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practicalinfo BILBAO TURISMO www.bilbaoturismo.net BIZKAIA TURISMO www.visitbiscay.eus BASQUE COUNTRY TURISMO www.turismo.euskadi.eus/en NEKATUR/AGROTOURISM 943 327 090 · www.nekatur.net
MUSEUMS TXAKOLINGUNEA TXAKOLI WINEMAKING BAKIO www.bizkaikoa.bizkaia.eus/txakolingunea 94 602 85 13
efore you head off to the coast, there are a number of very interesting Txakoli wineries to visit while you enjoy other tourist attractions and leisure activities near Bilbao. For instance, you can head to Lezama, a town known for being home to Athletic Club of Bilbao's training complex. Near Gatika you’ll find Butrón Castle, a neogothic style castle dating back to the middle ages in a beautiful setting. On the way to Mungia you can visit Izenaduba Basoa, a historic Basque farmhouse also known as the home of the Olentzero (a mythological figure who, like Mari Domingi, is essential to Basque Christmas). Larrabetzu has a beautiful old quarter and three-Michelin-star cuisine at Eneko Atxa restaurant. In Zamudio, you’ll find a medieval tower in the Arteaga district. On the way to the coast, though still close to Bilbao, you’ll be able to stop at the Old Port of Algorta (Getxo), with its traditional fishermen’s homes and the elegant Ereaga beach surrounded by mansions and ending in a marina. In Berango, you can visit the Iron Belt History Museum. In Sopela, you’ll find beaches perfect for surfing. Barinatxe-La Salvaje has its own dune system. At Arriatera-Atxabiribil beach, you’ll find a number of bars with great locations for watching the sunset. Plentzia is a perfect place as it has an estuary, a great beach for family fun, and a marina. Gorliz offers a unique experience with wine tastings and underwater immersion at the world’s first underwater winery, Crusoe Treasure. Bizkaia’s longest beach is in Bakio (and it's perfect for surfing). This town is a major reference for T xakoli production, and you can learn the wine’s history at the Txakolingunea Txakoli Winemaking Museum.
Txakolingunea Txakoli Winemaking
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BIZKAIKO TXAKOLINA D.O. MENDIBILE Leioa www.mendibilejauregia.com
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On the way to Bermeo, you’ll arrive at San Juan Bakio de Gaztelugatxe, one of the most spectacular spots on the Basque coast. Climb 241 stairs to the hermitage, ring the bell three times, make a wish, and drive away evil spirits.
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After wandering around the market in Gernika (on Mondays),
In the valley, you can visit local cheese producers and taste one of their famous carranzana cheeses. If you have time, head to Lanestosa, which has a beautiful medieval quarter. You can learn more about the caves at the Rock Art Information Centre, Kobenkoba.
declared a World Her-
In Güeñes you’ll find Villa Urrutia, a home that now functions as the town hall, a silent witness to residents returning wealthy from the Americas. To enjoy an original experience with art in nature, you can visit ARENATZarte in Arenatza park, a botanic garden home unique trees and contemporary sculptures. If you’re visiting with the family, be sure to stop at Bizkaia Park Abentura (temporaly closed).
enjoying a plate of the town’s famous beans or peppers, and visiting the all of the
town’s
cultural
heritage sites, head to Kortezubi to discover the Oma forest (now closed) or the Santimamiñe
Cave,
itage Site by UNESCO in 2008 with almost 50 beautiful cave paintings and an information centre equipped with the latest exhibi-
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Then you’ll arrive in Balmaseda, with its incredibly beautiful old quarter presided over by the Viejo Bridge, the oldest testament to the town’s wall. Its Easter celebration puts on a Passion Play. The Boinas La Encartada Museum, a defunct factory that manufactured traditional txapela berets, will take you back to the end of the industrial revolution. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love to learn about the past and present of las Putxeras, a traditional bean stew prepared by the train operators of the Bilbao-La Robla line. The dish pairs perfectly with the town’s Balmaseda Txakoli.
toward Arteaga to visit Urdaibai Bird Centre, a living bird
cial and customs hub on the border with Castille, it has a rich civil
and nature museum, and Arteaga Castle, a neo-medieval
and religious heritage. Cyclists will love to ride through the Sierra
palace inspired by French Gothic style.
Salvada mountains.
If you’d like to go to the beach, you’ll find nothing better than
If you aren’t afraid of heights, we recommend climbing up to
Laida and Laga, a golden sand paradise surrounded by high
the Nervión viewpoint, where you can enjoy one of the most extraordinary views in the Basque Country: Salto del Nervión waterfall. The horsetail waterfall is almost 300 metres tall.
mountains. Here you can surf, kayak, stand-up paddle board, or canoe on the Urdaibai Estuary. You can also visit Elantxobe, a breathtaking town set between two cliffs. Have a rest by the tide pools at the port. You’ll pass through the small village of Ibarrangelu to get to Ea, a tiny and charming fishing village. Toward the interior in Muxika, there is a beautiful and modElantxobe
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ear Galdames, you can visit the El Pobal Forge, a restored traditional hydraulic forge dating back to the 13th-14th centuries.
n Bermeo town, visit the Fishing Museum to learn about seafaring people and enjoy the views of the cliffs and Izaro island from la Tala grove. Mundaka, an international surfing destination with the longest left-breaking wave in Europe, has the hermitage of Santa Catalina, with one of the best views of the coast.
The next stop is Sopuerta Abentura, a forest adventure park for the entire family.
In Busturia, in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, go and visit the Ekoetxea-Urdaibai Euskadi Biodiversity Centre.
Another great idea is stopping at Torre Loizaga antique and classic car museum. In a medieval tower, the museum houses a permanent exhibit of classic cars and has a special private collection of mint condition Rolls-Royces.
Gernika, an icon recognized around the world thanks to Picasso’s painting depicting the cruelty of the Spanish civil war. The town is now a symbol of peace. It contains the Meeting House and its famous tree, in addition to People of Europe Park,
Argiñeta Cemetery
Wineries to visit in this area ARRITXOLA WINERY, ETXERRIAGA WINERY, MENDRAKA WINERY
Santa Catalina Lighthouse
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hen you see the imposing Santa Catalina Lighthouse, which is an Information Centre on the world of lighthouses and navigation, you’ll have arrived in Lekeitio. This town boasts a colourful port with a wide array of bars and restaurants, a legendary island, and a majestic old quarter, notably containing the altarpiece of Saint Mary in the Basilica of Asunción. Ondarroa offers a great stroll through its old quarter with the Likona Tower and the Church of Andra Mari. It’s a great place to pair a delicious Txakoli from Bizkaia with seafood dishes like marmitako (tuna and potato stew), baby squid in ink sauce, roasted sea bream, hake à la ondarresa, etc.
Lekeitio
anyone who’d like to discover the world of this wine. Wineries to visit in this area BIZKAI BARNE WINERY, GURE AHALEGINAK WINERY, UGABE WINERY
Urkiola
Wineries to visit in this area AMUNATEGI WINERY, BERROJA WINERY, ITSASMENDI WINERY, HASIBERRIAK WINERY
Urkiola Natural Park
On the interior, you’ll find Markina-Xemein, a town on the Northern Way of St. James. Its renaissance and baroque palaces demonstrate its glittering past. Four kilometres away, you’ll find the Collegiate Church of Ziortza also known as the Zenarruza Monastery. It’s an important historic and artistic monument on the Primitive Northern Way of St. James with a notable Zenarruza Monastery plateresque cloister, the only one in Bizkaia. Winery to visit in this area AXPE WINERY
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urango is a town set in a picturesque natural environment. In the centre, you can discover emblematic elements and buildings such as the Cross of Kurutziaga and the Basilica of Santa María de Uribarri. Its Basque Book and Music Fair, which is held in December, is the Basque Country’s most important cultural fair.
Gorbeia Natural Park AND SALTO DEL NERVIÓN WATERFALL
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Don Tello Gate, Tola Palace, and the ruins of the medieval wall. On the outskirts of town lies Argiñeta Cemetery, one of the most important funerary monuments in the Basque Country.
From there, you can head to Orozko. As you savour a few glasses of Txakoli, wander its streets and discover the Church of Orozko San Bartolomé de Olarte, the Anunzibai bridge, and the Legorburu Mansion, home to the Ethnography Museum.
ern Txakoli winery perfect for
GALDAMES WINERY, MARKOLETA WINERY, TXABARRI WINERY, ULIBARRI WINERY, VIRGEN DE LOREA WINERY
URDAIBAI
Once you’re back in Bizkaia, you’ll enter Orduña, the only settlement in Bizkaia with the title of city. Once an important commer-
To the right you’ll find Gordexola. The iron industry was quite important in this town. Its forges were active until the mid 20th century.
Pozalagua Cave
If you head in the direction of the territory of Araba/Álava, you can visit Ayala Valley, to discover the towns of Artziniega, a small medieval town, notably including the Artziniega Tower and the Ethnography Museum, and Quejana, with the monumental ensemble of the same name comprising a fortified palace, church, Dominican Convent, and the Virgen del Cabello Chapel Tower. In Amurrio, you’ll find Aresketamendi, the renewable energy park. It’s an outdoor space where you can try and compare the way different devices work with different energy sources, teaching guests about the energy principles at Orduña the heart of sustainable development. It’s perfect for the whole family.
Next, you’ll head back
If you go to Zalla, you’ll find a town with a history tied to border disputes and old forges. To take in the outdoors, head to the Bolumburu recreation area. The Abellaneda Meeting House was where the councils of the region would make decisions on shared issues. Today it is the Encartaciones Museum (Sopuerta).
Gernika Meeting House
tion technology.
Wineries to visit in this area
Take an average-sized glass, fill it one-third full, so you can swirl it and handle it easily, and take a look at the colour. Since it is a young white wine, you’ll see that the colour is somewhere along the following lines: pale yellow, pale greenish yellow, greenish yellow, straw yellow. The brightness and transparency are further features to notice.
Take a sip and move a small amount of wine around your mouth. You’ll notice sweetness on the tip of your tongue coming from the sugars and alcohol. Sour flavours add freshness and are felt on the sides of the tongue. These flavours come from the acids in the wine. Salty flavours are felt on the edges and are caused by the mineral salts and organic acids of the Hondarrabi Zuri grape. Bitterness is detected on the central part of the front of the tongue.
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From there, stop at the Pozalagua Caves, recognized as the Best Corner of Spain with the largest concentration of Loizaga Tower eccentric stalactites in the world. In mid-July, next to the caves, the natural auditorium of the old Pozalagua quarry hosts an outdoor music festival.
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the Peace Foundation Museum, the Basque Country Museum, and the Church of Santa María.
ABIO WINERY, BUTROI WINERY, ERDIKOETXE WINERY, GARKALDE WINERY, GORKA IZAGIRRE WINERY, GORRONDONA WINERY, MAGALARTE LEZAMA WINERY, MAGALARTE ZAMUDIO WINERY, URIARTE WINERY, ZABALA - BASIGO WINERY
Measure the aromatic intensity by bringing the wine to your nose. Swirl the glass to aerate the wine, noting any changes to the aromas you noticed before. The aromas given off by Txakoli can be: white fruit aromas: apple, pear; citrus aromas: lemon, grapefruit, orange; herbaceous aromas: fennel, cut grass, fresh grass; exotic fruit aromas: pineapple, banana, and lychee; floral aromas: hawthorn, acacia, linden, and honey.
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Before you get to Karrantza, you should visit Karpin Abentura, a wild animal shelter with dinosaur reproductions.
Wineries to visit in this area
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San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
URIBE
A Wine with Basque Identity
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f you like mountains, there’s nothing finer than heading to Artea, on the foothills of Mount Gorbeia, Bizkaia’s tallest mountain (1,482 m) and the namesake of the Natural Park. If you like history, in this town you’ll find the Basque Hamlet Ecomuseum. Gorbeia Natural Park spans over 20,000 hectares between Araba/Álava and Bizkaia and is the largest nature reserve in the Basque Country. You can spend some time at the spa in the Areatza Hotel and Spa or visit a local cheese producer and taste an Idiazabal D.O. cheese, made with indigenous latxa sheep’s milk.
We recommend visiting Urkiola Natural Park. The beeches, birches, and oaks as well as a rich variety of flora and fauna await. On a hillside, you’ll find the Sanctuary of Santos Antonios (Abad and Padua) In front of it, there is a stone that, according to popular belief, is a meteorite with special powers; if you’re looking to find a romantic partner, walk around it three times. Next, you’ll head to Elorrio making a stop in Atxondo if you’d like to take a relaxing stroll along the Arrazola Green Durango Route to the foothills of Mount Anboto. Another recommended activity is climbing up to Betsaide, the exact point where the three territories of the Basque Country (Araba/Álava, Gipuzkoa, and Bizkaia) meet. Once you’ve reached Elorrio, let yourself fall in love with its historic sites, palaces, stone manors with exquisite masonry, the Monastery of Santa Ana, the Basilica of Purísima Concepción,
BILBAO TURISMO Plaza Circular, 1 Edificio Terminus 944 795 760 bilbaoturismo.net visitbiscay.eus