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
- Oma Forest (relocated artwork), Kortezubi, Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
- Coordinates
- 43.33194, -2.61778
- Access
- Book a visit in advance and validate the ticket at the Santimamiñe–Oma service point. The forest can only be reached on foot; the route is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- Admission
- Self-guided visit is free with a required reservation. Guided tours: €10 standard, €5 reduced; some categories enter free.
- Time needed
- Bizkaia’s visitor brochure estimates about 2 hours of walking for the 6 km Santimamiñe–Oma route with 200 m ascent, plus however long you spend exploring the painted forest. This is the full approach-and-return route, not just time inside the artwork.
- Best season
- Bizkaia does not publish a preferred season. The forest can be booked for self-guided visits on any date, but advance booking is required; guided tours run only on selected dates. High winds or storms may close the site, so check the booking information and forecast.
- Opening hours
- Book a timed self-guided visit online; guided visits are offered Saturdays at 11:00 (Spanish) and 12:30 (Basque). Closed in stormy weather or high winds; check current booking availability.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-30
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
Location
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