La Hoya

Segura

Laguardia-Biasteri

Arretxinaga(Markina-Xemein)

TolosaElorrio

Azpeitia

Zumarraga

Oñati

Getaria

Bergara

Donostia-San Sebastián

Legazpi

Durango

Butrón(Gatika)

Balmaseda

Gernika-Lumo

Arantzazu

Salvatierra

Labastida

Iruña de Oca

Leintz-GatzagaLegutiano

Salinas de Añana

Pozalagua Bilbao

Gautegiz-Arteaga

SantimamiñeOma forest(Kortezubi)

Lekeitio

Argiñeta

Mutriku

Itziar

Deba

LezoPasaia

Artziniega

Mendoza

Estibaliz GaceoEgilaz

Alaiza

Peñacerrada-Urizaharra

Hechicera(El Villar)

TWO ROUTES TO SANTIAGO

Zambrana

Armiñón

Salinillas deBuradón

Hondarribia

San Marcos(Errenteria)

Irun

Bidania

Zegama

Hernani

Pilgrims took different routes to cross the peninsula towards Santiago de Compostela. Two of them ran through Basque lands, and still do so nowadays. Both the Coastal and the Inland Roads allow us to enjoy the landscape diversity of the Basque Country and to discover the scarcely frequented hermitages and natural areas.

Vitoria-Gasteiz

PortugaleteMuskiz

Ziortza(Bolibar)

(Valle de Carranza)

Kexaa-Quejana(Ayala)

ROAD

T

the coastline on reaching the sea. Many travellers were strongly marked, as can be seen from the notes written by Hugo de Oporto, Bishop of Portugal, during his journey in 1120, by “the roughness of the area, the barbarity of its inhabitants and the unbridled fury of the many branches of the Ocean”.

urban and rural aspects of the Basque Country. Having followed the first stretch through Gipuzkoa, already well-known for its tourist attractions, it takes us to parts of Bizkaia which, on having remained relatively remote from the more important points of communication, are a pleasant source of surprise.

which still have to be discovered.

he pilgrims coming from Europe who, starting from the Bidasoa estuary in Irun, directed their first steps on the peninsula towards inland Gipuzkoa, undoubtedly knew that they were setting out on an itinerary which, besides its importance as regards the Road to Santiago de Compostela, had been one of the most important communication arteries in the north of the peninsula from as early as Roman times. Perhaps it was not the fastest way, but it was safe and busy, well cared for and, except for the odd important geographical feature, relatively comfortable, even in the harshest of climates.

Today, the “Inland Road” through Gipuzkoa and Álava is perhaps the best mirror of the Basque Country, an itinerary of contrasts uncovering a heterogeneous and enormously varied country in scarcely six days. Coastal landscapes, lush forests, fertile vegetable gardens, dry lands, interminable plains, highly-industrialised areas, rural landscapes, Basque-speaking areas, regions where the Basque language disappeared centuries ago... Enormous geographical, historical,

socio-economic and cultural diversity in an area of barely 200 kilometres. desapareció hace siglos... Una enorme diversidad geográfica, histórica, socio-económica y cultural en apenas 200 kilómetros.

traces of ancestral shepherd trails are witness to the fact that this route was of capital importance, well before Christia-nity started honouring the Apostle and making pilgrimages to Santiago. In the 13th century, when Gipuzkoa became a

part of Castile, Alfonso X, a Castilian king known as “the Wise”, who mixed his wisdom with a strong dose of practicality, founded fortified towns all the

that this important commercial route could be kept in good condition, thereby leading to its important growth. But not even the most ambitious maintenance plans could prevent the pilgrims from having to su�er the climb up to the tunnel of San Adrián, a short but winding stretch forming the last trial before reaching the more welcoming paths of the Alavese plain.

Testimonies written by some of the travellers left not a shadow of doubt. Maybe Manier exaggerated on considering in his 1730 “Voyage a St. Jacques de Compos-telle” that San Adrián was “one of the highest mountains in the world”, but the passage gouged out of the rock definitely left an impression on most travellers.

In spite of having lost its protagonism some two centuries ago, this route is still an interesting green and golden trail, like the valleys of Gipuzkoa and the plains of Álava, which constitute a common axis where diversity, far from dividing, enriches the traveller.

f we are to give the philologist and historian Ramón Menéndez Pidal the credibility with which he is normally attributed, the so-called Coastal Road starting from Irun and running alongside the Cantabrian Sea to the western boundaries of Bizkaia was one of the primitive pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela, even prior to some of those which history would have as authentic. Even in the first decades of devotion to Saint James, in the 9th and 10th centuries, there is evidence of pilgrims having chosen this route, which followed roads that had been established and important since far-o� times. At the very beginning of the tradition of travelling to Santiago de Compostela, and in view of the fact that the part of Navarre which the pilgrims had to cross after coming over the Pyrenees was threatened by the Muslims, the way along the Cantabrian coast was undoubtedly the safest. When the Inland Road started gaining importance in the 13th century, as a consequence of the road improvements brought about by the incorporation of Gipuzkoa to Castile, the Coastal Road stood up well to the competition, and continued to make a living from both

the pilgrims who chose this road in Irun as well as those who, coming from far-o� countries, landed at any of the ports in Gipuzkoa or Bizkaia which were dotted along the following route.

nevertheless far from a pleasant stroll. From the Bidasoa estuary to the border with Bizkaia, the rivers Oiartzun, Urumea, Oria, Urola and Deba break up

I

MEANING OF SINGS    

THE INLANDROAD

Near Arrizabala is the municipality of Alaiza, where the church houses some extraordinary Gothic paintings depicting, among others, a group of pilgrims on their way to Santiago.

Protected Natural Areas

AND PICTOGRAMS

Interesting old quarters

Castle / Palace / Tower house

Religious building

Distinctive monument / building / venue

Assembly House

Cave

Prehistoric site / monument

Bridge

TUNNEL OF SAN ADRIÁN

THE COASTAL

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

2011MAPA GV SantiagoING-A2.pdf 1 23/01/12 13:12