Isuskiza

Isuskiza, often referred to as the « Abanico de Plentzia » (Plentzia Fan), is a hidden gem within the municipality of Plentzia. Historically, Mount Isuskiza played an essential role as communal land for the town, with its forest providing wood for the shipbuilding industry. This wood was transported down the Plentzia River, contributing to the region’s maritime heritage.

In modern times, Isuskiza has transitioned into a peaceful residential area, offering a calm and pleasant atmosphere. Visitors can still access this scenic area via traditional roads, or by more adventurous means such as kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) upstream along the estuary.

In the Middle Ages (around 1299, when Don Diego López de Haro founded the Town of Plentzia) Isuskiza was a forest that provided much of the wood needed for shipbuilding in the Plentzia shipyards. Before being planted on the hillsides, the oak sprouts were planted in tree nurseries, where they were given different shapes depending on which part of the ship they were needed for: curved for the ribs of the hull, stem and keel and straight parts for masts and rods. These sprouts were then transplanted in the hills to grow.

However, the Town was completely ruined by the end of the First Carlist War and saddled with an enormous debt that lasted for decades. This dramatic situation was solved by the sale of a large part of the communal lands.