Discover Leitza: Culture, Trails and Nature in the Leitzaran Valley

Leitza lies in a widening of the Leitzaran Valley.

Culture

The Peru Harri Museum in Leitza focuses on Basque rural sports, particularly stone lifting. With the support of stone lifter Iñaki Perurena, it conveys the heritage of this sport.

Ingurutxoa is a lively dance performed in Leitza at local festivals and other celebrations. The Herri Kirolak tradition includes occasional competitions at Basque level, held as demonstrations at the local pelota court or in the village square.

Leitza’s old town features stone manor houses, wooden balconies, large roof overhangs and narrow paved streets. The Church of San Miguel has greyish-blue stone walls, a large portico and an adjoining 19th-century tower.

Trails

The section of the Plazaola Greenway from Leitza station towards Gipuzkoa is partly paved and is considered highly accessible for people with reduced mobility. Accessibility measures have been implemented along a total of 12 km of the Plazaola Greenway in four sections in Lekunberri, Irurtzun, Latasa and Leitza; these include improvements to the surface, protective facilities with railings and handrails, accessible furniture, parking spaces, and inclusive and accessible signage.

The Plazaola Greenway crosses Leitza and passes through numerous tunnels. Near Leitza, the Camino Natural–Vía Verde del Plazaola is designated as a 51 km-long, easy, linear gravel cycling route; the tunnels include the 2.7 km-long Uitzi Tunnel. The trails therefore differ in route form, surface, length and the facilities described.

The various route details range from the 6.60 km circular trail to the 51 km linear cycling route. Together with the tunnels, forest sections and cultural sites mentioned, this creates a clear comparison between short circular trails and longer linear routes.

Nature

Route 21 Leitzalarrea starts in Leitza and is 6.60 km long; as a circular route, it passes through the forests of Leitzalarrea. The Leitzalarrea route leads to the Izaieta fir stand, which is protected as a natural monument because of its beauty and uniqueness; some of the trees are more than 45 metres tall.

The circular Route 21 Leitzalarrea hike leads to the Urdola cromlech and comes close to the ruins of the Sarasain-zaharra ironworks. In this way, the route combines forest, a protected natural monument, and archaeological or historical traces in one continuous course.

Routes

The PR-NA 121 Parque Eólico de Kornieta route leads from Leitza via Asketa, Kornieta, Mukarrain and the Ermita de Santa Cruz back to Leitza. On the PR-NA 121 Parque Eólico de Kornieta hiking trail, the Agorriz dolmen is less than five minutes from the Kornieta spring.

The route reaches the Ermita de Santa Cruz, located on a wooded lookout balcony among beech trees. Kornieta is a mountain with beautiful views of the surrounding area. The named stops give the route a sequence of waypoints, woodland scenery, viewpoints and cultural monuments.

Other places

Other places include: Garísoain, Monteagudo, Barillas, Dicastillo, San Martín De Améscoa, Artazu, Villava, Beire.

For the higher-level travel overview: Navarra.