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Elantxobe

The charm of a genuine and unique fishing town. This is what Elantxobe is like. It is built on a hillside that looks to the sea, protected from Cabo Ogoño, with staggered buildings and steep narrow streets that take you to the port.

Elantxobe has its origin in a small core of fishermen that existed in the early 16th century and became bigger with people from neighbouring towns. But it was not until 1833 when it split from the municipality of Ibarrangelua.

The architectural singularity of Elantxobe means that the town is split into two zones: the high part and the low part. In the LOW PART, on the only flat part of town, is San Nicolás de Bari Church, surrounded by fishermen’s houses. If you go for a stroll through its alleyways, you can enjoy several viewpoints towards the port and the open sea. You really must look out from some of them to fully enjoy this town’s special charm (if you have a good view on clear days, you can make out the coast of Gipuzkoa). This zone is also home to the famous turntable platform of Elantxobe. If you want to see it in operation, check the bus timetable.

What stands out in Elantxobe are the Neoclassical buildings on Calle Mayor, which connects both of the town’s zones. Known among inhabitants as the road, it maintains its old cobble stones and is flanked by sandstone walls on which numerous plants grow.

All the houses rise and face the port and, some outstanding ones include the Town Hall and Nagusia House Tower.

In the LOW PART, you will find the port and the main leisure and bar zone. An ideal place to enjoy the majesty of the Cantabrian Sea and its sound.

Festivals

The town’s main festivals are the San Pedro Festival held on 29th June and the San Nicolás de Bari Festival on 6th December.

While it is not strictly speaking an Elantxobe festival, the 22nd July is when the Madalena Festival is celebrated, which is shared with Mundaka and Bermeo and is where Bermeo’s ownership of Izaro Island is confirmed. This history includes a regatta between two towns over the ownership of the island and a third party, Elantxobe, which was the arbitrator.

www.elantxobe.eu

TO ENJOY THE VIEW

Seasonal fish is the speciality of its restaurants. If you can, try the traditional txipirones.

Parking is free, both in the high zone and in the port. But you can also come by bus, which will drop you off in the high part of town, where you can see the turntable platform working.

IF YOU COME BY CAR

Elantxobe has two approach roads that fork at its entrance. One goes as far as the port and the other as far as the lookout, some 266 ft above port level.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

– LINE A3513 (Bilbao-Hospital Galdakao-Gernika-Lekeitio)

– LINE A3513 (Lekeitio-Gernika-Hospital Galdakao-Bilbo)

– LINE A3513 (Gernika-Laida-Laga-Ibarrangelu) ofrece servicio de autobús en el municipio de junio a septiembre.

IF YOU COME BY SEA

Location: l= 43-24.2 N L= 02-38.4 W

Tidal range: 14.7 ft

Entry mouth:

Width: 39.3 ft
Draught: 8.2 ft
Orientation: NW

DISTANCES

29.8 miles from Loiu Airport
29.8 miles from Bilbao
9.3 miles from Guernica
64 miles from Donostia
47.8 miles from Vitoria-Gasteiz
93.2 miles from Biarritz

PLACES OF INTEREST

San Nicolás de Bari Church Lookout Viewpoint Turntable platform Port Paseo a Ogoño

San Nicolás de Bari Church

It was created by the Guild of Fishermen in 1803 with the purpose of protecting fishermen who fished in its waters. It is in the high part of town, on one of the scant flat areas that Elantxobe has. The simplicity of the architectural complex, imposed by the guild’s financial limitations, is maintained in its furniture.

The most interesting feature, due to its quality, is the Baroque, gold wooden main altarpiece. Also of great beauty and quality is the door of the ambry. The wall supporting the bell tower was covered by a side wall to make a fronton.

On the side walls of the main altarpiece are two images on stands of San Antonio de Padua and San Diego de Alcalá, from the Franciscan convent on Izaro Island that no longer exists.

Lookout Viewpoint

Viewpoint that you will find half way between the high part and the port. Don’t forget your camera because you’ll want to immortalise this wonderful panoramic view. From the viewpoint a simple trail takes you to the port.

Turntable platform

Ingenious and simple mechanism that solves the problem of buses turning. Big solutions for big problems! This is what happened in Elantxobe, because this turntable platform, built in 1991, makes the day-to-day lives of the town’s inhabitants easier by enabling the bus to go as far as the port, and has also become an improvised tourist resource. If you want to see it working, come to Elantxobe by bus or check the timetable!

Port

It is open to the sea and while in recent years its fishing and txalupas boats have been replace with recreational boats, it is still a fishing port. It is an ideal place to stroll by the sea, listen to the wild Cantabrian Sea and look up at the amazing and unique staggered layout of the town. You can enjoy a pleasant environment at the port’s hostel establishment with delicious pintxos that you will love. In summer, everything becomes busier and it is usual to see locals enjoying the sun, laying on their hammocks or on the concrete part of the quay, and taking a dip.

Passage to Ogoño

A 1-mile tour that connects two outstanding points of Urdaibai, Elantxobe Port and Ogoño Cape. Classified as cultural ecological hiking, you will enjoy the Cantabrian holm oak, exceptional views and the satisfaction of completing a walk that includes a significant slope.