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San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Gibelorratzagako San Pelaio Auzoa, Bakio, Euskadi

Description

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a hermitage dating from the 10th century standing on a rock connected to the mainland cliffs by a spectacular man-made stone bridge and about 230 steps. It has a long history due to its strategic location and has been attacked several times. Of late, it has come to the attention of the international public for featuring is a fantasy series (GoT).

Access & Transport

The hermitage is located about 40mins north-east of Bilbao by car, the car park is between the towns of Bakio and Bermeo but these can be full so it might be better to park in one of those towns and rely on public bus shuttles. From Bermeo, check: https://www.bizibermeo.eus/inicio-en There are two routes, the shortest is 1.2km and the longer one (Ermu) is 1.6km.

Instructions & Recommendations

The visit is free, but a ticket is nonetheless required. An audioguide is available online: https://audiogaztelugatxe.bizkaia.eus/#/ Please double check the weather forecast, in case of strong winds and/or heavy rain the access can be closed. And wear shoes with good grip.

Meta review

The site nowadays regularly appears in regional travel guides and even magazines, surely a direct consequence of it having been featured in the TV series Game of Thrones. With that increased popularity comes an increase in the number of visitors and there are regular complaints from tourists who have not sought or found the information and turned up but were unable to access the hermitage or even get a view of the staircase leading up to it. That being said, the online comments are incredibly positive, describing the place as 'magic' - surely some subconscious influence from the series. 'Breath-taking' is another adjective being user regularly and, probably, more suitably. Recurring advice to wear comfortable shoes.

Environmental & Social

Limited infrastructure so we deem this activity environmentally neutral. Preserves the region's architectural heritage and tourism has some positive economic impact on surrounding towns and villages.

Conclusion

The scenery of Gaztelugatxe and walk to the San Juan hermitage is quite the experience so if you are somewhere between Bilbao or San Sebastian and the weather is fair, we strongly recommend to include a visit in your itinerary - make sure to book online ahead of time (even if there is no admission fee).

Key positive

Spectacular setting

Interesting history

Key negative

Can be busy

Suitability

Not accessible for visitors with reduced mobility due to the uneven path and the stairs.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last access is around 17h00-17h45 depending on the time of the year.

av. transport time:0h 45m

est. visit time:2h

Regulated hours

Monday10:00 - 19:00

Tuesday10:00 - 19:00

Wednesday10:00 - 19:00

Thursday10:00 - 19:00

Friday10:00 - 19:00

Saturday10:00 - 19:00

Sunday10:00 - 19:00

Pricing
Free

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