Arditurri - Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural Aiako Harria

About the museum

Arditurri is one of the entrances to the Aiako Harria Natural Park, in the Ergoien district of Oiartzun. Its mines were worked almost without interruption for some 2,000 years, with finds showing mining even before the Roman period. Silver, iron, lead, zinc, fluorite and sphalerite (blende) were extracted until 1984, when the Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas abandoned operations.

In 2008 the old mine laboratory building was restored to house the park's Interpretation Centre, the parketxe, which explains the cultural, geological and natural heritage of the Aiako Harria massif in an engaging, educational way. The site retains a complete mining landscape: spoil heaps, open-cast quarries, inclined planes, mine entrances, buildings of the works and the route of the railway that carried the ore to the port of Pasaia, now the Vía Verde de Arditurri. Underground there are tens of kilometres of galleries.

The visit combines the interpretation centre with access to the galleries. The Visita Esencial (Essential Visit) lasts one hour, follows an adapted 180-metre walkway and uses light and sound to recreate the different moments in the mine's history. La Mina a fondo (The Mine in Depth) lasts 75 minutes and adds about 500 metres along a lower level, with a stop at the area of the 2008 archaeological excavation, where remains from the Roman period can be seen. The parketxe also organises guided walks, birdwatching outings and family activities.

Highlights

• Galleries of a mine worked for some 2,000 years
• Essential Visit with an adapted 180 m walkway
• The Mine in Depth: lower level and Roman-era excavation area
• Interpretation Centre of the Aiako Harria Natural Park
• Vía Verde de Arditurri, former mining railway line

Permanent exhibitions

• Centro de interpretación del Parque Natural de Aiako Harria – Exhibition in the former mine laboratory on the cultural, geological and natural heritage of the Aiako Harria massif.
• Galerías de la mina de Arditurri – Underground guided visit with light and sound through the main gallery and, in the longer version, along a lower level with remains from the Roman period.

Founded

2008

Operated by

Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa (Gipuzkoanatura) y Oarsoaldea

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought online. Prices from the Gipuzkoanatura page.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Visita Esencial is accessible and suitable for people with reduced mobility (adapted 180 m walkway). La Mina a fondo is not accessible for people with reduced mobility or for children under 5.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family experience “Plan familiar en Arditurri”: an adventure with a GPS-guided app and characters from Basque mythology (intxixus, gentiles, witches and Basandre). Educational programme for pre-school, primary, secondary and upper-secondary pupils.

Getting there & parking

By car, from the centre of Oiartzun take the GI-3420 towards Lesaka; the turn-off to Arditurri is signposted past the Ergoien district. Bicycle hire in the Pasaia bay and in Lezo.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit