The Montes de Hierro Greenway The new Montes de Hierro Greenways network is a journey through the underground history of Vizcaya. Because for centuries iron moulded the landscape, the life, and the character of this region, before the alchemy of the Guggenheim museum clad it in shining titanium. This Greenway network is a must for anyone wishing to discover the roots of our cosmopolitan 21st century Greater Bilbao by following the path of these iron arteries which in bygone days forged the city and its surroundings. These trails whisper to their travellers a mute testimony from centuries gone by, relating legends from the Roman Empire to the Industrial Revolution and revealing like an open book all the secrets of the men and women of iron who were behind them. TECHNICAL DATA CONDITIONED GRRENWAY Exploring the mining landscape of Las Encartaciones/Enkarterri. LOCATON Traslaviña (Artzentales) - Kobaron (Muskiz) BIZCAIA Length: 42,5 Km Users: * (*) Km 8: In the area of the Sopuerta quarry there is a short section with a significant slope (*) Km 16: At the recreational area of La Aceña there is a steep incline and the temporary closure of a tunnel obliges users to take a provisional detour along a dirt track (*) Km 39: On arriving at Playa de La Arena beach it is necessary to cross a short stretch of sand. For cyclists, skaters, those with baby buggies, and persons of restricted mobility, access to the section of the Itsaslur Greenway should be made via the village of Kobaron since the access via Pobeña requires negotiating a steep flight of steps These latter obstacles are expected to be removed in the medium term thanks to an inter-territorial initiative affecting the costal path between Muskiz and Mioño (Cantabria) under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs : Section of bidegorri or cycle path between Gallarta – Playa de La Arena and the Pobeña – Kobaron section of the Itsaslur Greenway Type of surface: Compacted gravel between the FEVE station at Traslaviña (Km 0) and Santelices (Muskiz) (Km 25). Tarmac between Santelices (Km 25) and Kobaron (Muskiz) (Km 42.5) Natural settings: Mercadillo or Barbadun Valley. Salt marshes of the river Barbadun and Playa de La Arena in Muskiz. Regeneration forests. Views over the sea and of beautiful valleys covered with either Atlantic forest or plantations of pine and eucalyptus Cultural heritage: Blast furnace in Sestao Vizcaya suspension bridge, historical town centre, Salazar Tower, Basilica of Santa María, Santa Clara convent, Plaza de la Ranchería, Iron Pier, Town Hall, and Museum of Industry in Portugalete. San Félix de Cantalicio church in Ortuella Peñas Negras interpretation centre (La Arboleda).Museum of Mining in the Basque Country (Gallarta), calcining kilns of the San José and Lorenza mines, limestone needles at the Cristina mine, mine head belonging to the Ezequiela pit, Church of San Pedro (Las Carreras) and Church of Santa Juliana de Abanto-Ciérvana/Abanto-Zierbena. Muñatones Castle and the El Pobal ironworks in Muskiz. Cave paintings in the Arenaza cave, Eskatxabel dolmen and Loizaga Tower/Rolls Royce Museum in Galdames. Museum of Las Encartaciones (former House of Assemblies) in the village of Avellaneda, calcining kilns and the old mining village and recreational area of Alén (Sopuerta). Remains of ironworks and iron mills on the banks of the river Barbadun, along which the Ironworks Route runs, a route which brings together the highest density of proto- industrial remains in Vizcaya, the star of which is the restored El Pobal ironworks. Moreover, the entire route of the Greenways is scattered with mining remains: minefields, mines, loaders, villages… Infraestructure: Greenway (Traslaviña – Gallarta, and Pobeña-Kobaron) and bidegorri/cycle path (Gallarta – Playa de La Arena). 7 tunnels (3 with lighting), 7 buildings linked to mining operations (3 in ruins), 7 rest areas, 11 recreational areas, 1 play area in the recreational area of La Aceña, water fountains, benches, waste bins, and signage. The Santelices- Gallarta section is illuminated by lampposts Recreational areas of Tuetxe, Santa Cruz and La Toba in Artzentales; Alén, San Roque de Carral, El Alisal and La Baluga in Sopuerta; La Aceña/Atxuriaga and Aguasjuntas in Galdames; Siete Robles and El Cerrillo in Abanto-Zierbena; and Rebortun in Muskiz How to get there: Feve. Bilbao – Santander Line. Traslaviña Station (Artzentales) Metro Bilbao. Sestao Station. Line 2 Railway. Suburban network. Line C 1. Bilbao-Santurtzi: Sestao and Portugalete stations. Line C 2. Bilbao-Muskiz: Urioste (Ortuella), Gallarta (Abanto-Zierbena), Putxeta (Abanto- Zierbena) and Muskiz. Galdames stations: Bus Empresa Encartaciones (Bizkaibus). Lines A3323, A3334, A3336 and A3337. Artzentales: Bus (Bizkaibus). Line A0652 Connections: Bilbao: 20 km to Gallarta. Maps to use: National Geographic Institute Map:scale 1:25.000. Sheet 61-I. Ministry of Development Official Road Map. Further information in the Greenways Guide, volume III DESCRIPTION Tramo I. Vía Verde del Alimoche-Galdames: De Traslaviña a Gallarta Km. 0 / Km. 4 / Km. 10 / Km. 12 / Km. 14 / Km. 16 / Km. 23 / Km. 27 Tramo II. Carril bici / bidegorri: De Gallarta a la Vía Verde de Itsaslur Km. 31 Tramo III. Vía Verde de Itsaslur. De Pobeña a Kobaron Km. 39 / Km. 42,5 Introducción The original purpose of the network of Montes de Hierro Greenways was to join the two existing Greenways in the rural district of Las Encartaciones/Enkarterri, on the left bank of the Bilbao estuary: the Itsaslur Greenway and the Galdamesa Greenway. In 2011 the latter extended its route by 15 km to reach the FEVE station at Traslaviña, following the path of the old Castro- Traslaviña railway line. For 2012 a further extension of the route is planned in the direction of the Bilbao estuary: Sestao, Portugalete and Barakaldo. All the railway routes share a common feature, their mining origins, linked to the extraction of high quality iron ore, which centuries ago was renowned throughout Europe, even getting a mention in the works of Shakespeare. And in the more recent past, iron drove the industrial development of the entire Greater Bilbao area (with companies such as Altos Hornos de Vizcaya), giving rise both to the birth of the Basque bourgeoisie and of the labour movement and its most emblematic leaders. The existence of the Montes de Hierro Greenways network is thanks to the efforts and collaboration of many nameless people, public institutions and small local associations: the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, the Spanish Railways Foundation, FEVE, the Basque Government, the Regional Government of Vizcaya, Basquetour, ADR Enkarterrialde, Enkartur, the Mancomunidad (Commonwealth) de Las Encartaciones, several town councils (Abanto-Zierbena, Arzentales, Barakaldo, Galdames, Muskiz, Portugalete, Sopuerta, Sestao, Zierbena…) and many more besides, all of which have enthusiastically taken part in this joint project for more than 10 years. We invite you to start the Montes de Hierro Greenways from km 0, at Traslaviña train station. Or from wherever you prefer. Design the route of your choice as from July 2011 on the web page at www.montesdhierro.com. Section I. Alimoche Greenway - Galdames: From Traslaviña to Gallarta Km 0 The Montes de Hierro Greenways set off from the Traslaviña train station on the present Bilbao–Santander FEVE line. From here we can also access the Ironworks Route and the GR-281 footpath (which takes us through Balmaseda to the heights which border on the river Kadagua). There is an active service point, at 0 km, Burdinkleta. If we take the Greenway, we will arrive at Las Barrietas by following the crystalline waters of the river Kolitza, through two tunnels (87 and 147 metres in length, respectively), an old iron mill and a pretty wooden footbridge crossing the river. Km 4 On the far bank we are greeted by the ruins of another iron mill and of an old mineral ore loader next to the old train station. At this point the junction with the road leading up to the former mining village of Alén invites us to make a detour from the Greenway to discover mountain bloomeries (ironworks) dating back to over 2,000 years ago, in a zone now equipped as a recreational area. Km 10 If we continue along the Greenway flanked by forest on either side, in a short while we will be able to see the spectacular crags which are home to the Egyptian vulture, an unusual bird in danger of extinction. Then, after travelling across the top of the Sopuerta quarry, we arrive at the village of El Castaño, where we are greeted by an old railway wagon inviting us to visit the Catalina mine complex, famous for its two calcining kilns and the Los Herreros tunnel, a 2 km long bore which was excavated by pick and shovel in the first half of the 20th century. The El Alisal recreational area is also nearby. The tunnel, an impressive feat of engineering, allows the railway to pass under the Muñecas Pass and reappear in the Cantabrian Otañes valley, before finally arriving at the site of the once magnificent cantilever loading arm which used to overhang the cliffs at Castro-Urdiales before it was swept away in a gale. The long-awaited refurbishment of this tunnel may one day enable the route of the Greenway to reach the original destination of the Traslaviña – Castro railway; the sea. Km 12 After passing through another tunnel and leaving behind the Ermita del Pilar chapel we reach Sopuerta Abentura, an attractive family adventure park offering a variety of activities (see www.sopuerta-abentura.com). Km 14 Pressing on beyond the Jarralta dam loading facility we arrive at El Arenao (where we rejoin the Ironworks Route), before reaching the old railway bridge, now refurbished as a majestic wooden footbridge over the road.