Discover Zumarraga: Culture, Music and Holiday Apartments

Trails and route details

The Ruta Natural de Antio-Beloki is an easy route with an elevation gain of 143 metres and a duration of two hours. This two-hour duration can be taken directly into account when planning your day. The Ruta Urbana starts at the Azoka and allows you to stroll between the market stalls. This route also provides an opportunity to discover products and producers from the surrounding area. Every year, the Zumarraga Town Council organises free guided routes. According to local tradition or legend, at the Beloki Cross you should walk around the cross three times and ring the bell to bring good luck. The trails therefore reveal different sides of the town: while the Ruta Natural provides route details and a connection to the landscape, the Ruta Urbana leads into the market surroundings of the Azoka. The references to basket weaving and local producers broaden the perspective to include craft and regional connections.

Culture and architectural history

La Antigua was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument on 23 September 1965. Construction of the Church of Santa María de la Asunción – La Nueva began in 1576. Jauregi Handia (Casa Legazpi) is a rectangular building with four storeys and a gabled roof. Miguel López de Legazpi was born in Zumarraga and also lived there.

Music and festivals

The Ezpatadantza sword dance tradition is performed every year on 2 July, the feast day of Saint Isabel, at the Ermita de La Antigua. Antioko Musikaldia takes place every Saturday in September. The Ermita de La Antigua is its main venue. Zumarraga is associated with the origins of trikitixa and is considered its birthplace. The origins of trikitixa are linked to a diatonic accordion that was brought there by an Italian worker during construction of the Madrid–Paris railway.

If you would like to open other direct destinations on this page in addition to Zumarraga, you can find Gaztelu, Altzola, Mondragon, Escoriaza, Azpeitia, Elgoibar, Zumaia and Astigarraga here.

Industrial and railway history

A point about basket weaving on the Ruta Natural shows that basket weaving spread mainly in the Eitzaga neighbourhood, where it was a very important industry before metallurgy. The Ruta Industrial presents Zumarraga's more recent history in the context of the intense industrialisation of the Alto Urola region in the 20th century. It highlights the establishment of Esteban Orbegozo in 1930, which initially began under the name Fumistería del Norte. The railway history of the municipality of Zumarraga included up to three railways and railway stations in the town. Zumarraga's railway and bus stations connect the municipality with Gipuzkoa and the rest of Euskadi.

For the main travel overview: Gipuzkoa.