Teodosius of Goñi
The Navarrese knight who, deceived by the devil, committed parricide and wandered in chains until Saint Michael freed him at Aralar.
Oiz
— Bizkaia —
Quick facts
- • Place: Mallabia/Garai, Bizkaia
- • Basque name: Oiz
- • Etymology: Possible pre-Roman origin
- • Access: Easy, road access
- • Altitude: 1,026 metres
Description
Oiz is one of the most emblematic mountains of Bizkaia, with its 1,026 metres dominating the landscapes of the Duranguesado and the coastal districts. Its summit, crowned today by a conspicuous antenna, remains a powerful visual reference point across the province.
In Basque mythology, Oiz is a mountain linked to Mari and to the spirits of nature. According to local legends, supernatural beings lived in its caves and ravines, controlling fog, wind and storm, which gave the summit a reputation for both danger and sacred power.
The mountain offers several ascent routes for different levels. From the slopes above Munitibar, Mallabia or Etxebarria, marked paths cross beech woods and meadows, making Oiz a place where hiking, weather and old mountain imagination still coexist.
The area around Oiz preserves rich ethnographic heritage: traditional farmhouses, ancient hermitages and old paths recalling generations of life on these slopes.
Related legends
Related creatures
Basajaun
The shaggy giant who lives in the forests, protector of flocks and guardian of the secrets of agriculture and the forge.
Lamiak
Seductive nymphs who dwell in rivers and springs, recognisable by bird feet or fish tails, combing their hair with golden combs.
Sorginak
The Basque witches and wise women, priestesses of Mari who mastered potions, curses and the art of flying through the night sky.
Mount Oiz and the antenna watching over the heart of Bizkaia
At 1,026 metres, Oiz is Busturialdea’s highest point and a natural site rich in Bizkaia’s cultural tradition. Visible across much of the province, its distinctive television-antenna-crowned outline has been a landmark for decades, while the mountain guided shepherds and farmers in surrounding valleys for centuries.
Basque oral tradition links Oiz with fairies, lamias and other local supernatural beings dwelling on its slopes. Twentieth-century folklore accounts describe encounters beside streams and in caves, following familiar Basque patterns involving river and underground beings.
Pine and beech woods on Oiz’s slopes
Over the past century, Oiz has undergone the forestry changes affecting much of Bizkaia, with Monterey pine and eucalyptus replacing native oak and beech woodland in many areas. Nevertheless, surviving beech woods in the higher, wetter zones still offer an authentic Atlantic forest experience.
Climbing Oiz from the surrounding villages offers a moderately difficult hike accessible to walkers with basic experience. Views over Gernika’s river, the Urdaibai estuary and the Bay of Biscay reach the French coast on clear days.
