Sanctuary of Arantzazu, visits, schedules and much more.

Information about the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, home of the patron saint of Gipuzkoa and one of the most important religious temples in the Basque Country.

 

The Sanctuary of Arantzazu, is by its own merits, one of the most charismatic and important temples of Euskadi. One of the most visited religious buildings of our environment. Located on the very abyss, surrounded by authentic nature, this religious complex of Oñati is one of the most representative elements of contemporary sacred art in the Basque Country. Although this temple has been destroyed and rebuilt up to 3 times (1553, 1622 and 1834), the current version of the temple (XX century), attracts the attention of experts and inexperienced. And it is not for less, the shapes and styles of each of the elements that compose it are authentic works of art. What was formerly known as the Sanctuary of Aranzazu (name in Spanish), is now officially called the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, in Basque. If you are looking for information about visits, schedules or prices of the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, be wary of articles that mention the previous nomenclature, they may be outdated. The Virgin of Arantzazu is one of the most beloved religious figures of Gipuzkoa, a fact that we can perfectly extrapolate to the neighboring provinces of Araba and Bizkaia, where the Virgin of Estibaliz and the Virgin of Begoña represent the most important religious figures of the territory.

Many of you will wonder what is so special about the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, well, you know that, besides being an avant-garde icon artistically and architecturally speaking, its location, next to the entrance to the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz, makes it even more attractive if possible. And the fact is that the incredible natural setting in which it is located is, without a doubt, another of its strong points. In fact, it is common for people who visit this impressive building to complement their getaway to Oñati with a pleasant walk along one of the routes found around it. If you do not like walking, we recommend that you stop to enjoy the place for several minutes at the top viewpoint, next to the hotel Sindika. There is nothing to be missed. Lush forests, rocky massifs and vertiginous ravines surround us. In low season, when the influx of people is less, this space is a haven of peace, a place to go to clear mind and body. A place to reflect and put our ideas in order.

This complex located in Gipuzkoa, is, thanks to its proximity to Bizkaia, Araba and Navarra a strategic space for all those people who want to visit these areas of the peninsula. In this article about the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, we want to inform you about visits, schedules, prices and many other details that revolve around this Basque giant. We hope you like it. Anyway, in case you miss any data or information, we advise you to leave us a comment in this article, we will try to answer you as soon as possible.

 

The complex that we show you today is one of the architectural and cultural treasures of Euskadi. One of the greatest exponents of contemporary art and culture of Euskal Herria. It is curious to see that the origin of this sanctuary, that is, the story of the shepherd who found the image of the virgin protected among thorns, has been faithfully captured in the building. The most palpable example of this can be found in the façade itself, where hundreds of triangular stones represent the thorns of this tree. Undoubtedly, one of the most striking elements of Arantzazu.

 

Legend of the Sanctuary of Arantzazu.

The basilica of Arantzazu has a striking legend behind it. According to the story, a shepherd named Rodrigo de Balzategi found the figure of the Virgin among thorns. A fact that amazed the shepherd. The latter, surprised, asked the virgin, Arantzan zu? A phrase in Basque, which we could translate into something like “You among thorns? This encounter with the virgin turned this enclave in Gipuzkoa into a place of pilgrimage. This was the basis of the impressive religious complex that we find today at the foot of the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.

 

Visits to the Sanctuary of Arantzazu.

The basilica and the crypt of Arantzazu can be visited both by free visits and guided tours. In our case, we knew all the nooks and crannies of Arantzazu through the free visit. It was a delight. The Franciscans open the doors of the temple around 9:00 and close them around 20:00. A schedule that allows us to visit the interior of the basilica and the crypt in a totally free and comfortable way. Without any hurry. Of course, you should know that the tourist office also offers several guided tours in Arantzazu. Among all of them, the most interesting for us were the generic tour and the guided tour on Oteiza’s work in Arantzazu. If you opt for the guided tours, it is usually advisable to book an appointment in advance.

The two options proposed by the tourist office of the region of Debagoiena, the free visit and the guided tour, have their pros and cons. The freedom to go without schedules, on our own, gives us a lot of freedom when it comes to combine it with other plans. On the other hand, the guided tour gives us many details about this historical complex of Euskadi at a very low price. The last word is yours, it is up to you to choose. Remember that the Arantzazu tourist office is only open daily in high season, the rest of the year only on weekends.

 

Culture.

The artistic expressions that we can appreciate both in the exterior and in the interior of the basilica of Arantzazu, bear the signature of some of the most important and recognized artists of all Euskadi. Works of art that, ahead of their time, constitute one of the most avant-garde complexes of the time. And we are sure that if we mention names and surnames of the stature of Jorge Oteiza, Nestor Basterretxea or Eduardo Chillida, they will surely ring a bell.

In summary, we can say that the Sanctuary of Arantzazu is divided into 3 clearly differentiated spaces: the exterior, the interior and the crypt. On the outside, we find a facade full of pointed shapes in honor of the hawthorn that protected the virgin along with the works of piety and the 14 apostles, both by Jorge Oteiza. Before entering the interior, its entrance welcomes us with the imposing iron doors by Eduardo Chillida. Once inside, the huge altarpiece of more than 600 square meters and sculpted in wood catches our attention. It is the work of Lucio Muñoz. Among all these spaces, we find the different stained glass windows, which, playing with light and colors, illuminate our passage. These designs are the work of Xabier Álvarez de Eulate. Finally, in the crypt, we find the paintings of Nestor Basterretxea. Of course, the creations of all of them attract the attention of all the people who visit it. This is a unique space in the world. Nature, culture and Basque history in the same place. Highly recommended.

 

Location.

This religious complex is located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, in a breathtaking natural environment, at the gates of the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park. A rural area, located in the neighborhood of the same name, 10 km from Oñati, in the region of Debagoiena, Gipuzkoa, that captivates everyone who visits it. Oñati is internationally known for several reasons. In addition to the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, Oñati also has areas of great interest such as the Arrikrutz caves or the Aizkorri Aratz Natural Park. As if all this were not enough, the great gastronomic culture of the area and its historical pastoral tradition are other reasons why we recommend visiting this area. And you should know that in Oñati, annually, the international championship of Shepherd dogs is celebrated. As you can see, the Sanctuary of Arantzazu is not the only attraction of Oñati, but it is one of the most visited.

 

How to get to Arantzazu.

The tourist office of Oñati offers a bus to link its urban center with the Sanctuary of Arantzazu. However, we must take into account that this transport service only operates at certain times of the year and days of the week. We recommend that you call the tourist office and ask for schedules and fares. If instead of using public transport you want to get to the sanctuary by private transport, you can do it without any problem, there is a large parking lot very close to the door of the sanctuary. The best option to get to this Basque enclave is to head towards Arrasate / Mondragón and later arrive in Oñati.

 

History of Arantzazu.

The events that took place around the Sanctuary of Arantzazu from 1468 to 1969, have turned this temple into a very interesting place historically speaking. So much so, that we wanted to make a small summary of the historical milestones of this place.

The different moments we have mentioned are just some of the many historical facts of this enclave. A very interesting space that we recommend you to visit. In addition, the differences found between different social fronts at the time of the construction of the new basilica, are another of the milestones to take into account. The “madness” of great visionaries such as Oteiza or Basterretxea were not well received.

 

What to see near Arantzazu.

As we have already mentioned before, the Arrikrutz caves or the University of Oñati may represent some of the best options to visit near the sanctuary. But in this case, we want to make a proposal that is a little further away but really worth it, the village of Leintz Gatzaga. This cozy village located about 30 minutes drive from Arantzazu, is one of those jewels that, without being well known, offers much to the visitor. An urban nucleus, of rural character, that we fell in love with. If you decide to follow our recommendations, we suggest you visit the salt museum of Leintz Gatzaga, get to know the natural food products project Jakion, visit the virgin of Dorleta (patron saint of cyclists) and enjoy one of its famous restaurants. A powerful plan, which can be complemented with a route through the impressive landscape that surrounds it. What do you say? Are you up for it?

 

Routes near Arantzazu.

If you like nature and hiking, the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz allows us to enjoy more than a hundred routes. In this sense, the fact that the Sanctuary of Arantzazu is the gateway to this natural space, is a great advantage. A perfect option to complement the visit to this Basque temple. We recommend you to visit the Urbia countryside. If you are interested in this proposal, it is best to ask at the Interpretation Center of the Natural Park, better known as Arantzazuko Parketxea. By the way, if you like this kind of plans, we recommend you to read our article about family routes in Euskadi.

 

Video of Arantzazu.

We have created a small video so that you can see more in detail what the Sanctuary of Arantzazu offers to the visitor and pilgrim. An audiovisual, which we hope will be helpful for your visit. If you like this kind of videos about Euskal Herria, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you can find hundreds of Basque places to visit and enjoy.

As you have been able to see, the Sanctuary of Arantzazu is a perfect destination to enjoy nature, culture and history of Euskadi. A place that we heartily recommend, we are sure you will like it. We put at your disposal the comments of this article, we are waiting for your opinions, suggestions and doubts. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pass!