Stone stairway
Along the islet.
Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eduardo Miranda — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Clementp.fr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fernando Lozano from Donostia/San Sebastián, Basque Country — CC BY-SA 2.0
Gaztelugatxe is a small rocky islet on the Bay of Biscay coast, belonging to the town of Bermeo in the Basque Country, northern Spain, about 24 km northeast of Bilbao in a straight line. A footbridge links it to the mainland. On top of the islet stands a small hermitage dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and finds show a building stood here as early as the 9th century. The present building dates from 1980, after a fire destroyed the earlier one. The Basque name probably means «rock castle» or «hard-to-reach castle». A long stone stairway of more than two hundred steps snakes up the islet's narrow back, over an arched stone bridge that crosses the sea between two rocks. Waves have carved arches and tunnels at its base, and it is ringed by deep blue water and green cliffs. Visitors walk down from the car park on the coast road in about half an hour, then climb the steps to the hermitage. The climb there and back is tiring, so bring water and comfortable shoes. A free advance booking is required in the busy season.
Along the islet.
Over the sea.
Below.
Near Bermeo, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
About an hour and a half there and back.
Yes in the busy season; it is free.