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
- Reserve a free self-guided visit online for a selected date and entry time, or book a guided tour on a listed date. Validate the booking at the Santimamiñe–Oma Information Centre. The forest is reached on foot only from the Santimamiñe area; no motor vehicles are allowed on the path. The official visitor route is 2.8 km each way. It is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Stay on the marked path; the forest closes during storms or high winds. Carry water and suitable walking shoes.
- Admission
- Self-guided entry is free, but advance online booking is required. The Basque tourism authority lists guided tours at €10 standard and €5 reduced, with free entry for specified groups; check the official booking page for current availability and eligibility.
- Time needed
- The current Bizkaia visitor page gives a 2.8 km walk from Santimamiñe to the forest, about 50 minutes each way, plus a separate 1.5 km artwork route inside the forest. Plan for at least about 1 hour 40 minutes walking to and from the site, plus the artwork circuit and time to look around. These are route components, not a published total visit duration.
- 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
- Self-guided entry is by advance reservation for a selected date and time. The Basque tourism authority lists free-visit hours as 09:30–15:00; guided tours are Saturdays at 11:00 (Spanish) and 12:30 (Basque), plus special dates. Validate the booking at the Santimamiñe–Oma information point. Check the live booking calendar and weather before going; storms and high winds close the forest.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-26
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
Location
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