Knowing the Alto Deba and the Oñati valley through "El Trenico".
The greenway linking Arrasate/Mondragón with Oñati is a magnificent sustainable mobility infrastructure in the rural district of Alto Deba and the Oñati valley, both highly anthropized areas framed by high, verdant mountains.
This Greenway has been carried out by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.
A number of unconnected sections of the main line of the Vasco Navarro Railway in Guipúzcoa have been recovered as greenways, between the town of Eskoriatza and the Mekolalde industrial estate near Bergara. The Oñati branch line connects Mekolalde with the main line of the Vasco Navarro Railway at the San Prudentzio roundabout, near Elorregi (Bergara).
Section III: Arrasate/Mondragón-Mekolalde: 11.7 km.
Section IV: Oñati branch line: 6 km.
User profile:
Accessibility:
There are occasional short ramps and zebra crossings and narrow section with no railings around the Tabesa industrial complex. There are undeveloped sections in Bergara: the streets Matxiategi and Ugarte in the San Lorenzo industrial estate, and the path through the Buruñao industrial estate.
Type of surface:
Asphalt. There are occasional short gravel sections.
Natural setting:
The greenway follows the course of the Deba river more or less closely, passing through a number of large towns, between which there are short stretches of natural countryside. The route is therefore a succession of urban and natural landscapes: industrial estates and traditional country houses, town centres and woods, historic quarters and the riparian understory along the Deba river.
The old railway line is also a way to reach higher altitudes (the Leniz Valley and the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park) and a pilgrim’s way to the Arantzazu Sanctuary.
Cultural heritage:
Eskoriatza: town and elizate (literally ‘church door’, an old form of local government popular in the Basque Country), Ibarraundi Museum, Zubiate pottery kiln, and the castle of Eneko de Ortiz (Atxorrotx).
Aretxabaleta: Elizate, 18th century palaces (Arratabe, Otalora and Arkarazo), and Otalora and Galartza tower houses.
Arrasate/Mondragón: historic town centre, San Juan Bautista parish church, San Francisco convent, town hall, Bañez de Artazubiaga, Monterron, Okendo and Andiako-Loiola palaces.
Bergara: monumental complex and museum of the Royal Seminary of Bergara.
Oñati: Arantzazu Sanctuary, University of Sancti Spiritus, San Miguel parish church, Bidaurreta Monastery, San Miguel flour mill, Santa Marina and Los Fueros squares, and the Txokolateixia chocolate interpretation centre.
Infrastructure:
Greenway. Bidegorri or cycle lanes for use by cyclists and walkers, either together or segregated, with some sections shared with motor traffic.
14 bridges. 1 road bridge over the original railway. 4 underpasses under roads. Tunnels with lighting: Olazar (Eskoriatza), Errekabaltz (Barrena), Minazulueta (San Prudentzio), and Gabiria (Bergara).
Stations at Eskoriatza (now a municipal warehouse) and Arrasate/Mondragón.
Facilities:
Horizontal signage, lighting along the route and in tunnels, benches, tables, litter bins, gardens, rest areas, kiddies play areas, water fountains, railings, etc.
Accesses to the Greenway:
Section I (Eskorialtza-Arrasate/Mondragón): Southernmost end: Km 0 of the GI-3342 road to Mazmela (Eskoriatza). Northernmost end: Intxausti Street, or Km 0.2 of the GI-3554 road to Bedoña (Arrasate/Mondragón).
Section II (Passage through Arrasate/Mondragón): Westernmost end: Zerrajera Street. Easternmost end: Zalduspe Street.
Sections III (Arrasate/Mondragón-Mekolalde): Southernmost end: eastern end of the Eroski supermarket car park in Musakola (Arrasate/Mondragón). Northernmost end: Mekolalde industrial estate (Bergara).
Section IV (Oñati branch line): Westernmost end: San Prudentzio roundabout (where the GI-627 and GI-26309 roads meet). Easternmost end: Obispo Otadui Street (Oñati).
How to get there:
Public transport: bus.
Arrasate/Mondragón: from Donostia/San Sebastián, Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Oñati: from Arrasate/Mondragón.
Conections:
Oñati: Bilbao at 60 km, San Sebastián/Donostia at 75 km and Vitoria/Gasteiz at 50 km.
Bergara: San Sebastián/Donostia at 60 km and Vitoria/Gasteiz at 35 km.
This is the second stage of the Vasco-Navarro Railway route, which may be considered as starting in the green capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz towards the north (the beginning of the said route’s 3rd section) as far as Landa (12 km), in the surroundings of the Ullibarri Gamboa Reservoir, and from here into the province of Gipuzkoa, reaching the municipal district of Leintz Gatzaga. From Leintz Gatzaga, the Gi-3310 road takes us to Eskoriatza, where we can begin this new proposal and discover more about this historic route.
You can also access the Vascongados Railways Greenway from Bergara; this route connects Soraluze/Placencia and Antzuola, passing through Mekolalde (13.6 km).
Km. 0
The route begins as a bidegorri (cycle path) in the southern tip of the locality of Eskoriatza, beside the start of the GI-3342 road heading towards the Mazmela district. From this point, we travel along asphalt beside the GI-627 road through urban surroundings until we reach the centre of Eskoriatza, and from there on to Aretxabaleta (km 4).
Departing from this locality, we enter a more natural, wooded area until we reach the AP-1 dual carriageway, which we go under and come to an industrial and commercial area, which leads to the locality of Arrasate/Mondragón (km 6). Here we can stop to enjoy the old town, with its convents and palaces. We can also make the most of the stop to obtain any supplies we may need. We should not leave Mondragón without visiting the Singular Sequoia in MonterrónPark, which, despite not being a native species, is considered the most exceptional tree in the municipality of Mondragón. More than 150 years old, Gipuzkoa’s biggest sequoia rises to a total height of 40 metres, with a perimeter of more than 6 metres. Not to be missed!
Departing from the locality through more natural surroundings, we will come to the turn-off to Oñati (km 13). Here we can choose to continue for 7 km as far as Mekoalde and another 7 km to Oñati, or first do one thing and then the other, thereby adding kilometres to the route.
Km. 13
If we have decided to continue along the main route towards Bergara, we will leave behind the industrial areas and enter the undergrowth alongside the Deba River, going under the AP-1 dual carriageway (km 14). The route continues by following the course of the river until the surroundings of Bergara (km 18). Here we can discover another singular tree: the Magnolia of Bergara, which was declared a Natural Monument in 1995. This tree stands out mainly due to its size, with an approximate height of 26 metres and a diameter at its crown of 14, rising above Bergara’s Monzón Palace, which is located beside it.
The route still continues for another kilometre and a half, reaching as far as Mekolalde (km 19.5), the start or end point of this railway line that is so dear to Navarre’s and the Basque Country’s residents.
If, in addition to the main route, we have decided to explore all the kilometres of this old railway, then we cannot overlook the branch to Oñati. By means of this route, we can enjoy another 7 km along a practically flat bidegorri (cycle path) that runs close to the GI-2630 road. We can take this branch at the San Prudentzio roundabout, beside the Elorregi district. The route will take us through pleasant, more natural surroundings, featuring woodland at the beginning followed by a series of industrial areas, until we arrive at the town centre of Oñati (km 7).
This is Gipuzkoa’s most monumental town and one of themost beautiful localities in the Basque Country. Located in the Alto Deba region, at the foot of Monte Aloña, the steep slopes surrounding the municipal district hide an exceptional old town, featuring outstanding buildings, palaces and churches of great architectural value.
From here we recommend visiting the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Arantzazu, which is only 9 km to the south of the old town. Undoubtedly, an exceptional way to end the route.
Photo: Railway Historical Archive of the Madrid Railway Museum (KOCH , ALBERTO SCHOMMER)
The Vasco Navarro Railway route ran from Estella-Lizarra Station in Navarre to Mekolalde Station in Gipuzkoa, via Vitoria-Gasteiz. In Mekolalde, it linked up with the Maltzaga-Zumárraga railway line, which belonged to the Ferrocarriles Vascongados company. Its construction was extremely difficult: the first concession dates from 1882, but the line was not fully opened until 45 years later, in 1927. The initial construction was carried out by an unmistakably British company, as its very name makes clear: The Anglo Vasco Navarro Railway Company Limited.
The first section, opened in 1889, covered the north of the Áalva plain, extending from Vitoria-Gasteiz and penetrating the valley of El Deba, in the Gipuzkoa town of Leintz-Gaztaga (Salinas de Léniz in Spanish). In 1903, the Spanish State confiscated the opened section and built the remaining ones.
Between 1915 and 1919, the Gipuzkoa sections of the railway were successively opened, but the one we are dealing with took eight years to build, becoming operational in 1927. In the meantime, the Oñate branch line was opened in 1923 and, finally, in 1948, the Estíbaliz branch line, amounting to a total of 139 km for the entire route.
The Vitoria-Estella section was electrified in 1929, but it started losing money in the fifties. New Year’s Eve in 1967 was also the last evening of this modest railway line, which, shortly after its closure, was dismantled and its viable rolling stock distributed throughout Spain.
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