The Painted Forest of Oma
Oma forest is a artwork made by Agustin Ibarrola, a Basque sculptor and painter. The forest is located in the Valley of Oma, in a forest near Kortezubi (Bizkaia, Basque Country), in the natural reserve of Urdaibai.
Created in the early 1980s, this open-air artistic installation consists of a large group of trees, painted in totem-like figures. If you look at them from different perspectives, they give the impression of different geometric, anthropomorphic or animal forms. The underlying idea is to create a space for the contemplation of the relation between man and nature.
It’s also called “bosque animado” or animated forest, because the painted figures change in shape as you move through the space.
Submission by Luka Lisjak. Thank you!
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Relocated Oma Forest, Kortezubi, Urdaibai, Basque Country, Spain
- Access
- Advance reservation required; validate ticket at Santimamiñe–Oma service point; forest reached on foot
- Admission
- Self-guided visit free; guided tour general €10, reduced €5 with eligible free categories
- Time needed
- Approach walk about 50 minutes each way (2.8 km); add time in the forest
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-09
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