Elorrio, what to see and do.

Elorrio, what to see and do in one of the most beautiful towns in Bizkaia.

Elorrio, a small town of less than 8,000 inhabitants located in the region of Durangaldea, is one of the most beautiful towns in Bizkaia and Euskadi. An urban nucleus, that, located in the muga (border in Basque) between Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Araba offers us the possibility of discovering one of the most important and imposing historical centers of all Euskal Herria. A small pedestrian streets, which has a large number of corners to discover. Magical spaces that will transport us to another era. Among all of them, it is worth mentioning the necropolis of Argiñeta, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or the Portal del Campo. A list to which we must add other aspects such as gastronomy or culture. As you can see, Elorrio is one of those urban centers that in a small space offers visitors a huge amount of attractions to enjoy.As we have mentioned, Elorrio has a unique medieval heritage in Bizkaia and Euskadi. Its historic quarter was declared a Historic-Artistic Monumental Site in 1964, the first to be recognized in the entire Historic Territory of Bizkaia. A brief stroll through its streets and squares makes it clear why this decision was made. The more than 50 palaces, tower houses, ancestral homes, emblazoned houses and other buildings of historical character that we find on our way makes everyone who visits the town of Elorrio fall in love with it. Do you dare to visit Elorrio with us?

The Gernikako Arbola Square, the town hall, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Zumelegi River create an epic space. A corner, which, located in the heart of the town, represents one of the meeting places of Elorrio. Very close to here, just 300 meters away, stands the Don Tello gate, one of the 2 gates that are still standing of the 6 that were part of the ancient wall that protected the town.

Elorrio has a beautiful and varied range of places to see and enjoy. Don’t be fooled by the size of its urban center. Here are some examples. If you have any questions, we recommend you to use the comment system that you will find at the end of this article, we will try to answer as soon as possible.

House of San Valentín de Berrio – Otxoa.

Valentín Faustino de Berrio Otxoa y Aristi (Elorrio 1827 – Hải Dương, Vietnam, 1861), was a Basque missionary who spread the Christian faith in the Philippines and Vietnam. It was in his last destination, in Vietnam, where persecuted for his faith, he was beheaded on November 1, 1861. Valentin de Berrio – Otxoa (Balendin in Basque) was beatified and canonized. His remains rest today in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in his native Elorrio. And it is here, next to the mausoleum, where you can contemplate the letters in Basque that he wrote to his mistress (mother in Basque). These letters have been studied by experts to know the particularities of the Basque language of Elorrio at that time. Objects of great value for the Basque culture.Patron saint of Elorrio and co-patron saint of Bizkaia, San Valentín de Berrio – Otxoa, has in Elorrio a historical tourist route that takes you through the different places where he lived during his time in Elorrio. The current tourist office of Elorrio, a baroque palace from the 17th century, was the birthplace of this Basque religious man. Nearby is another of the buildings in which he lived with his family. On the façade of the latter house one can read “Etxe honetan bizi izan zan Berrio-Otxoatar Balendin deuna Bizkaiko zaindaria”, which, translated, reads as follows: “In this house lived Saint Valentine of Berrio Otxoa, patron saint of Bizkaia”. We also believe it is important to point out that Saint Valentin Berrio-Otxoa loved Basque pelota, pelota a mano, eskupilota in Basque. A rural Basque sport that has a large number of fans inside and outside Euskal Herria.

Errebonbilloak.

The first Sunday of October is celebrated in Elorrio one of the most famous and curious festivities of the town, Errebonbilloak. According to experts, this festival is documented since 1575, 4 years after the battle of Lepanto. A historical fact closely linked to this celebration. And it seems that the parade that runs through the streets of Elorrio every first Sunday of October, pays tribute to those young men from Elorrio who, after fighting in the battle, returned home celebrating their arrival with gunshots in the air from the port of Kanpazar. The return of these brave men coincided with the procession of the Virgin of the Rosary, which is why during this celebration artillery salvos are fired as the image of the Virgin passes by. As you can see, this military display made up of a dozen young men, reminds us of those Errebonbillos who returned home. Curious, isn’t it?

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the largest in Bizkaia, began to be built in 1464 but it was not until 2 centuries later when it opened its doors to its parishioners. Its interior has furniture of great value among which is the altar mausoleum built in 1906 in honor of San Valentin de Berrio Otxoa. His remains rest today in the central urn of this altar. As a curiosity we must indicate that the bell tower of the basilica of Elorrio is a replica of the Giralda of Seville.

Guided tour to learn about the daily life of a Basque farmhouse.

Near the necropolis of Argiñeta, we find the Zenitaldekoa farmhouse in Elorrio. A place where Itziar, Markel and Berenice show us their daily life. A perfect experience for the whole family. In case you are interested in this activity, we encourage you to read the article we dedicated to it:“Belaze, guided tour to know the daily life of a Basque farmhouse“. You can also book your place from here.

Berriozabaleta Fountain.

The Berriozabaleta fountain, also known as the fountain of love, is the work of Manuel Placido de Berriozabalbeitia. A member of the high society of the time and ombudsman of the king in Peru, Manuel ordered the construction of the Berriozabaleta fountain upon his arrival from America. In addition to the beauty of the fountain and the washing place that we find in the neighborhood of Berriozabaleta, we must emphasize the great natural value of the environment in which they are located. The Berriozabaleta fountain offers an impressive perspective of the mountains of the Urkiola Natural Park.

Old baths of Elorrio.

Due to the numerous springs found throughout the length and breadth of Elorrio, health establishments had a large presence in this part of the Basque Country. One of the centers that exploited these waters for sanitary purposes was the Baños Viejos spa. This establishment was built in 1826 and became one of the most popular spas in Bizkaia. According to what we are told, its waters were known to be effective against respiratory and dermatological diseases. Today, what was once one of the most important spas in Bizkaia, has been converted into an educational center.

Church of San Agustín de Etxebarria.

The church of San Agustín de Etxebarria was built in 1053 in a rural setting by the Counts of Tabira. At the end of the 15th century it was renovated and enlarged, and currently has one of the most significant altarpieces of its kind in Bizkaia. The bodies of its creators rest in the chapel that we find on the outside. We must remember that the church as well as the curial house that we find next to it was declared Historical – Artistic Monumental Complex.

Wall of Elorrio.

As we have already mentioned, in the Middle Ages Elorrio had the presence of a defensive wall. At the beginning, this defensive wall was built with wood, but with the passing of time it was modified by a stone one, a more stable and safer barrier. Unfortunately, today only 2 of the 6 gates of this wall are still standing. The first of them, the Portal de Tello, also known as the Portal del Campo. The second is found next to the river, in the canton of Elvira Iñurrieta. We must also remember that in the same space where today we find the monument with 3 arches on Arriola Street, there was another of the 6 gates, the Puerta del Rosario.

Santa Ana Convent.

As we have already indicated, the Santa Ana Convent was of vital importance in the life of San Valentín de Berrio Otxoa. And it is here, where he took the path of the Christian faith during the 5 years he was serving as an altar boy. This convent built in 1699 had a church, a convent, study rooms and a chaplain’s house. Today it houses the Berrio Otxoa Museum on the first floor. The garden of this space has a sculpture of St. Valentine of Berrio Otxoa created by Alberto Foraster in 1991. The convent is currently managed by Dominican cloistered nuns, true specialists in confectionery.

Berrio Otxoa Museum.

As we have mentioned, the museum dedicated to Berrio Otxoa is located on the first floor of the convent of Santa Ana. A space, which opened in 2003, has a nice collection of objects related to San Valentin de Berrio – Otxoa.

Puerta del Campo or Portal Don Tello.

In Elorrio are still standing 2 of the 6 gates of the old walled town. But undoubtedly the so-called Puerta del Campo or Portal de Tello is the most famous and important. Over this gate we find the coat of arms of the Catholic kings and next to it the palace of Arespakotxaga, a must-see place in Elorrio.

Elorrio Cruises.

The crosses that we find scattered throughout the town (9 in total) and the figure of San Valentin de Berrio Otxoa give us to know the importance that religion had in the town of Elorrio. For all those people who do not know what the crucifixes are, we must indicate that they are religious monuments that are normally located at crossroads, in public spaces. These structures are usually built in stone and usually have a large main pillar on which rests the cross, the most important element. All of Elorrio’s crosses have been restored between 2009 and 2016, creating a beautiful route to follow. The crosses that are currently still standing in Elorrio are those of Kurutziaga, Santa Ana, Kurutzebarri, Ganando, Santa Elena, Iguria, San Juan, Txanberi and Kurutzondo.

Iron Belt.

The Iron Belt, the strategic defensive line that protected a large part of Bizkaia and its capital, Bilbao, had a special and unpleasant protagonist: Alejandro Goikoetxea Omar. This man from El Salvador designed the Iron Belt (the defensive barrier that protected Greater Bilbao during the Civil War), to later reveal to Franco’s troops the weak points, maps and characteristics of this fortified defense. That is why in many parts of Euskadi Alejandro Goikoetxea, born in 1895 in Elorrio, is known as the traitor of the Iron Belt. Years later, this Basque engineer was instrumental in the design and construction of the Talgo (Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea-Oriol). A transport that, even today, is still active.

Iturrizoro, the Crazy Fountain.

The town square (Herriko Plaza in Basque), has a very curious fountain. Its name alone (Iturrizoro, “crazy fountain” in Basque) gives us food for thought. This fountain, more than 250 years old, located in front of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the statue of Errebonbillo, was of great importance in the years when there was no running water in Elorrio. It is said that every person and animal that drank from this fountain went crazy, hence its name.

Necropolis of Argiñeta.

The necropolis of Argiñeta accumulates so much history inside that it is mandatory to create an exclusive section to talk about each of its facets. This necropolis located in the Zenita neighborhood is undoubtedly one of the great attractions of Elorrio. Argiñeta has a large number of stelae and sarcophagi dating from the 7th century to the early Middle Ages. A fact that makes Arguiñeta one of the most important sites in the Basque Country in this field. Walking among stelae and tombs, makes our mind travel to the Pyrenees of Navarre, to the Museum of the stelae of Abaurrea Alta, a space where they know very well this type of ancestral structures. Next to this space, we find the hermitage of San Adrián, a religious building from the 16th century that makes this place even more special.

Route of the palaces of Elorrio.

Elorrio is one of the towns with more palaces of all Euskadi. Moreover, there is a specific route to know this type of buildings. We encourage you to discover these architectural and historical jewels from the fun. To do this, we encourage you to take a map at the tourist office of the town and go crossing out each of the palaces that appear on the list, we are sure that you will hallucinate with each of them. Here are some examples:

These are just some of the palaces that can be found in the town of Elorrio, in case you want to know in detail each of these historic buildings, we recommend you to go to the tourist office to provide you with a map in which all of them are identified.

Coat of arms of Elorrio.

Elorrio is the town with the most coats of arms in all of Bizkaia. A fact, which is linked to the number of palaces, towers and other historic buildings found in the town. The tourist office of Elorrio has cataloged 69 coats of arms of which 28 are in the historic center itself. Another nice excuse to walk through its streets and squares.

Routes in Elorrio.

The great natural and historical heritage of this town in Bizkaia means that there are several routes that, starting from the town center, take us to really authentic places. An example of this is the route to Besaide or the family route Trenbidearen naturbidea, the latter follows the route of the old train that used to connect Elorrio and Apatamonasterio. But these 2 routes are only an example of all the routes that this corner of Euskadi offers us. In case you are looking for family routes in the vicinity, we recommend you to read our article on family routes in Euskadi.

Eroski.

Eroski, one of the most important food companies in the Basque Country, has its commercial distribution headquarters in Elorrio. A large logistics center from where they supply the whole of the northern area. Eroski is one of the companies of the Mondragon Group, one of the most important cooperatives in Europe. As a curiosity, we must indicate that the word Eroski, is the contraction of 2 words in Basque, “erosi” (to buy) and “toki” (place). Simple but practical, efficient and with a strong identity.

What to see near Elorrio.

The surroundings of Elorrio give us an endless number of plans around nature and history. Here are some plans and places that can be interesting in any trip to Elorrio. We hope you like them.

These are just some of the most important attractions of Elorrio, but they are not the only ones. To those already mentioned we must add the Zumelegi River, the mountains of the Urkiola Natural Park, the hermitage of San Adrián, the Gernikako Arbola Square, the Mendraka Swing and many others.

Count Don Tello, lord of Bizkaia, founded the town of Elorrio in 1356. A few years later, the first wall was built to protect the town from wars and local disputes. Its strategic location between the provinces of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa has given Elorrio a rich commercial life. Trade, together with the important people who were born in this Biscayan town, is the reason why today Elorrio has a rich architectural, historical and cultural heritage.

Elorrio is located about 30 minutes from the center of Bilbao, a fact that makes it easy to visit this corner of Euskadi to all those who visit the capital of Bizkaia. To get to Elorrio we recommend taking the A-8 highway towards Donostia San Sebastian, a road that will take us to discover this Biscayan town in 30 minutes. On the other hand, if you want to get to Elorrio by public transport, we recommend that you consult the website of Bizkaibus, the bus transport company of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.

Elorrio is one of the most beautiful villages in the interior of Bizkaia, no doubt about it. But unfortunately, many people decide to book their accommodation in big cities like Bilbao, Vitoria Gasteiz or Donostia San Sebastian. Serious mistake. Sleeping in the middle of nature, in a small inland village, offers us the disconnection we need so much. It is for all this that we recommend you to stay in Garaiko Landetxea, a very cozy rural house, located 12 km from Elorrio, which offers us the possibility to enjoy this environment in style. Ready? We recommend you to book your stay quickly, safely and at the best price from our reservation center.

Once again we wanted to show you the charms of our land through a short audiovisual. In this case it is a video showing some of the attractions that we have mentioned in this article. In case you like this kind of videos, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, a very attractive way to know Euskadi with us.

If you are looking for “What to see in Elorrio” we advise you not to think twice and venture to know this historic town. A mandatory visit in every trip to Euskadi. Elorrio is one of those urban centers that attract travelers from all over the world. A small town protected by mountains has us madly in love. We encourage you to visit Elorrio and tell us your opinion through the comment system that you will find below these lines. Ondo pasa!