Hernio
Encyclopedia
Hernio (ˈeɾnjo; also spelled Ernio) is an iconic summit in the Basque Country
very popular with the Gipuzkoans and located right at the heart of the province. The peak is the highest point of a massif extending north-west to south-east, the summit rising by the pass of Zelatun. Neighbouring summits lined up NW to SE at the range are mount Gazume (997 m) standing west across the summit and mount Herniozabal (1,010 m) closing the range east at the rear. The villages lying at the feet of the mount are Errezil
(SW), Alkiza
(NE) and Asteasu
(N). The summit of Hernio affords to the NW a beautiful view over Azpeitia
and the stone bulk of Izarraitz towering over the town.
stayed overnight on his journey home from Paris
in April 1535. A trail goes up and gains height along the stream Zelatun until the pass of the same name is reached (841 m). At the pass, a cluster of huts are found, and a beaten trail up must be taken on the left that cuts across the side of Hernio. The trail heading south-east, after a long slope is overcome, a couple of zigzags on pebbled soil lead to the top of the mountain. The way up takes 1h30 and back.
Starting from the road entering Alkiza (344 m high) from the south-west (GI-3630), a concrete track splits off on the left and leaves the houses behind. After a zigzag, a hiking trail heads up south-west along a fence and penetrates in a forest. The route (PR GI-78), shrouded in vegetation, is marked all along on rocks, signposts and trees, with a general direction west running along the mountain range (left). At the final stage before the pass of Zelatun, the path cuts across a clear landscape on a sloping terrain. From Zelatun, the final stretch as explained above. It takes some 2h30 to the peak and back.
The village lies right at the foot of the mount and therefore stands close to it. Yet this may be the hardest approach on account of its steep ascent. A dust track winds up from the road (GI-2634) to the very pass of Zelatun, so pick-ups and other SUV
vehicles may be found at this spot, sometimes belonging to hunters. The ascent takes roughly 1h45 and back.
tree have gained ground at the expense of other autochthonous species. On the north face of the mountain range, beech forests cover the steep terrain. In addition, oak
and chestnut
tree patches may be found, with some birch
trees few and far between. There are some grasslands especially at the north-west, at Zelatun and around. Actually, for centuries the pass has borne witness to seasonal migration of cattle from Aralar
and even Urbasa
to coastal pastures.
The massif has been inhabited for millennia, as attested in the grotto of Altxerri, where in 1962 wall paintings and rock carvings depicting bison
, horses, reindeer, fish and other animals were unearthed.
Basque Country (historical territory)
The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
very popular with the Gipuzkoans and located right at the heart of the province. The peak is the highest point of a massif extending north-west to south-east, the summit rising by the pass of Zelatun. Neighbouring summits lined up NW to SE at the range are mount Gazume (997 m) standing west across the summit and mount Herniozabal (1,010 m) closing the range east at the rear. The villages lying at the feet of the mount are Errezil
Errezil
Errezil is a town in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, located in the north of Spain.-External links:* with information available in Basque, English and Spanish....
(SW), Alkiza
Alkiza
Alkiza is a village located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain. In 2003 Alkiza had a total population of 273.-External links:* Information available in Spanish and Basque....
(NE) and Asteasu
Asteasu
Asteasu is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the north of Spain.-External links:* Information available in Spanish and Basque.* Information available in Spanish...
(N). The summit of Hernio affords to the NW a beautiful view over Azpeitia
Azpeitia
Azpeitia is a town and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain, located on the Urola river a few kilometres east of Azkoitia. Its population is 13,708 . It is located 16 miles southwest of Donostia/San Sebastián.Azpeitia is the birth place of Ignatius of Loyola...
and the stone bulk of Izarraitz towering over the town.
Access points
As a popular destination for hikers and locals, Hernio may be reached through various trails setting out from different points.Iturriotz
Iturriotz (580 m, the spot is reached through a road up setting out at Andatzarrate -road GI-2631-) is a former country inn, where according to historic accounts Ignatius of LoyolaIgnatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
stayed overnight on his journey home from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in April 1535. A trail goes up and gains height along the stream Zelatun until the pass of the same name is reached (841 m). At the pass, a cluster of huts are found, and a beaten trail up must be taken on the left that cuts across the side of Hernio. The trail heading south-east, after a long slope is overcome, a couple of zigzags on pebbled soil lead to the top of the mountain. The way up takes 1h30 and back.
Alkiza
Errezil
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
vehicles may be found at this spot, sometimes belonging to hunters. The ascent takes roughly 1h45 and back.
Landscape and human presence
Forest abounds in the massif, with various kinds of trees. In the course of the last century Monterrey pine and larchLarch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
tree have gained ground at the expense of other autochthonous species. On the north face of the mountain range, beech forests cover the steep terrain. In addition, oak
Pedunculate Oak
Quercus robur is commonly known as the Pedunculate Oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.-Taxonomy:Q...
and chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
tree patches may be found, with some birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
trees few and far between. There are some grasslands especially at the north-west, at Zelatun and around. Actually, for centuries the pass has borne witness to seasonal migration of cattle from Aralar
Aralar Range
Aralar aran'+'larre', meaning 'valley field') is the Basque name for a mountain range, which broadly speaking separates the province of Gipuzkoa from Navarre in the North of Spain...
and even Urbasa
Urbasa
The Urbasa Range is a mountain range of western Navarre, Spain, part of the Basque Mountains...
to coastal pastures.
The massif has been inhabited for millennia, as attested in the grotto of Altxerri, where in 1962 wall paintings and rock carvings depicting bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, horses, reindeer, fish and other animals were unearthed.
Tradition and events
- Not long ago, local scholars and folk accounts held rather romantically that heroic battles took place at Zelatun in Roman times between their army and the CantabriCantabriThe Cantabri were a pre-Roman Celtic people which lived in the northern Atlantic coastal region of ancient Hispania, from the 4th to late 1st centuries BC.-Origins:...
. On the other hand, this assumption has been disputed by modern history, pinpointing such battle farther west, somewhere in CantabriaCantabriaCantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
. It is no surprise that legend traces the name of the village at the foot, ErrezilErrezilErrezil is a town in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, located in the north of Spain.-External links:* with information available in Basque, English and Spanish....
, to the phrase "errez hil", '(Romans) died easy', a folk etymology. - The San Joan hermitage lies beside the building of Iturriotz (see above), where a festivity in honour of the saint is held on 24 June. In local lore, the water springing out of its walls cures scabies and ringworm.
- Hernio is renowned for its popular pilgrimages of September, held every Sunday of the month. The last Sunday is the most attended one, with a steady trail of people of all ages following the path to the top. The summit is covered with small crosses shrouded in beliefs, small memorials and a mountaineer postbox. Before the last attempt to the peak, metallic rings hanging from a cross may be grabbed and slid around whatever part of the body suffers a disease so as to heal it. At the fields of Zelatun a celebration steeped in music, dance and cheerful atmosphere takes place all day long.
- Since the early 2000s, hundreds turn out for the collective hike looping around the whole mountain rangeMountain rangeA mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
of Hernio. The event, called Erniopeko Martxa, is held in spring, with the walk starting early in the morning (in AlkizaAlkizaAlkiza is a village located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain. In 2003 Alkiza had a total population of 273.-External links:* Information available in Spanish and Basque....
in 2008). The route, stretching for 48,6 km, crosses eight villages surrounding the massif. Alternatively, another route provides a shorter approach through a short-cut that splits up the route in two.