La Galea Fort, the watchtower of the Abra.

Located in Getxo, the Fort of La Galea stands as one of the last remnants of the defensive complex of the Biscayan coast.

The Fort of La Galea, together with the Aixerrota mill, is one of the many attractions of “La Galea”, an area of great natural value, located in the heart of the Basque coast. Nature, together with the vitality and dynamism of the area, has been one of the key features in turning this enclave getxotarra in one of the places of leisure most used by the people of Bizkaia.

The privileged view that is obtained from the cliffs of La Galea, has meant that since ancient times this area has been used as a checkpoint, as a surveillance area. A strategic place on our coast where we feel at home. Although we have not mentioned the Fort of La Galea much, it is located in a place we have told you about countless times, a place that is easily recognizable thanks to the cliffs, the views, the Aixerrota mill and the lighthouse, elements that make all travelers who decide to walk around it fall in love with it. A 100% recommendable walk.

Although comparisons are always odious, the ruins of the Fort of La Galea remind us to a certain extent of the Fort of San Marcos, a building located in the Gipuzkoa region of Oarsoaldea. A structure that shares with the Fort of Galea one of its most striking features, its strategic location and its wonderful views. Although, we must point out that, unlike the building that occupies us today, this Gipuzkoan fort is preserved in perfect condition, making it one of the most beautiful fortresses in the whole of the Basque Country.

Getxo, the town where the Galea Fort is located, once housed many other military buildings. Today, unfortunately, little or nothing remains of this heritage.

History: To understand the history of this fort we must go back to the time when the Basque people were one of the world leaders in whaling, one of the people who best understood the technique, courage and skill necessary for that great feat. We are not talking about massive industrial fishing, we are talking about a dozen men dressed with little more than a harpoon and their own bodies in a small boat in which they had to row for hours and which was minuscule compared to the size of a whale. Now, you may wonder what all this has to do with the Galea Fort. It was simply a way to put us in situation and understand that in the past the Basque Country was full of watchtowers from where whales were sighted, strategic points of our coast that were often replaced by military constructions, as in this case. Although the fort dates from the eighteenth century, there was already an ancient watchtower at this same point on the coast of Getxotera in the sixteenth century.

The construction of the Fort of La Galea, designed by Jaime Sycre, began in 1742, a work in which the workforce were the neighbors of the area and not precisely as volunteers, forced. As anecdotes, indicate that its construction was completed a year later and had a cost of 130,000 reals, a fortune of that time. Although this fort was, together with the batteries located in Zierbena, part of the defensive complex of the Abra Bay, it never had a military use, in fact it was converted into a lighthouse in 1782. This building has been attacked and destroyed on several occasions over time, but it has also been rebuilt on several other occasions. In 1947, the Ministry of Defense ceded the Fort of La Galea to the Getxo City Council, but nowadays it has no use whatsoever, which is a pity.

Structure: The thick masonry walls of the Fort of La Galea continue to offer resistance to anyone who tries to access its interior, although some areas of the rear are unprotected. These walls were, together with the 14 gun ports and the moat, one of the deterrents to approach its surroundings. Inside it had warehouses, powder magazines, living quarters for the troops and other structures typical of the military architecture of the time.

Location: Where the Abra Bay ends to enter completely into the Bay of Biscay, where the wind blows without fear, the walls of the Fort of La Galea continue to protect one of the best preserved military constructions of the eighteenth century in Bizkaia.

Located in the upper part of Getxo, in the Galea, the fort has a strategic, luxurious location. A residential neighborhood, quiet and of a certain economic level, flanks it on the inside, while the Cantabrian does the same on the coast. A very special place to walk and reflect with a luxurious background, the sea, the beaches and the cliffs.

Visit: Although many people decide to sneak in by jumping some of the walls that compose it or accessing through the back (next to the cliffs), the entrance or visit to this building is not allowed. Unfortunately, today, the Fort of La Galea is totally abandoned and closed.

Although it may not be worth the trip to see the Galea Fort alone, the area in which it is located makes it one of the obligatory routes on any visit to Bizkaia. Imagine for a moment the route: Bizkaia Bridge (Hanging Bridge), the promenade of the great villas, the Old Port of Algorta, Aixerrota Mill, Galea Fort, a walk along the coast, the beaches of Getxo and Sopela and much more, this is just a quick summary. This area offers all kinds of possibilities, it is worth enjoying them.