Oñati: Old Town, Renaissance and Walking Trails

When planning your trip to Oñati, there are several highlights to choose from: the Old Town, listed as a historic ensemble, Renaissance architecture, walking trails and Arrikrutz Cave. Consider whether you would like to focus mainly on the town’s history, nature or a guided tour.

Old Town and local history

Oñati’s Old Town is listed as a cultural asset in the category of historic ensemble. The Oficina de Turismo organizes guided tours of the Old Town and its history. They begin at Sancti Spiritus University and San Miguel Church, then continue along the town’s most significant streets and past its palaces. This means the tour focuses not only on a single building, but also on the historic townscape. If you plan to take the tour, check the reservation arrangements before your trip.

University and church art

Oñati University is considered an outstanding example of Renaissance civic architecture in the Basque Country. Founded in 1548, it offered courses primarily in law, medicine, philosophy, theology and literature for three centuries. The term civic architecture refers to secular buildings and distinguishes the university thematically from the town’s churches.

San Miguel Arcángel Church also reflects different historical periods. The building dates from the 15th century and was built on the site of an older structure. The Piedad Chapel houses a Renaissance altarpiece considered one of the finest in the Basque Country. The Flamboyant Gothic cloister, built over the Ubao stream, provides another architectural highlight. The construction period, earlier building, altarpiece and cloister each offer a distinct perspective on the church’s history.

Walking trails and Arrikrutz Cave

Oñati’s walking trails offer routes of all difficulty levels, including an adapted route in Gomiztegi. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Aizkorri-Aratz is protected both as a natural park and as a Special Area of Conservation (ZEC).

Arrikrutz Cave extends for 15 kilometers through interconnected underground galleries and has yielded remarkable prehistoric animal remains. The guided cave tour follows a floating walkway and also uses modern dynamic lighting. The town tour and cave visit offer different focuses: one explores streets, palaces and local history; the other, underground galleries and prehistoric finds. This can help you decide whether to focus on architectural history or geological and paleontological topics during your stay.

The Camino Ignaciano and Arantzazu

The Camino Ignaciano also offers a practical consideration for planning your trip: the second stage can be divided into two sections for people traveling on foot or by bicycle. The route to the sanctuary of Arantzazu passes through Oñati. If you plan to take this route, check current trail conditions before setting out.

The Sanctuary of Arantzazu is open every day throughout the year; guided tours can be reserved. If you plan to take a guided tour, check availability for your dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Berastegi, Hernani, Aizarna, Beizama, Andoain, Elgoibar, Getaria.

View the main travel overview: Gipuzkoa.