The old mine is today the iron mountain
- The hurrah, the acorn, the apple and wood have been the pillars of Basque culture. Those that have given us the opportunity to live and make people. Thanks to them, we Basques have had the opportunity to go outside and to awaken enthusiasm. That's made us seafarers. And we've extended through the sea the three great benefits that our knowledge has brought. The boats, the cider and the iron that have been ambassadors of the Basques. They have been joined by the recognition and fame of our culture from the outside. I guess it will be later.
Catalan sage Jordi Pardo, known for being a renowned UNESCO advisor, asks me every time he comes to our country: What do you expect to build a network that will explain the history of Euskal Herria from the sea, iron and apple? Those who know themselves, those who try to assimilate their identity will have a future. Self-esteem is the best force to create the future today. There is no such fuel for a people as for an individual!
Zerain collects, cares for and teaches what she has been to cultivate her future, to be aware of what she can be. As stated by Mike Robinson, Professor of Cultural Heritage at the University of Birmingham and founder of the Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change, tourism that wants to be sustainable in itself must demonstrate everything. And I would add, the tourism that you want to have in your hands sustainability and the future.
Zerain shows from her hand the best she has: 1711 wooden jail, Saint Blas hermitage, Popular Museum, Pastors’ cheesemakers, Larraondo Sawmill, Sidrería, Lasurtegi wetland, Bolate, etc. The most unique offering is the Iron Mountain. It is located in the district of Aizpea, on the road between Zerain and Legazpi through Aztiria. In one of the most unknown corners of Gipuzkoa.
Three essential experiences
The Iron Mountain is a mine mainly used for the exploitation of iron until the last century. Some point to the Roman remains (the Troi mine at the Mutiloa mine, in the Barbari district towards Zegama...). This mountain has particularly rich characteristics both from the natural point of view, included in the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz and in which the protected wetland of Lasurtegi is located, and from the cultural point of view, declared a Monumental Complex and protected.
Do not go home without going through the three experiences. One is a tour of the Mount. The Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz has a wide range of routes to enjoy an impressive cultural landscape created by the mixture of nature and its own industrial exploitation, including the railways, which soon want to get back on track. The second is the Aizpita Expression Centre, located in the unique building of the time when the English exploded iron, in which the time when iron joined Zerain with the world is known. Third Gallery. It is an old gallery that has become a powder keg. Today, through the gallery, you see different periods of exploitation and mineral classes.
On the Iron Mountain, the Forest
Zerain works her future on the Iron Mountain and on the grounds surrounding her. Forests are being created with two main objectives: to care for and enrich biodiversity through the recovery of endangered species and the creation of didactic forests, and on the other hand, to work the quality wood and energy needed for the future.
And you can also taste and get the benefits of the village: quality farmhouse products, especially cheese and cider. For this, along with the offer of the Iron Mountain you can enjoy the Cheese Mountain and the Cider.
Packaging, cider and iron. As in the past, the ambassadors of the Basques will then have their place in Zerain. A people that is very dear.
We have news from last week: A 67-year-old truck driver died while loading the truck. If it had been on the road, we would have heard “inconveniences on the road”, then, in a similar way, “a trucker has died in the accident”. Now that taking the train in Gipuzkoa has... [+]
