Tour around Atxulondo

This tour will bring you closer to the natural area of Atxulondo-Abaloz, taking you to the remains of the Atxulondo ironworks. At the beginning it coincides with sections of the PR-Gi 117 and GR 34.

On the way we will find the dolmen of Venta de Zárate, hidden farms and charming streams, which will take us to the ruins of what was once the great ironworks of Atxulondo, today a protected natural space.

The Dolmen for Sale of Zárate
This stony monument found in 1954 belongs to the Bronze Age. In it they would keep the remains of some inhabitant of this area after offering him a ceremony more than 2,000 years ago.

Natural area of Atxulondo - Abalotz
In a part of the wedged valley between Andatza and Belkoain-Garate, northeast of the municipality, we find the hidden stream of Abaloz on whose margins a beautiful alder forest is installed. The pedunculated oak forest takes over the steep slopes in which the white trunks of the abundant birch trees stand out. The strawberry tree stands out with its red berries in the most rocky places and exposed to the sun. Here still lives the European mink and many other animals enjoying the almost total human absence.

Atxulondo Ironworks
The first citation that exists about this ironworks dates back to 1470. It was always owned by the Zizurkil town hall and along with the adjoining mill and farm, it was put up for rent so that someone could exploit the rich forests of the place. In 1625 as it was in terrible condition no one wanted to take it for rent and stopped producing iron. Today, in this beautiful and mysterious place we can contemplate the remains of the constructions and the waterfall.