Website of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council - Green Belt - Green walks - River Zadorra, from Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia to Abetxuko

River Zadorra, from Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia to Abetxuko - Along the riverside

This path, along with the River Zadorra, allows us to immerse ourselves in the rural environment and to visit villages which, despite their proximity to the city, have been able to largely preserve their rich historical heritage and their cultural identity: Abetxuko and Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia.

The Urarte Vegetable Gardens, on the right-hand bank of the River Zadorra, make up an important attraction of the walk. In this space, citizens and collectives carry out horticultural work in the best environmental and social conditions.

Technical data sheet

Length: 6 km | Approximate time: 1 and a half hours| Type of path: paved path, sidepath, pedestrian path and agricultural path | How to get there: L9, Gamarra Mayor; Tram Abetxuko Line, Kañabenta stop

Click on the map to see a bigger PDF version.

Route

We start the walk at Avenida del Zadorra, close to the bridge of Gamarra Mayor/ Gamarra Nagusia. A location marker of the Route of the Green Belt and an information panel locates us and indicate the direction to take: Zabalgana.

We take the path that runs beside the River Zadorra, between large fields and small forests, parallel to Avenida del Zadorra. We reach Abetxuko and continue in a straight line following the green points that take us to the old bridge of Abetxuko.

After passing under the old and new bridges, practically beside each other, we reach a small square with new location markers. We follow the Route of the Green Belt.

We walk very close to the river. The path runs parallel to Avenida del Zadorra. On the right-hand bank of the river we see the Urarte Vegetable Gardens.

Before reaching the bridge of the motorway to Bilbao, we take the turn to the right away from the Green Belt. We cross a bridge over the River Zadorra in the direction of the village of Abetxuko.

Before reaching the village we can stop to visit the Urarte Vegetable Gardens, to the right.

We continue along our itinerary and encircle the urban area of Abetxuko, where it is worth visiting the church of San Miguel, and we take an agricultural track towards the east which will take us directly to Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia.

We enter Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia via Bastobi Street; we go through the village, cross the bridge and return to the starting point.

Points of interest

Zadorra river and its surroundings
The section of the river between Abetxuko and Gamarra Mayor/Gamarra Nagusia, along its left bank, is a waterway park formed by extensive meadows with small lime trees, poplar, willow and other leafy forests. On the other bank the crops approach the river until they almost invade it in some areas.

Urarte Vegetable Gardens, in Abetxuko
A broad space beside the River Zadorra dedicated to ecological horticulture. It is the second facility of these characteristics set up in the Green Belt, after the Olarizu Vegetable Gardens. The Urarte Vegetable Gardens emerged as a well-organised alternative to the vegetable gardens that had gradually been established illegally along the river and which had caused important ecological impacts on the local ecosystem due to water extraction, waste dumping, elimination of riverbank vegetation, contamination, etc. In this space a large number of citizens and collectives learn about and enjoy the practice of ecological horticulture in adequate social and environmental conditions. It is also a place for anyone who, without participating in programmed activities, would like to enjoy a pleasant time in contact with nature.

Urban centre of Abetxuko
Its San Miguel church, of Romanesque style, houses an image of great popular devotion, the "Christ of Abetxuko", originating from the Monastery of Santa Catalina in Trespuentes. Also worth noting are two noble houses from the 16th and 18th centuries, the 18th century bridge over the River Zadorra and a 17th century transept.

Urban centre of Gamarra Mayor/ Gamarra Nagusia
Worth noting are its 18th century parish church, on the tower of which storks regularly nest, the stone bridge with eight arches built in 1661, a transept and the palace house of the Gamarra family, from the 17th century.

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