Refugio Itaida
The place
Free refuge set at 964 m in the province of Álava (Spanish Basque Country, Euskadi, Asparrena/Sierra de Urbasa-Andia sector). Notable position near the Opakua pass on the path linking the Basque Country to Urbasa (Navarre), close to the famous Menhir d'Itaida — a prehistoric standing stone that is part of a burial ground of shepherds who lived there 4,000 years ago (Basque-Pyrenean megalithism). Refuge originally intended for hunters ("Refugio de cazadores / Ehiztari aterpea"). Exceptional forest setting of the Basque sierras: beech-oak woods of the eastern Basque mountains, hedged meadows, cultural landscapes emblematic of Basque pastoralism (Latxa sheep farming for Idiazábal PDO cheese production). Iconic wildlife: wild boar, roe deer, griffon vulture, golden eagle, bearded vulture (reintroduced), capercaillie (last Basque population). Stop on the routes exploring Basque pastoral and megalithic heritage, trails crossing the Sierra de Urbasa and the Iturrieta forests.
Getting there
Asparrena sector (Álava), Opakua pass toward Urbasa. Basque pastoral/megalithic heritage routes.
The setting
Basque Country (Álava/Euskadi), Sierra de Urbasa, 4,000-year-old megalithic Menhir d'Itaida.
