San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located in the Biscayan town of Bermeo, in the Basque Country. It is one of those places that stands out with its imposing natural beauty, a place that seems epic and timeless. It is so epic that it has been chosen to represent the Castle of Dragonstone in the famous 'Game of Thrones' series. But beyond the fashion series, this place was already a tourist enclave that we could not miss when visiting the Basque Country.
In this post we will see how to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, which will also be increasingly traveled due to the fame that the series has brought him. We will know a little more about what we can see in this great rock and in its surroundings, so that the visit is very complete.
How to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe can be reached from Bermeo, on the Bermeo and Baquio road, the BI-631. This route is short, about 9 kilometers, although it is a secondary road, so it takes about twenty minutes. The closest city is Bilbao, if we want to arrive by plane, and then go to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. There are buses or we can take the same road, the BI-631, if we go by car.
When it comes to parking there are different tips, since normally you can park near the bridge, but sometimes they do not leave, so you have to park further away, like a kilometer. Anyway, the walk can be done by anyone and it is certainly worth it. When visiting the place we also have to take into account the fact that in summer the place is quite busy and it gets a little more oppressive than in fall or spring. Winter is not a good time either because of the bad weather on the coast.
Visiting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an island that is linked to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge with stone arches that offers a walkway That leads to the hermitage of the island, yes, after climbing more than 200 steps. Those who are not in such good shape can simply take it easy, since it is common to stop to admire the beautiful surrounding landscape. When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you can put your foot on the supposed footprint that Saint John the Baptist left there. When you reach the top, you will find the hermitage dedicated to the Degollación de San Juan, which dates back to before the XNUMXth century. Tradition indicates that when you reach the top you have to ring the bell three times and make a wish. Without a doubt it is a historical place full of stories and traditions.
Dragonstone in the Basque Country
If you are a fan of the 'Game of Thrones' series, this place will surely sound familiar to you, despite the computer editing. Several places in the Basque Country were chosen to shoot in season seven and represent Dragonstone. One of these places is the Zumaia beach, also on the Basque coast, and another is the islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, which represents the place where the castle is, merging in the series with the beach area, which is it assumes that they are together and that is where Daenerys arrives in the last season. Today it is another reason to visit this area of the Basque Country, not only for its beauty and tradition, but also because it is a place where the cult series of the moment was filmed. Fans of the series, who are not few, will enjoy reliving the scenes of the series.
Nearby visits
Although this enclave is far from everything, the truth is that by car we can reach several points of interest in a short time. TO only 35 kilometers is the city of Bilbao. In this city we can enjoy the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Plaza Nueva or the Old Town of the city. It is the ideal place to stay, since we will have a great offer. On the other hand, we can go to Bermeo, which is only about 10 kilometers from San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This coastal town is quiet and very beautiful, in addition to being close to the famous Mundaca beach and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a natural reserve and estuary that is another landscape to add to our trip.
Fans of 'Game of Thrones' who have come to the Basque Country will not be able to miss another visit. We refer to the Zumaya beach, where the other area of Dragonstone was filmed. The trip to see the settings of this world famous series is thus completed. In addition, this beach is another landscape of great beauty, with a rocky landscape that leaves no one indifferent.