– Summit Cross
– In 1899, Pope Leo XIII ordered crosses on prominent mountains worldwide to mark the new century.
– A cross was planned for Gorbea, the highest mountain in Biscay and Álava.
– Priests of Zeanuri in Biscay and Zigoitia in Álava coordinated the construction with a budget of 50,000 pesetas.
– Designed by Casto de Zavala, the 33.33 meters tall cross collapsed a month after completion in 1901.
– Plans to rebuild the cross were initiated, and the second cross lasted over two years before being torn down by wind in 1906.
– Third Cross
– To avoid negative impacts, the third cross was built discreetly with limited information on its construction.
– Completed around 1910, it stands at 17.23 meters and resembles the Eiffel tower, supported by four legs.
– The cross was renovated in 1991 and 2019, with an addition of Our Lady of Begoña image in June 1963.
– The cross is located at the border of Biscay and Álava provinces.
– Few details are available about its construction, with some sources mentioning 1907 as the year of completion.
– Gorbea Natural Park
– Established in 1994 to preserve local beech and oak forests, along with populations of wild boars and deer.
– The massif is part of the park, including other notable mountains like Berretineu, Lekandaeu, and Aldamineu.
– Gorbea is the highest summit in two provinces and is easily accessible, making it a significant mountain in the Basque Country.
– The northern side of the mountain features a karstic plateau known as Itxinaeu, rich in shafts and caves like Supelegoreu.
– The southern side is forested and less craggy compared to the northern side.
– References
– Various sources provide information about Gorbea, including its height and prominence.
– Peakbagger.com and other publications offer insights into the mountain and its significance.
– Some sources detail the history of the summit cross and the challenges faced during its construction.
– The Gorbea Natural Park is highlighted in references as a conservation area for local flora and fauna.
– Renovations of the summit cross in 1991 and 2019 are mentioned in the references.
– Geographic Details
– Gorbea is a mountain located in the Basque Country, Spain, with an elevation of 1,482 meters.
– It has a prominence of 866 meters and is part of the Gorbeia Natural Park since 1994.
– The mountain features a karstic plateau to the north, known as Itxinaeu, with caves like Supelegoreu.
– The southern side of Gorbea is covered in forests, contrasting with the craggy northern side.
– Other notable peaks in the massif include Berretineu to the south and Lekandaeu and Aldamineu to the north.
Gorbea (Spanish pronunciation: [goɾˈβea]) or Gorbeia (Basque pronunciation: [gorβei.a]) is a mountain and massif in the Basque Country, Spain. It is the highest summit in Biscay and Álava, with a height of 1,482 metres (4,862 ft) above sea level. The massif covers a wide area between the two provinces. The main summit is a round grass-covered mountain crowned by a 17-metre-tall metallic cross. Historically, it was one of the five montes bocineros of Biscay, from where meetings to the Juntas Generales of the Lordship of Biscay were announced.
| Gorbea | |
|---|---|
 Gorbea rising over Otxandio | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,482 m (4,862 ft) |
| Prominence | 866 m (2,841 ft) |
| Coordinates | 43°02′06″N 2°46′48″W / 43.035°N 2.77988°W |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Gorbeia (Basque) |
| Geography | |
.png)  Gorbea  Gorbea Gorbea (Spain) | |
| Parent range | Basque mountains |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
To the north of the massif lies the karstic plateau of Itxina, an area full of shafts and caves such as Supelegor. The southern side of the mountain is less craggy, being covered by forests. Other notable mountains of the massif are Berretin to the south and the Lekanda and Aldamin limestone peaks to the north.
Since 1994, the whole massif has been part of the Gorbeia Natural Park, established to preserve the local beech and oak forests as well as the populations of wild boars and deer. Its status as the highest summit in two provinces and easy access have made it one of the most emblematic mountains in the Basque Country.