Bermeo: Fishing Port, Lighthouses and Gaztelugatxe

Bermeo is located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which extends across Bermeo and 22 other municipalities.

Urdaibai therefore extends beyond the city limits and provides the scenic setting for the places and paths around Bermeo.

Culture

In the Church of Santa Eufemia, the Lords of Bizkaia swore the Fueros. The Church of Santa María is considered one of the most significant works of neoclassical architecture in Bizkaia. The San Francisco Monastery in Bermeo is regarded as the oldest monastery in Bizkaia; it was built on 30 January 1357.

Portuzarra, Bermeo's Old Port, is the town's traditional fishing port. The fishermen's houses in this port preserve their medieval layout and medieval structure.

The Arrantzaleen Museoa is devoted comprehensively to the life, work and techniques of fishermen. An appointment must be made in advance for a guided tour of the Arrantzaleen Museoa. Visitors can discover the world of fishing in Bermeo. This includes the process of a fish auction, mending nets, different fishing seasons and tasting preserved fish.

The museum thus combines historical working environments with illustrative topics from everyday life as a fisherman: in addition to fish auctions and fishing seasons, the areas mentioned also include handmade nets and preserved fish.

Lighthouses

There are two lighthouses at Cape Matxitxako. The old Matxitxako Lighthouse was inaugurated in 1852 and operated until 1909. Cape Matxitxako is used for observing seabirds and marine mammals.

The lighthouses and the observation of seabirds and marine mammals are located at the same cape, while the old lighthouse marks its own historical period through its inauguration in 1852 and operation until 1909.

The Matxitxako Lighthouse can be reached from Bermeo via the BI 3101 road. The car is parked near the gas facility. From there, a descending path leads to the lighthouse. The return journey requires a significantly steep ascent.

The route described therefore includes the BI 3101 road, the parking point near the gas facility, the descending path and the significantly steep ascent on the return journey.

Nature

Akatx Island, also known as Aketx, is a habitat of the European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus.

The ascent to the summit of Gaztelugatxe involves climbing 241 steps. A free ticket is required to visit Gaztelugatxe during the high season. This also applies on weekends, public holidays and extended weekends in the mid-season.

The figure of 241 steps describes the ascent to the summit. In addition to the high season, the ticket rule also applies on weekends, public holidays and extended weekends in the mid-season.

Activities

Bermeo has three mountain bike circuits with different levels of difficulty. The circuits run through coastal areas and to Cape Matxitxako, as well as through the more mountainous landscapes of the Sollube massif.

The mountain bike routes mentioned thus extend from coastal areas and Cape Matxitxako to the more mountainous landscapes of the Sollube massif; their levels of difficulty vary.

The wine and fish route known as GR38 ends in Bermeo on the Cantabrian Sea. The boat trip from Bermeo takes one hour; the timetables should be consulted.

In its name, GR38 combines wine and fish and leads to its endpoint in Bermeo on the Cantabrian Sea. The relevant timetables should be consulted for the one-hour boat trip from Bermeo.

Other places: Zelaia, Arrigorriaga, Bakio, Sopelana, Mallabia, Elantxobe, Zubialde, Ondarroa

To the overarching travel overview: Bizkaia.