deadBasque nationalistactivists and militants. The trail opens its way out of grass patches and crooked passages, with clear signs all along. No climbing needed, although crawling is needed in order to overcome some obstacles. At one point, a tricky stretch must be passed where a ring must be grabbed in order to continue. After reaching the last summit ofIrumugarrieta,the landscape turns opener. Breathtaking scenery of the whole Basque coastline,Landes,Basque mountainsand the westernPyrenees.

Aiako Harria fromHondarribia,Irunon the foreground

Keep north-bound in a steep descent leaving behind theJuncalcave on the right (748 m high). The trail falls past the remains of a military defence line dating from the Civil War till an openlarchforest is reached, and on to the pass ofElurretxe(road). This is the access calledCastillo del Ingléstoo, after a building nearby nowadays in ruin. For the way back, in order to skip the same trail to return, the PR-GI 20 looping around the massif can be taken, either through the western side or the eastern one. In the first option, the trail runs back south at middle height through forest landscape most of the time, except for the final stage, before merging with the starting point inAritxulegi.No slopes up at the beginning, but several twists and zigzags up on the way.

Elurretxe (Castillo del Inglés)

The same route may be done on the opposite direction, that is, starting fromElurretxetoAritxulegiand back by means of any of the trail choices. FromOiartzun(Elizalde), take the road going up towardsIrunand neighbourhoodGurutze.In a 5-minute ride of a motor vehicle, a minor road splits off to the right (GI-3454, signposted "Ingelesaren Gaztelua" ). The road winds up for another 15 minutes gaining height gradually untilElurretxeis reached (Km 8, openlarchforest and picnic area on the right).

The Arditurri greenway

At the western foot of the massif, a pleasing and pretty flat greenway has been arranged for cyclists and pedestrians along the riverOiartzun,which heads east into the wild up to the Arditurri mines.

Events

Meeting held in Aritxulegi on the Gudari Eguna 2006

• The core area ofAiako Harriaand an extended strip along the borderline withNavarrewere declared Natural Park in 1995, covering an area of 6,913 Ha. The whole stretch features remarkable green beauty, plenty of water and abundant vegetation.
• At Christmas time, hikers and devotees fromIrungather together at theJuncalcave so as to venerate Our Lady of the Juncal, beloved patron of the town.
• The pass ofAritxulegiholds an affective significance formilitant Basque nationaliststracing back to theSpanish Civil War,since anANVmember was first killed by Francoists at this spot. A standing stone has been erected as a memorial.Furthermore, a meeting is held here on a yearly basis on the Day of the Basque Soldier, theGudari Eguna.
• TheArditurrimines opened to public and tourist attendance in 2008, after years of revealing findings, arrangements and provisions. A portion of 15 km of galleries, chambers and Roman-made interior lakes are on show for visitors.

Further reading

• Alcalde, Iñaki; Perez Azaceta; Jesus M. (2003).Montes de Gipuzkoa; TODAS LAS CUMBRES.Bilbao: Sua Edizioak.ISBN84-8216-108-3.
• "Aiako Harria".Euskal Herria.18.Bilbao: Sua Edizioak. October–November 2006.ISSN1695-3967.

External links

• Trails, circuits and facilities through Aiako HarriaSite in Basque and Spanish
• The Arditurri mines: description and visitsSite in Basque and Spanish
• Natural Parks of Gipuzkoa.