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Surroundings |
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This area offers
a wide range of possibilities to visit places of interest.
El The
Nature Park of Urdaibai, declared a Biosphere Reserve
by UNESCO, is undoubtedly the main tourist attraction.
Here you can enjoy nature, rural scenery, beaches and
prehistoric sites.
From here, it is easy to visit the villages of the different
areas of Bizkaia, such as Lea-Artibai and Busturialdea.
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| PLACES OF INTEREST |
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| GERNIKA |
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| Founded in the 14C
and razed to the ground during the Civil War by a squadron
of German planes acting under instructions from General
Franco, Gernika has now become a prosperous and lively
town. During your visit, you can encounter lively markets
selling products from the Basque farms and houses: Cheese,
txakoli white wine, vegetables,.. and above all, remember
to visit the Casa de Juntas and the famous oak tree
where people have come to swear their respect for the
laws of Bizkaia since the Middle Ages. Today, an oak
planted in 1979 grows next to the old tree trunk. You
can also visit the nearby Parque de la Paz or Park of
Peace, with sculptures by Chillida and Henry Moore. |
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| BERMEO |
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| Bermeo, hemmed in
by the sea, is one of the principal seafaring towns
of Bizkaia. Its fishing port and old quarters are unique.
The entire history of Bermeo is closely related to fishing,
as indicated by the whale on the town's coat of arms.
The medieval old-quarters is a mass of narrow streets
and buildings, sloping up from the port.
Opposite the coast of Bermeo, lies the long and cetacean-shaped
island of Izaro. |
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| MUNDAKA |
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is well worth visiting this marine port that is located
in the very mouth of the famous Mundaka Ria and which
appears to have come straight out of a storybook. Many
different coloured boats are moored in the shelter of
a peaceful group of piers, whilst the fishermen share
this scene with surfers who have come from many different
places to enjoy the long waves found at Mundaka. |
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| ELANTXOBE |
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| Elantxobe,
sheltered by the impressive rocky mass of the Ogoņo
point, stretches down the steep hill slope to the small
fishing port. The houses are built in steps up the slope
and appear to be leaning one against the other, giving
the village a special charm and originality that has
inspired numerous painters and photographers. One recommendation
to the visitor: Remember your camera!. You can get your
strength back at one of the local bars. |
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| EA |
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| This
lovely locality extends along both banks of a little
river and has some very unusual bridges. Its port makes
full use of its location on the river mouth. The square
tower of the renaissance church of San Juan Bautista
stands out above the rooftops. Houses line both banks
of the river, which ends as a beach. An ancient, narrow
bridge adorns the river, lending particular charm to
its course. |
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| CABO OGOŅO |
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| Ogoņo rises up between
the Laga beach and the town of Elantxobe. It is located
along the coastal road from Gautegiz-Arteaga to Ibarragenlu
(BI-3234).
It is an impressive steep-walled, limestone mass separating
Laga and Elantxobe. This geological accident is an exceptional
example of the differential erosion that is taking place
along the coast, with the formation of headlands and
cliffs. |
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| LAIDA and LAGA |
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beautiful sandy beaches stretch between the Cabo Ogoņo
and the Mundaka Ría, and offer views of the island of
Izaro. This great crag is the scene of a festival which,
as the story goes, is to relive the old dispute between
Mundaka and Bermeo over the ownership of the Island.
To resolve that territorial disagreement, both towns
held a boat race and agreed that the ownership of the
island would go to the first to reach Izaro. Bermeo
won and, since then, a festival has been held every
year at the end of July to celebrate. |
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| SAN JUAN DE GAZTELUGATXE |
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| On the coast of
Bakio, on a rocky headland jutting out into the sea,
there stands an ancient sanctuary reached by a stairway
with more than 200 steps that have been hewn out of
the rock itself. It has one of the most fantastic profiles
of the whole of the Cantabrian coast and may be contemplated
from different points along the coast. We would advise
you to view it from the area around the Eneperi restaurant.
This restaurant also houses a beautiful ethnographic
collection of the Basque Country. |
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| SANTIMAMIŅE CAVES |
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| On the way to Laida
we pass through the beautiful water meadow of Kortezubi.
There is a sign showing the turning to the Santimamiņe
caves. These caves were discovered and excavated in
1916. There is a large chamber of paintings of a quality
similar to those found at Altamira.
At present the caves are closed to the public to protect
them from deterioration. All the same, the cavern is
well worth a visit (free) From Monday to Friday, from
10 to 18 hours. 15 persons are admitted every hour during
opening times.
From here, we can enter the enchanted
wood of Oma, decorated with trees painted by the sculptor
Agustin Ibarrola; And the Basondo Nature Centre. |
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| LEKEITIO |
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| It is
not by chance that this is one of the most popular villages
along the Biscay coast. It has a lovely port, a lively
atmosphere with marine bars and restaurants and its
long tradition of whale hunting is even present in the
coat of arms which shows fishermen catching a whale
with a harpoon. Moreover, it still preserves the remains
of one of its three walled areas, some palaces, an 18C
Town Council and a beautiful Gothic church. Remember
to look at the elegant bandstand and, if you have time,
visit the Santa Catalina lighthouse which offers some
wonderful views of the Ria. |
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| © 2007 XXI . |
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