Jaizkibel

Jaizkibel
View of Jaizkibel from the east (near Anglet)
Highest point
Elevation	547 m (1,795 ft)
Naming
Translation	Back of the rock (Basque)
Pronunciation	Basque pronunciation: [xais̻ˈkibel]
Geography
Location	Gipuzkoa, Spain
Parent range	Pyrenees
Climbing
Easiest route	From Lezo

Jaizkibel is mountain range of the Basque Country located east of Pasaia, north of Lezo and west of Hondarribia, in Spain, with 547 m at the highest point (peak Alleru). The range stretches south-west to north-east, where it plunges into the sea at the Cape Higuer (spelled Higher too). To the north-west, the mountain dips its slopes in the sea with beautiful cliffs all along, overlooking on the east the marshes of Txingudi, the river Bidasoa and its mouth (tracing the state borderline between France and Spain) as well as the towns of Irun, Hendaia and Hondarribia on the river banks. The nearest relevant mountains are La Rhune, Aiako Harria and Ulia closing the view east to west from the south. Some people consider Jaizkibel to be the first westernmost mountain of the Pyrenees.

The area is a relevant landmark on the grounds of its strategic position close to the border with France, with the range standing as the easternmost Spanish rise by the seaside and affording an unmatched view miles away, both over the sea and inland. As a result, the military has always showed an interest in the place since the 16th century when the Spanish-French border started to be drafted, taking to building defence facilities, such as the towers dotting the ridge (dating from the Carlist Wars) or the Fortress of Guadalupe going back to 1890, nowadays out of use. The northern slopes have borne witness to frequent military manoeuvres from the decade of the 50s through the early 90s, when the road to the booster station was sometimes cut off to avoid disruption and damage.

The mountain can be approached by motor vehicle, on foot and mountain bike. A local road (Gi-3440) winds up from Lezo, running next along the backbone of the mountain range till it snakes down towards Hondarribia at the north-eastern end of the ridge. On the south-eastern side of the mountain a dust track cuts across the steep slope sideways.