Bermeo

Bermeo is a coastal municipality in Biscay, located at the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. For several centuries it was the main town of the Lordship of Biscay, and its historic quarter — one of the oldest in the Basque Country — preserves that legacy: medieval streets, the 15th-century Torre Ercilla, the cloister and church of San Francisco (the oldest Franciscan convent in Biscay), the church of Santa Eufemia, listed as a Historic Artistic Monument, and the gateways of the old town wall.

The old harbour, known as Portuzarra, is the soul of the town. Its colourful fishermen's houses retain their medieval layout and today host terraces where visitors can enjoy local seafood cuisine. The Fishermen's Museum, housed in the Torre Ercilla, rounds out the story of Bermeo's maritime identity.

The natural surroundings add another dimension to the destination. The watchtower, Cape Matxitxako, the island of Izaro and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe — one of the iconic landmarks of the Basque coastline — define a coastal landscape of remarkable value. Bermeo is also a stopping point on the Coastal Way of Saint James.