Arechavaleta: Thermal History and Landscape around Urkulu

Thermal History

Arechavaleta can be discovered through its thermal history and the trails leading to traces of it. The “Rutas de las aguas sulfurosas” route begins in the centre of Aretxabaleta, at the site of the former Otalora spa, and heads towards the districts of Areantza and Mendiola. Along the way, it reveals the remains of the Otalora and Ibarra thermal baths, as well as the sulphur springs that supplied them. The route therefore leads from a former spa in Aretxabaleta to further traces of the same history of use. The former bathing facilities and their associated sulphur springs mark the historic stages of the route between the centre and the districts. Otalora appears along this route both as the starting point at the former spa and as one of the surviving historic complexes. Together with Ibarra and the sulphur springs, the route points to several elements of the former thermal use.

Townscape and Tradition

The architectural heritage includes several buildings from different centuries. The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built in the 16th century. The Palacio de Arratabe was built in 1726 as a casa solar, while the Palacio Otalora dates from 1746. The Casa-Torre de Galartza goes back even further, dating from the 14th century. The Romanesque cemetery portal is the only surviving reminder of the former church dedicated to San Miguel. With the Casa-Torre de Galartza, the parish church, and the two palaces, the architectural heritage spans the 14th to the 18th century. The buildings thus represent different historical periods, without the townscape being limited to a single phase of construction.

The Txino dantza is a tradition in its own right. It originated in Aretxabaleta and was revived as a tradition in 1975. On Carnival Sunday, the Txino dantza is performed by the boys and girls who are the Santa Ageda neska-mutilak that year. Its origin, revival, and fixed date on Carnival Sunday are part of its traditional history. The performance by the respective Santa Ageda neska-mutilak also connects the dance with the boys and girls who take on this role in the year in question.

For transport information about Aretxabaleta, please refer to Gipuzkoa’s public transport planner.

More destinations: Leintz-Gatzaga, Segura, Bergara, Tolosa, Gaztelu, Antzuola, Astigarraga, Lasarte-Oria

Nature and Trails

In the landscape of Aretxabaleta, the Urkulu reservoir is one of the places of great natural beauty that visitors can discover. Another type of landscape is the Degurixa Valley: it is a karst depression used by shepherds to protect their flocks. The reservoir and the valley represent two different types of landscape: while Urkulu is a natural site by the water, Degurixa is characterised by its geological form as a karst depression.

The Oro–Larrino–Embalse de Urkulu–Aozaratza PR-GI 97 trail runs between the rural district of Oro and the districts of Larrino and Aozaratza. It offers the opportunity to discover the surroundings of the Urkulu reservoir. The Urkulu trail runs at an altitude of 805 m along the edge of the reservoir. The two route descriptions therefore refer both to a connection between several districts and to the specific course along the water. The PR-GI 97 passes through Oro, Larrino, and Aozaratza, while the Urkulu trail, with its altitude of 805 m, highlights the edge of the reservoir as a section of the route.

For the overarching travel overview: Gipuzkoa.