ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT of Vitoria-Gasteiz

The Route around the Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz is a circular and linking all the parks that form the Green Belt. The Route can be easily accessed from any point within the city, and from the Route, the rest of the walks of the Green Belt and other itineraries, such as the Greenway of the Old Basque- Navarrese Railway, the Peña Betoño Track, etc. Along its route, it passes through very different environments; from typical forest environments, when it runs through the Zabalgana and Armentia Parks, to urban environments, as it passes through the city s peripheral neighbourhoods. A large part runs along paths of the Green Belt and the rest through pedestrian areas; a small part, through roads. In some parts it coexists with separate cycling lanes. well as for people more accustomed to sports activities; a perfect scenario to travel by bicycle, on foot -by sections or stages- or to practice jogging. cultural interest, as well as resting areas, fountains and vantage points where you can have a break. The more urban section also allows you to enjoy cafés or shops just a few metres away from the path. ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT of Vitoria-Gasteiz AN ITINERARY AROUND THE PERIURBAN PARKS The Route is signposted with directional posts, Green Belt panels which will help you to follow the path. We propose that you start the itinerary in Salburua, at the Ataria Interpretation Centre, and continue in a counter-clockwise direction, passing Zadorra Zabalgana Salburua Armentia Olarizu 43

0 250 500 1.000 m 44

ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT POINTS OF INTEREST 1 Ataria Nature Interpretation Centre 2 River Alegría 3 River Zadorra 4 Greenway of the Old Basque-Navarrese Railway 5 The Gamarra Sports Centre 6 Urarte Ecological Vegetable Gardens 7 Atxa Hill 8 Archaeological site in Atxa 9 Zabalgana Forest and Zabalgana and Lecea Lagoons 10 Armentum Archaeological Park 11 Armentia Forest 12 Armentia Basilica 13 Mendizabala Hill 14 Batán and Zapardiel Rivers 15 Olarizu Ecological Vegetable Gardens 16 Olarizu Botanical Garden 17 Olarizu Farmhouse 18 Olarizu Hill 19 River Errekaleor 20 Las Neveras Hill 21 Wetlands of Salburua Total length: Type of path: paved paths, pedestrian areas and road Modes: on foot and by bicycle. Suitable for pushchairs Approximate time 2 and a half hours average-low Average elevation: 100 m Starting point Accommodation Bar-restaurant Panoramic views Picnic area Information panel Car park Tram stop Bus stop Precaution 45

0 ATARIA SALBURUA PARK L3. Portal de Zurbano/Biosfera Ataria and Buesa Arena Ataria ITINERARY 1 Salburua Crossroads with A-4001 The Ataria Interpretation Centre 1 offers spectacular views over the Salburua Wetlands. Inside Green Belt, with the possibility of participating in a large number of activities. 1 Alegría ITINERARY ALONG THE RIVER ALEGRÍA Between Salburua and the River Zadorra, the Belt runs beside the River Alegría 2, a crucial ecological corridor, enabling the passage of seriously endangered species such as the European mink. 2 Alegría-Salburua Landa The Route around the Green Belt reaches the River Zadorra 3 and crosses it, coinciding in this section with the Green Route of the old Basque-Navarrese Track 4, which goes from Vitoria-Gasteiz towards the Arlabán Pass. ZADORRA RIVER PARK Alegría-Gamarra L3. Portal de Bergara/Eskalmendi GREENWAY OF THE OLD BASQUE-NAVARRESE RAIL- WAY ITINERARY 3 Gamarra 46

ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT 3 walkers and cyclists within the route of the Route around the Green Belt. 4 Zadorra-Gamarra L9. Portal Gamarra, 41 GAMARRA Crossroads with N-240, Vitoria-Gasteiz / Bilbao Zadorra-Abetxuko ITINERARY 4 5 Route around the Green Belt at the entrance to the village of Gamarra. Walkway to Abetxuko ABETXUKO In Abetxuko the Route around the Green Belt runs by the left bank of the River Zadorra. 47

6 Zadorra-Abetxuko Abetxuko Line-Kañabenta Zadorra-Abetxuko URARTE VEGETABLE GARDENS Access from the Route to the Urarte Vegetable Gardens 6, where citizens and groups of citizens have the possibility of growing their own vegetables in an ecological way. 7 Zadorra-Abetxuko Crossroads with Portal de Foronda Street Yurre/Ihurre ATXA Zadorra-Atxa 8 Zadorra-Atxa L4. Donostia, 49 Ibaiondo Line-Landaberde IBAIONDO ITINERARY 5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF ATXA The Route descends from Atxa Hill 7, where the archaeological site of San Miguel de Atxa is located 8, to Gobeo, approaching the River Zadorra. 48

ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT 9 Zadorra-Atxa Gobeo Industrial Estate GOBEO Zadorra-Gobeo Ali-Gobeo L5a. Alibarra Gobeo From the lookout over the river, located close to Gobeo, there is a broad panoramic view of the rural area that extends to the north of the city. 10 Zadorra-Gobeo The bridge over the River Zadorra, from the 15th century, is one of the most prominent pieces of heritage of the village of Gobeo. 11 Crossroads with Lermandabide Street Crossroads with Zurripitieta Street ZABALGANA PARK L5c. Lermandabidea/Lanzadera Zabalgana-Zadorra ITINERARY 6 49

12 13 In Zabalgana Park, the Route passes through the natural gall-oak forest 9 until practically reaching Bulevar de Mariturri. Zabalgana-Gobeo L6. Derechos Humanos/Mariturri 100m away Before entering the neighbourhood of Zabalgana, the Route rises through uncultivated land. Nearby there is a lookout, with a complete panoramic view of the plains and the surrounding mountains. 14 ZABALGANA NEIGHBOURHOOD Armentum Archaeological Park Crossroads with N-102 Burgos-Madrid The Route passes close to the Armentum Archaeological Park 10, in the middle of the Zabalgana Neighbourhood, where they have already found remains of the ancient Roman road that linked Bordeaux with Astorga, as well as a livestock shelter and a Roman agricultural villa from 21 centuries ago. 50

ROUTE AROUND VUELTA AL THE ANILLO GREEN VERDE BELT 15 Join A-4101, Eskibel ARMENTIA PARK Armentia Park itineraries ITINERARY 7 Following the road that heads towards Eskibel, the Route reaches one of the main entrances to the Armentia Park, with a large meadow with benches and tables, where some mature specimens of gall-oak are worth seeing. 16 Armentia Park itineraries The Route around the Green Belt enters the Armentia Forest 11 and coincides in many sections with the many paths that run through the park. 17 51

18 Armentia Park itineraries Armentia L4. Armentia/Basílica ARMENTIA 19 LA SENDA PATH ITINERARY 8 Crossroads with Paseo de San Prudencio Street The San Prudencio Basilica 12, a 12th century Romanesque building, is one of the most prominent examples of Romanesque architecture surround it, the traditional San Prudencio Romería is celebrated on 28th April. Zaldiaran Between the parks of Armentia and Olarizu the Route borders the south of the city through urban paths, making the meeting between nature and the city visible. 20 100m away MENDIZORROTZA NEIGHBOURHOOD Panoramic view of the Mountains of Vitoria from the Route around the Green Belt. 52

ROUTE AROUND VUELTA AL THE ANILLO GREEN VERDE BELT 21 Crossroads with A-2124 towards Logroño ADURTZA NEIGHBOURHOOD OLARIZU PARK ITINERARY 9 L3 and L9. Zumaquera 76 22 Arboretum of Olarizu Access to Botanical Garden Arboretum of Olarizu Olarizu OLARIZU VEGETABLE GARDENS 100m away Join Campo de los Palacios Street When we reach Olarizu Park, from the Route we can enter and walk around the Olarizu Botanical Garden 16 and its different spaces. The lake, with collections of plants linked to the aquatic habitats of Europe, is one of the place s main attractions. 23 FARMHOUSE OF OLARIZU Olarizu PEÑA BETOÑO CATTLE GREEN ROUTE Access to Botanical Garden We can continue until reaching two of the main gardens 15 and the Farmhouse 17. 53

24 Arboretum of Olarizu Estella-Lizarra PUENTE ALTO ITINERARY 10 After travelling around Olarizu, the Route continues towards Salburua, beside the River Errekaleor 19, and close to Las Neveras Hill 20, key natural elements for the ecological connection between the Mountains of Vitoria and Salburua. 25 Crossroads with Errekaleor Street Crossroads with Venta de la Estrella Street L7. Venta de la Estrella/Errekaleor SALBURUA NEIGHBOURHOOD 26 The Route goes through the neighbourhood of Salburua surrounded by extensive green areas that form a large linear park. In the initial section an urban sports circuit has been adapted for the practice of physical exercise. Bridge over the railway Madrid-Irún Crossroads with Iliada, Varsovia and Santiago Streets Passage of the Route around the Green Belt through the elevated walkway over the tracks of the Madrid-Irun Railway Track. 54

ROUTE AROUND THE GREEN BELT 27 Crossroads with Avenida de Bruselas Street Crossroads with Avenida Juan Carlos I Street 28 Crossroads with Bulevar de Salburua Street SALBURUA PARK L5. Juan Carlos I, 27 Salburua Betoño ITINERARY 2 We enter Salburua Park through Avenida Juan Carlos I. The Route returns to the Green Belt and the landscape changes completely. 29 Salburua INBIOS 55 In Salburua, the Route passes through the lagoons of Betoño and Duranzarra over wooden walkways in order to reach Ataria 1.

30,8 ATARIA. END OF THE ROUTE Dusk in Salburua. 56