Tourism destinations
Towns
Zegama is located in the historical territory of Gipuzkoa within the south of the Goierri.
Its environment is one of its main attractions. Aizkorri Mountain Range, the river Oria and the Natural Park of Aizkorri -characterised by steep limestone crests- lift up over green fields covered by thick forests. There are many routes and paths in the surroundings both for expert mountaineers and less experienced. One of the routes leads to the natural tunnel of San Adrián, through which the royal road passes and in past times connected Gipuzkoa with Alava's lands.
The road was witness of the coming and going of traders, shepherds and pilgrims on their Way to Santiago. Likewise, this spot is an important passage that leads to the road to Santiago and crosses the interior of Gipuzkoa. Besides, within Zegama there are interesting prehistoric remains such as the tumulus of Bidaarte II and Tartaloetxea at the megalithic station of Altzania and the tumulus of Irumugarrieta at the station of Brinkola-Zegama.
The urban area
Several historical buildings will attract our attention when we get to the town centre. The church of San Martín de Tours (15th-16th c.), for example, houses the beautiful cross from the hermitage of the top of the Aizkorri mountain (1,528m) and the mausoleum of well-known Carlist general Tomas de Zumalakarregi. The town council -with its wide porch- and the houses Kapitanetxea, Torre de Ugarte, Aitamarren -the most ancient in town- and Mazkiaran Barrena -where Zumalakarregi died- are some of the buildings we will find in the urban area. There are numerous hermitages in the surroundings among which the followings are remarkable: Sancti Spiritu, Santa Cruz, San Adrián, Andra Mari de Otzaurre and San Pedro.
Festivals and fairs
Zegama hosts many important events during the year, such as culture and sports. On the one hand, the popular alpine marathon Zegama-Aizkorri with more and more followers. Valid for the world cup, it is characterised by its roughness and the beauty of the route. On April's first Sunday Zegama holds the apiarist day, which also includes Gipuzkoa's honey contest. We cannot forget the in November the San Martín Fair, where horses and cattle contests are organised, apart from pelota matches.
Finally we should mention the traditional pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, on the Whit Sunday.