Santakrutz Chapel, the Errigoiti viewpoint.

Visit the Santakrutz chapel and enjoy one of the best viewpoints in Errigoiti.

The Santakrutz Chapel, also known as the Santa Cruz or Santa Gurutze Chapel, is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. This very special spot, located in the Bizkaigane neighborhood (Errigoiti) at an altitude of 383 meters, offers unique views of the province of Bizkaia. A chapel with enormous historical, cultural, and spiritual significance, we recommend visiting it on any getaway to the Basque coast. It is the perfect place for those looking to disconnect from their daily routine and enjoy nature. Remember that we organize group excursions in Urdaibai throughout the year. These are getaways where we want to show you special places like the one we are presenting today. Would you like to discover Santakrutz with us? Don’t hesitate to use our contact form, we will help you in any way we can.

Excursion in Urdaibai.

At TurismoVasco, we organize excursions in Urdaibai for groups throughout the year. An experience through which we want to show you incredible places like the one we are presenting today. A very complete excursion that includes transportation, a private guide, and lunch at a local restaurant. Remember that you can add any other tourist services such as tickets, guided tours, boat trips, gastronomic experiences, and many other activities. It’s a comfortable and fun way to get to know the region. Are you up for it? Don’t hesitate to contact us for a quote.

Video.

As usual in all our publications, we have created a short video to show you Santakrutz Chapel and its panoramic views as realistically as possible. We encourage you to take a look. If you like this type of video, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to discover all the experiences and places we recommend in the Basque Country. We are waiting for you!

Route from San Lorenzo.

The route to the Santa Krutz chapel begins at the church of San Lorenzo. From here, we must cross the road and pass between two farmhouses to head towards the chapel. Along the way, we will encounter four turnoffs that we must ignore. We will explain this in more detail below. After leaving the church and crossing the road, 50 meters further on, we come to the first turnoff (on our left). We ignore it and continue along the main road. After about 300 meters, we come to another turnoff on our left. We ignore it again and continue along the same road. Continue for another 300 meters, and you will find another turnoff on your right. Keep going straight ahead. Finally, after about 300 meters, we come to another turn-off, but we continue straight ahead. After 50 meters, we come to another turn-off, and this time we take it, turning left. We come to the stairs that lead directly to the chapel. Remember that although this is a local road (with little traffic), the route is entirely on the road. Please be very careful.

Viewpoint.

Located at one of the highest points in the municipality, the Santakrutz chapel offers breathtaking views of Urdaibai. From this elevated vantage point, you can admire a beautiful mosaic of forests, mountains, farmhouses, and fields. It is the perfect place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the sunset. Remember that in Urdaibai we have other viewpoints such as San Pedro de Atxarre, San Miguel de Ereñozar, Cape Matxitxako, and Cape Ogoño.

Where to park.

The best place to park your vehicle is in the car park next to the church of San Lorenzo de Errigoiti. Although it is possible to drive right up to the chapel, there is no parking available in the immediate vicinity. Please respect the neighbors and do not attempt to drive up to the steps.

History and tradition.

Santakrutz has historically been a place of worship. Although nowadays Mass is only celebrated on the Sunday following September 14, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the past there was also a procession on May 3, the day of the Invention of the Holy Cross. It was also customary to go up in procession, praying, on the day before the Ascension. Thus, until a few years ago, several Masses were held at the Santakrutz chapel.

Architecture.

The Santa Cruz de Errigoiti chapel has a rectangular floor plan and a gabled roof. It is a structure measuring approximately 14 meters long and 5 meters wide, with masonry walls built using remains from other buildings. In fact, the remains of a sarcophagus and a stele have been found within its walls. One of the walls features a plaque commemorating the gudaris who fell in the Civil War of 1936, placed there by the Errigoiti Town Council in 1984. Above the inscription, we can see a map of Euskal Herria and a lauburu.

The legend of the Virgin and the oxen.

According to anthropologist José Miguel de Barandiaran in 1918, there is a very curious legend about this chapel. As the story goes, the inhabitants of Errigoiti wanted to build their church on this site, but every night the materials disappeared. Finally, someone discovered that the Virgin Mary was secretly transporting the materials with a pair of oxen. When she was discovered, she cursed the curious person: “Aida idi baltz eta gorrijori, jauzi daikojola begijak horreri,” which translated from Basque would be something like, “Aida, black and red ox, jump on his eyes. The man was blinded, and after this miracle, the neighbors decided to build the church of Santa María de la Asunción de Idibaltzaga in its current location. It was named after the words of the Virgin Mary (Idi baltz).

What to see nearby.

If you want to round off your visit to Santakrutz with other nearby attractions, we recommend you take a look at the list we have put together. Remember that you can find more information by clicking on each one.

Santakrutz is much more than a chapel; it is a natural viewpoint and a place of worship. If you are thinking of visiting Urdaibai, we recommend including this little corner in your itinerary. Remember that we offer group excursions that include a visit to this incredible place. If you have any questions, we recommend using the comment system below to send them to us. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!