The park of Armentia, commonly known as "El bosque de Armentia", is a gall-oak forest located between Vitoria-Gasteiz and the Mountains of Vitoria, in the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain. It has a surface area of 165 has and it is one of the main biological areas in the surroundings because it has a variety of flora and fauna. Biodiversity The Park of Armentia stands out due to the vast area of natural trees it includes, over 70% of the whole surface. This significant forest mass has been enlarged in the last 25 years, including a great variety of trees which broaden and enrich the park. Fauna The different environments that exist in the park are home to a rich and varied fauna including wild boars, squirrels, birds of prey and even about 30 species of small birds such as goldfinches, chaffinches, robins and great tits. Specially, birds are the most common residents of the forest, among many others, goshawks and falcons. Flora The forest of Armenia contains a number of different environments. There are areas of thick vegetation in which, in addition to gall oaks, there are maples, hawthorns, blackthorns and blackberry bushes, followed by areas of more scattered woodland with large clearings in some places, in which heather, badassi and juniper grow. Another thing worth mentioning is that many beginner biologists come and pick the leaves of the different trees, due to the large variety. The Artetxo sitting area contains a number of outstanding examples of mature gall oaks with a curious "candelabra-like" shape, a consequence of pruning done over a number of years for firewood. On the ridges beech, holly and rowan can be found and along the edges of the small streams that flow through the Park, maple, hazel and ash are very common too. Places of historical interest The village of Armentia was the most important religious centre in the Middle Ages. Since it was the see of the Bishop, the cathedral of Armentia was the only cathedral in the Basque Country until the 11th century. Armentia was placed at a strategic point at that time. On the one hand it stood on the route of the El Camino de Santiago and on the other hand, it stood on the Roman roads. Basilica of San Prudencio The Basilica of San Prudencio is a small church