Description

In the Painted Forest of Oma, also known as the Animated Forest, is a singular enclave in the small district of Oma in Kortezubi, close to the Caves of Santimamiñe. Created in 1984 by the Bilbao painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola, this enchanted forest is a magical space displaying a new relationship between art and nature. Here, the artist left prints on trees and stones to connect the work of the ancient artists of the Palaeolithic period to that of the modern land art trend, an artistic current where the painter works directly on the natural environment with the landscape as his canvas. Thus, Ibarrola simply painted the surface of pine trees knowing the support he was using was not inert like canvas. The majority of the figures are distributed among the different trees and located on planes of different depths. This way by covering the hundreds of pine trees in colours and life he created an enormous canvas which visitors can recompose playing with the perspectives as they walk. We come across the possibility of building a customised work via the decisions we make inside the forest, walking along one trail or another, looking in different directions, etc. In other words, a different forest for each visitor. (Tourism Euskadi.eus) 

Highlight

  • Oma Valley
  • Santimamiñe Cave
  • Mount San Miguel de Ereñozar
  • Basondo animal shelter

How to get here

Bizkaibus:
A3513 BILBAO - Hospital Galdakao - Gernika - Lekeitio. 
The Bizkaibus stops are from the route start. 
Car is a better option.

Route

Kortezubi (Biscay)

Section 1

From the Lezika restaurant parking lot to the upper entrance of the Oma Forest

Not suitable for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

The Oma Forest is located just 3 kilometers from the Lezika-Basondo Parking, which is where we will park our vehicle and start the route. Leaving Basondo it takes about 45 minutes to reach this small painted forest (from the middle of the road it is already all downhill). Once in the forest, you can begin the descent following the path that crosses it from medium to medium and continues down to the left. (Bosque de Oma.com)

Description of the section and its accessibility level

Section length
2,75 km
Pavement
Gravel and asphalt
Obstacles
  • Firm broken in some sections.
  • Dirt and wood steps on the access road to the Forest.
  • Wooden fence provisionally prevents access to the Forest.

Equipment for receiving the external resource on the section

Is there reception equipment on the section?
No
Outdoor space: Parking areas and access to equipment
Is there a parking area?
No
Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
No
Are there railings and/or handrails?
No
Indoor space: General features
Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
No
Personal care area
Are there personnel trained in accessibility in the facilities?
No
Rest zone
Is there a rest area at the reception?
No
Store
Is there one or more stores at the reception?
No
Children’s area
Is there a children’s area at the reception?
No
Exhibition room
Is there an exhibition room at the reception?
No
Exhibition Hall
Is there an exhibition hall at the reception?
No

Interpretive equipment

Are there trails on the section?
Yes
Access
Is there lighting at night?
No
Minimum accessible connection between parking spaces, if any, the start of the obstacle-free trail
No
Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
Yes, without assistance from third parties
Parking spaces reserved for vehicles used to transport disabled people according to current regulations. At least 5% of the total spaces
No
Parking signage, if any, with the International Accessibility Symbol on the floor and/or on walls
No
Informative poster at the start of the trail indicating the length, route, difficulty, duration and slopes by sections
Yes
Path start sign positioned no higher than 195cm
Yes
Itinerary
Vertical start signage
Yes
Vertical signage type
Read
Compact, non-slip and with no projections along their entire length, allowing wheelchair transit
No. The terrain is very uneven made up of gravel and gravel. If it has rained we will find mud, which would make wheelchair access even more difficult.
2 m. paved trails with non-deformable and non-slip material, with a different texture and different from the rest
No
The route is more than 150cm wide, with occasional narrowings of 90cm
Yes
Minimum clearance height of 220 cm
Yes
Rest areas
No
Urban furniture (fountains, dispensers...) arranged along the pedestrian route to provide sound orientation
No
End vertical signage
Read
Guiding partition and/or tactile foot signs to draw attention to an important feature
No
Islands with a minimum width of 150 cm to facilitate two wheelchairs passing each other
No
Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
Yes, with no assistance
Unevenness through pedestrian routes
No
Tree branches do not obstruct the route at below 2.20 m
Yes
Ramps, bridges and walkways with more than 50cm of unevenness, 90cm handrails and with handrails at two heights: 65-75 cm and 95-105 cm
No
Cycle touring lane
Does the section have a cycle touring lane?
No
Lookout and observatory
Is there a lookout or observatory on the section?
No

Educational Facilities

Nature classroom
Is there a nature classroom on this section?
No

Recreational facilities

Is there a recreational area on this section?
No
Access
Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
No

Beaches

Is there a beach on this section?
No

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