Leitzalarrea

8 km from Leitza, heading north from the urban center towards the old Plazaola station, a road takes us to Leitzarrea, a unique and important area from a natural point of view, made up mostly of beech and oak groves, with an abundance of pasture and streams whose waters are discharged into the Leitzaran river basin and the Urumea river.

The megalithic monuments present in Leitzarrea are witness and proof of the antiquity of the presence of human beings in these places. Throughout centuries prosperous mining activity took place there and the meadow preserves numerous remains and foundries. Currently, livestock and forestry are the main economic activities carried out in the area.

In Leitzalarrea, the old pollarded beeches and oaks will remind us of other times when, in addition to shepherds, charcoal burners and ironworkers worked and lived in these places.

More and more people are visiting this space. In the Ixkibar picnic area, between oak trees and streams, we find tables, grills, a fountain and an open mountain hut where you can sleep. Ixkibar is the starting point to get to know Leitzalarrea, with information panels on different routes and information on its resources (Guardetxea)

Izaieta (km away from the Ixkibar picnic area), is a protected a Natural Monument area. Created in 1832, it was a nursery with this custom: for every tree the locals cut down, they had to replace and replant a further 10 trees. Today it is a fenced enclosure, converted into an authentic botanical garden, with 37 forest species identified with cards, where the white fir trees of almost 40m stand out.