Zerain, what to see and do.

Zerain, what to see and do in one of the most charming villages in the Goierri region.

Zerain is one of those villages that, protected by the mountains, remains faithful to the ancestral customs of the Basque people. A small urban center that, without forgetting its past, looks to the present to offer visitors a wide range of possibilities. It is for this reason that we wanted to show you what to see and do in Zerain. A few brief tips, through which we invite you to enjoy all the charms of this urban center with the title of town. A characteristic natural paradise, which, located in the Goierri region of Gipuzkoa, has areas of great natural, historical and gastronomic wealth. A territory that amazes locals and strangers and that we recommend to visit to all the people who read us. The Goierri region, located about 30 minutes from the capital of Gipuzkoa, Donostia San Sebastian, is known by many as the heart of Euskadi. A territory of more than 271 square kilometers, which, grouped into 18 municipalities, represents one of the most striking areas of the interior of Gipuzkoa. Internationally recognized as one of the areas with the most pastoral tradition in Europe, it has earned the nickname of the territory of cheese. An aspect that, fused with one of the historical beverages of our people, cider, has given us an incredible gastronomic and cultural experience. This initiative, called “the cheese and cider tour”, is part of Sagardoa Route’s catalog of experiences, a company that strives to show all the people who visit us the authentic Basque history and culture. Thanks to this experience, we have had the opportunity to get to know the secrets that this hidden corner of Euskal Herria holds. If you like this kind of excursions, we recommend you to enjoy the different experiences that Sagardoa Route has created to know the secrets of Euskadi. They are not to be missed. Since the 80’s, Zerain has been promoting its culture, architecture and history. An aspect that, together with the natural wealth it possesses, has helped it to become one of the most charming villages in the Basque Country. On the other hand, its location, under the watchful eye of the Aizkorri mountain range and surrounded by intense green pastures, gives Zerain an enormous landscape potential. A natural environment where you can make routes of great beauty while resting from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. We are in one of the quietest rural areas of Gipuzkoa, it is time to relax and enjoy, are you up for it?

The deep roots of the Basque culture are presented on the surface of Zerain in the form of megalithic monuments, historical buildings, ancestral traditions and landscapes of a green never seen before. These attractions attract travelers from all over the world to Zerain. No wonder, Zerain preserves intact that special charm of the rural villages of Euskal Herria. We would like to emphasize the great work done by the people of Zerain in preserving the essence of their town, their cultural and historical heritage. An example to take into account.

Zerain and the different villages that surround it have dozens of places of interest. Places of obligatory visit during any trip to the Goierri region of Gipuzkoa. Here is a small summary of the most emblematic places to see in Zerain and Goierri. We hope you like them.

Jauregi Palace: This palace is one of the most representative buildings of the historic center of Zerain. Endowed with a coat of arms and ashlar walls, the Jauregi Palace is located next to the church, in the upper part of the village. It is in this building, where the nobles of Zerain lived in the past. The most remarkable elements of this palace are the 3 walls built in ashlar, the gothic style arch and the coat of arms on its façade, the oldest in Zerain.

Church of Our Lady of the Assumption: The church of Zerain is together with the hermitage of San Blas one of the 2 religious buildings that we find in Zerain. This structure of the XV century preserves in its interior elements of great importance as the copper cross of the XII century or the baptismal font of the XVII century. The building that we find today is the result of the reform carried out during the 18th century. Improvements that were mandatory given the terrible state in which the original structure was found.

The bowling alley: Bowling, a traditional game of Euskal Herria, has in Zerain a small temple of this sport. We must say that this historical space of Zerain represents the more than 9 bowling alleys that came to exist in the municipality. Undoubtedly a great reflection of the existing fondness for bowling in Zerain. The traditional bowling alley of Euskal Herria shares certain aspects with the American bowling alleys that have spread throughout the world, but it also has its own curiosities. On the other hand, the rules of the game vary depending on the area of Euskadi where we are, each town and region has its own particularities. We suggest you to go there and discover this Basque bowling alley in person. By the way, if you feel like playing, we recommend that you ask at the tourist office, as there is an experience that includes this activity.

Ethnographic Museum of Zerain: This space was opened to the public in 1993 as a result of the great work done by a group of young volunteers. Their objective was none other than to enhance the value of the great historical and cultural heritage of their village. The museum houses in its interior more than 200 objects that were donated by the inhabitants of Zerain to show the visitor the legacy of this Basque municipality. A large collection of elements that encompass different aspects of the daily life of the people of Zerain. Among all of them, utensils linked to agriculture, shepherding or mining, elements that come from the different farmsteads of the surroundings, are of great importance.

Aizpea mining complex: This mining complex is one of the main attractions of the municipality of Zerain. Located 5 minutes from the town center, the mining interpretation center and the other spaces that make up the mining complex of Aizpea, invite us to learn how the mineral was extracted from the early eleventh century to the twentieth century. Its location is another of its strong points. Located in the middle of a great natural environment, this enclave invites us to know the area through different thematic routes.

Jail: What today is the Ostatu restaurant in Zerain, housed for many years the jail of the municipality. This jail from the early eighteenth century, has been restored to show travelers an authentic jail of 1711, a unique space. This building housed the town hall of Zerain, a space in which the jail, the town hall, the bar, the inn, the inn and other municipal services were located. Today, one of its most striking spaces, the jail, has been recovered, revealing the function it performed at that time (prison for prisoners whose final destination was the galleys located on the Basque coast and that came from Castile). Did you know that the walls are covered with wood to make it difficult for prisoners to escape?

Nearby villages: Zerain, together with the neighboring villages of Segura, Mutiloa and Idiazabal, form a very attractive quartet for those who seek to know each of the secrets of the interior of Gipuzkoa. Of all of them, the medieval town of Segura stands out, a town that, thanks to the multitude of historical buildings that it has inside, the walls and the different entrance doors, has become a place of obligatory visit in every trip to the region of Goierri.

Larraondo hydraulic sawmill: This sawmill was built in 1890 by the Larraondo family. A family that used the Lasurtegi riverbed to convert water power into the driving force of the sawmill. Although this factory ceased to be active in 1960, it preserves most of its elements.

Sanctuary of Arantzazu: The sanctuary of Arantzazu is one of the most important and emblematic temples of our land. A great architectural and cultural work that is visited by thousands of people throughout the year. In addition, its location, in the heart of the Aizkorri Aratz Natural Park, invites us to enjoy nature with the family.

Sanctuary of Loiola: Another of the renowned Basque temples. A noble building that leaves all the people who visit it speechless. The house of Ignatius of Loiola, founder of the Company of Jesus. Its location in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, allows us to enjoy many of the attractions of the Urola Valley.

Ordizia Market: One of the most famous and emblematic markets in the Basque Country. A space in which local products take all the possible protagonism. Quality and variety. A space of great importance for fans of Basque gastronomy. A golden opportunity to take home some of the best gastronomic souvenirs of Euskadi.

Railroad MuseumOne of the most dynamic and entertaining museums of our land. A space that we have not hesitated to include in our list of plans to do with children in Euskadi. The great collection of objects that we find in this museum, invite us to travel back in time to learn about the machinery and clothing used in each of the periods presented in this museum.

Igartubeiti Farmhouse MuseumThe lord of the Basque farmhouses. This 16th century farmhouse shows us the way of life of our ancestors and at the same time gives us the opportunity to contemplate the popular Basque architecture in a very dynamic and interesting way. Its location in Ezkio- Itsaso, encourages us to enjoy the impressive views. All these spaces are just a small representation of what we can see in Zerain and surroundings. A few brushstrokes, which will undoubtedly help you to plan your trip to the highlands of Gipuzkoa. We hope you like them as much as we do.

Thanks to the impressive environment in which Zerain is located, it is possible to carry out a wide variety of activities during our stay in the Goierri region. In this section, hiking routes and visits to local producers are of great importance. Gastronomy and sport, a nice fusion, isn’t it?

Routes: In Zerain and surroundings we find routes of all kinds. From family routes to get to know the environment to routes of great difficulty that take us to the tops of some of the most emblematic mountains in the area. We recommend that, depending on the time you want to invest in this activity and your physical condition, you select some of the routes around Zerain. By the way, if you are going to visit the Aizpea Mining Complex, there are several routes that pass near there. It can be a good combination.

Landscape: Thanks to the strategic location of Zerain, it is possible to see several surrounding villages, including Mutiloa and Segura, without leaving the town center. A landscape, in which it is possible to contemplate the forests, mountains and meadows that surround this town of Gipuzkoa and capture panoramic views to frame. Photography lovers are in luck.

Sagardotegiak: The sagardotegis, cider houses in Basque, are authentic gastronomic temples of Euskadi. The natural cider that they elaborate in an artisan way, together with the traditional cider house menu, give us an authentic culinary experience. We recommend you to take a guided visit to the facilities of a sagardotegi, it is really worth it. In our case we enjoyed the guided visit and the menu of Oiharte Sagardotegia. 100% recommended.

Gaztandegiak: The surrounding cheese dairies are another attraction of Zerain. We must remember that the Goierri region is known for its great pastoral tradition and the high quality of the cheeses produced. In our case, we visited the Garoa cheese factory, at the exit of Zerain towards Segura. A small farm, which, under the seal of the Idiazabal D.O., produces high quality cheeses.

Cheese and cider tour: If you are looking for an experience that combines the visit to the cider and cheese factory, we recommend the cheese and cider tour, an initiative of Sagardoa Route that in addition to the 2 visits mentioned above, also encourages us to taste the traditional menu of the Oiharte cider factory. A 100% recommended experience. These activities in Zerain, together with the spaces mentioned in the section what to see in Zerain, are the keys to enjoy one of the quietest villages in Goierri. We hope you enjoy them.

According to the different archaeological remains found, the history of Zerain begins in the Bronze Age. But it is from the year 1200 onwards, after the transfer of power from the Kingdom of Navarre to the Kingdom of Castile, when Zerain begins to have some relevance in the strategic route that linked Araba and the sea. In order to protect this route, Segura was born in 1256, and Zerain came under its dominion. However, in 1615, after the payment of a large sum of money to Ferdinand the Catholic, Zerain became an independent town. However, this historical fact had no impact on the daily life of its inhabitants, who continued to work in agriculture, mining and livestock as they had done up to that time. From the 17th to the 19th century, Zerain saw a significant increase in its mining activity thanks to the demand of the armories located in Soraluze and Tolosa. After closing the mines throughout the twentieth century due to the exhaustion of the ore, Zerain began to recover its heritage to show each person who visits the history of this small Basque village.

In Zerain there are several restaurants where you can get your strength back. All of them, with a more than correct reputation. In our case, we chose to enjoy the culinary creations of Oiharte Sagardotegia. A family cider house, that bets for the quality of local products. A space, where we enjoyed a cozy atmosphere thanks to the incredible attention that Maite, Haritz and the rest of his family gave us. Great hosts. Great representatives of the Basque culture. It was here, in the Oiharte cider house itself, where to the rhythm of the typical cider house menu, we enjoyed a great gastronomic night thanks to a more than remarkable natural cider and other gastronomic products.

This small village of Goierri, does not have a wide variety of accommodations to choose from, but the existing ones, left us a good taste. Among them, we highlight the rural house Oiharte, an accommodation, which, run by the same family that manages the aforementioned cider house, offers us to enjoy the charms of a rural house more than 300 years old. A baserri ( Basque for farmhouse) surrounded by apple trees and sheep, in the middle of nature, which has helped to turn our escape to Zerain into a Basque experience.

Zerain is located in a mountainous area of Gipuzkoa, between forests, rivers and meadows. A rural environment, in which mountains like Aizkorri or Txindoki are of great importance. The roads to reach this urban center, winding and full of farmhouses with huge walls, give a glimpse of the typical charm of mountain roads. Located in the Gipuzkoa region of Goierri, also known as the Gipuzkoa Highlands or Basque Highlands, Zerain invites you to discover its charms and those of the other villages in the region. A great adventure, which takes us to know spaces of story, of film. On the other hand, its location, less than 1 hour from the main cities in the area(Bilbao 1 hour, Donostia San Sebastian 45 minutes, Vitoria Gasteiz 50 minutes, Pamplona Iruña 1 hour) is strategic for all those who are planning a route through the Basque Country.

We wanted to record a short video about our adventures in Zerain so you can see in first person the different places we visited in the highlands of Gipuzkoa. If you don’t know all the places that appear in the video, we are sure that more than one of them will surprise you. By the way, if you like this kind of trips and destinations, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, maybe more than one video will catch your attention.

As you have seen there are many things to see and do in Zerain. We personally like it the most in this area of Gipuzkoa. We will be back! If you have any questions or suggestions about Zerain or any of its tourist attractions, we recommend that you leave us a comment in this article, we will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!