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Plentzia, what to see and do in the historic village of Placencia de Butron.
Plentzia is a small coastal town strategically located by the sea. This town, situated about 25 km from Bilbao, welcomes visitors to explore its charming historic district, its ever-striking estuary, and its magnificent beach. These attractions have captivated thousands of people from all over the world. In fact, Plentzia is one of the most popular destinations among Basques themselves for enjoying the summer season. So much so that its population typically quadruples during the summer months. Interesting, isn’t it? At TurismoVasco, we offer all kinds of tourist services in Plentzia. We recommend checking out the guided tours, boat tours, kayaking tours, and culinary experiences we offer year-round. Don’t hesitate to contact us—we’ll do everything we can to help. Remember that you can use the comment section at the end of this article to send us any questions you have about Plentzia. We’ll try to respond as soon as possible. Along the final stretch of the estuary, before it flows into Plentzia Bay, lies the town’s main urban center. This area, together with other neighborhoods such as Saratxaga, Txipios, and Isuskiza, makes up the charming town in Bizkaia that we’re introducing to you today. Residents from all these neighborhoods come together in the Ensanche, a recently developed area that has become a true landmark of the town. Ready to discover what to see in Plentzia?
Information about Plentzia.
- Online reservations: Here.
- Group Quotes: Here
- Attractions: The sea, the estuary, culture, history, and cuisine.
- Services: Guided tours, boat tours, kayaking tours, culinary experiences, and much more.
- Location: Plentzia, Bizkaia, Euskadi.
What to see in Plentzia.
If you want to know what to see in this old fishing village, we encourage you to carefully read each of the sections we’ve put together. Together, we’ll discover one of the most idyllic spots on the Biscayan coast—a little corner that we’re sure you’ll fall in love with. It’s worth noting that while you can see all these spots in just a few hours, combining them with some of the activities we suggest can help you enjoy Plentzia for several days.
- Gazteluondo Mill: The watermill currently located in Plentzia is not the original one, but the millstones found in its vicinity are. This pre-industrial mill used the tides to turn its millstones and grind the corn grown on nearby farms. The mill was built in the 16th century, a time when the Basque Country relied on agriculture and whaling for its livelihood. Whaling was a particularly well-known activity in the town of Plentzia.
- Pedestrian Bridge: The pedestrian bridge connecting the metro station and the town center of Plentzia was built to replace an old metal structure in poor condition that stood in the same location. The current bridge, 117 meters long, was designed by Javier Manterola. Its enormous white arches catch the eye of everyone visiting Plentzia for the first time. It is undoubtedly one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks.
- Plentzia Beach: Plentzia Beach is one of the most peaceful and family-friendly beaches along the entire coast of Bizkaia. Its vast stretch of sand, its proximity to the town center, and the beauty of the bay make it a top destination. It’s a great choice, especially for the families who visit us.
- Plentzia Bay: The beaches and cliffs of Plentzia, Barrika, and Gorliz form what is known as Plentzia Bay. It is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the Uribe region—a paradise that can be fully appreciated from the trail to the Gorliz lighthouse, from the cliffs of Barrika, and from our boats.
- Plentzia Estuary: The Plentzia Estuary and its boats create an idyllic scene. It is a place of great beauty that we encourage you to take in while enjoying a lovely stroll along one of its banks. This is a pleasant, family-friendly walk that, if taken along the right bank downstream, leads to the town’s beach—one of Plentzia’s main attractions. This bank is lined with beautiful buildings which, together with the harbor and the estuary’s mouth, offer a view of Plentzia Bay. It’s worth noting that before it becomes an estuary, the Butron River flows through here—a mighty river that flows through the Uribe region and which you can admire on our boat tours.
- Santa María Magdalena Church: The church in Plentzia is located in the town’s historic center. It occupies a strategic vantage point from which the mouth of the estuary can be monitored. In fact, this was one of the purposes of the impressive tower that crowns the Santa María Magdalena Church. The church served as both a place of worship and a defensive structure. This Gothic-style church was built in the early 16th century.
- Plentzia Town Hall: The town hall of Plentzia is located in the center of the town, in the wide Plaza del Astillero. A meeting place, in which the town hall serves as a backdrop to the many events that take place here. Undoubtedly one of the busiest areas of the town.
- Arch of Santiago: The arch of Santiago is the only element that exists today of the original wall that protected the town. Or at least, the only one that is visible in public space. And the fact is that, inside some of the houses of the historic center, you can still see traces of that medieval wall. This structure is located within the historical architectural ensemble of the old town of Plentzia, next to the church of Santa María Magdalena. Although at first glance it may not look like much, it is a great treasure of our history.
- Port of Plentzia: The small, charming port of Plentzia, also known as La Gallarda, was originally a commercial port where the fishing industry gradually took root. Today, there is no commercial activity at this port, but we can still find three or four fishing boats that refuse to let one of the Basque Country’s most traditional trades disappear from this area. In fact, 99% of the boats we see in this port today are recreational vessels. This includes the boats we use for our boat tours in Plentzia. Although the port of Plentzia has 149 berths, they are not enough to accommodate all the boats in this town, so the estuary has become an alternative harbor where boats are anchored to shelter from storms.
- Plasentia de Butrón Museum: The current Plasentia de Butrón Museum is located in the old town hall of Plentzia. A small museum space, which houses a collection of objectives linked to the history of the town. In January 1999, the Plasentia de Butrón Foundation inaugurated this museum with a single objective: to recover and enhance elements of Plentzia’s history. An objective, which has succeeded in filling the 2 floors of the museum with model ships, photographs, navigational instruments, charts and many other objects.
- Torre Barri: This tower house is one of the most relevant buildings in the historic center of Plentzia. And this is not the original structure. On the facade of this building we find what is undoubtedly the most important element, the noble stone coat of arms of the Mujica Butron family. If we stop to study this coat of arms we will see that it has a date (1603) and a text in Basque, which says: “Muxica areriocaz agica Butroe celangoa da Oroc daquie garaia nago eria gordeazo”. Translated, we could say the following: “Mujica to teeth with the enemies. Butrón as he is, everyone knows it, I am (or I am) Pueblo be on guard”. We must emphasize that this text is possibly the oldest epigraphic text preserved in Basque.
- Ermita Humilladero del Santo Cristo: The hermitage of Santo Cristo, Kristoko Baseliza in Basque, was restored in 1906 by José Bilbao Lopategui and Martin González de Durana. This hermitage was created from an old humilladero that, located outside the walls, indicated to the travelers the way to follow to be able to make their prayers.
- Old town: The narrow and steep streets of the old town of Plentzia are a must on any trip to this coastal town. And is that the old town of Plentzia, old fortified town center, hides houses of sailors, historic farmhouses, museums, religious buildings or the old consistory of the town among others. In any case, it is an obligatory visit to know the history of Plentzia.
- Txipio Marshes: The Txipio Marshes are located in the territorial limits of the municipalities of Plentzia and Barrika. A natural environment of great importance, which, although it was formerly linked to the Plentzia estuary, today it is separated by the road that connects the Greater Bilbao with the town. This space offers us a beautiful range of migratory birds to see and enjoy. In fact, next to the road, as we descend from Barrika towards Plentzia, on the right hand side, we find a small viewpoint with information panels that help us to contemplate these magnificent birds.
- Goñi Portal Farmhouse: This farmhouse is located next to the church of Santa María Magdalena, on the edge of what was once the walled urban center. As its name indicates, this rural building is located next to the portal or arch of Santiago, in the historic center of the town. According to different writings, this building was built at the end of the 17th century and enlarged in the 18th century. The deterioration of this structure in the eighties forced the Town Hall to take action in order to preserve this Cultural Asset.
Video of Plentzia.
As usual, we wanted to accompany the words and images of this article with a short video. An audiovisual, which we hope will help you to get a more real idea of what awaits you in Plentzia. In case you like this kind of videos we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will find videos that catch your attention.
What to do in Plentzia and surroundings.
If you are looking for alternative experiences to get to know Plentzia and its surroundings, we recommend you to consider the possibility of enjoying some of our proposals. We are sure that more than one of them will catch your attention. Remember that we offer special packages and rates for groups at Plentzia. Please don’t hesitate to contact us—we’ll do everything we can to help you.
- Boat Rentals in Plentzia: Renting a boat in Plentzia lets you explore the cliffs surrounding the town from a different perspective. This maritime experience not only shows you the coast of Bizkaia from the sea but also lets you enjoy a refreshing swim in Plentzia Bay. If you’d like to learn more about this service, we recommend reading our article: Boat Rentals in Plentzia.
- Boat Tour in Plentzia: If you don’t want to rent an entire boat, we recommend reserving a spot on one of Plentzia’s boat tours. During peak season, we offer daily departures almost every day; we recommend that you check with our reservation center.
- Guided Tours in Plentzia: If you’d like to explore Plentzia, we recommend doing so with a local guide. It’s undoubtedly one of the best ways to discover the town’s history and culture. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please contact us. We’ll send you a personalized quote tailored to your needs.
- Surfing in Plentzia: Plentzia beach is the perfect alternative for when the weather conditions are adverse, and the protection of the cliffs and the breakwater, make this beach allows water sports most of the time. According to experts, the waves of Plentzia are ideal for beginners in the world of surfing. A left wave that can be surfed all year round. Remember that we offer group surfing experiences year-round; we recommend that you contact us so we can send you a personalized quote.
- Crusoe Treasure: Crusoe Treasure is one of the few underwater wineries in the world. Its creator, Borja Saracho, has managed to combine his love for the sea and fine wines into a unique project. The result couldn’t be better. Today, the wines aged beneath the waters of Plentzia Bay are recognized worldwide. These wines include our beloved txakoli, a very special wine. Remember that we offer guided tours for groups year-round. It’s a great way to taste unique wines. We recommend that you contact us.
- GR 280 Uribe: This route invites us to explore much of the Uribe region along a very scenic path. It’s worth noting that Plentzia is one of the towns along this 126-km route, which consists of 7 stages. It’s a great option for those who want to embark on long hikes starting from Plentzia. We organize guided tours for groups year-round. We take care of everything (restaurants, guides, hotels, and transportation). Want to talk about it?
- Plentzia-Gorliz Walk: The walk connecting the towns of Plentzia and Gorliz is a great option for anyone who wants to explore the stretch of coastline linking these two towns in Bizkaia. It’s a family-friendly route suitable for all ages. If you’d like to learn all the details about this family walk, we recommend reading our article on the Plentzia-Gorliz route.
- Trail to the Gorliz Lighthouse: The Gorliz Lighthouse, the bunkers, and the Bizkaia Provincial Council farm offer a family-friendly route that allows you to admire and enjoy the natural beauty of the Basque coast in complete comfort. We recommend reading our article on the trail to the Gorliz Lighthouse.
- Guided tours in Bilbao: Guided tours in Bilbao are one of the best options to get to know the capital of Bizkaia. An experience that allows us to know the history, anecdotes and traditions of our beloved botxo. In case you want to enjoy these experiences we recommend you to read our article guided tours in Bilbao.
- Boat tours in Bilbao: If you want to know Bilbao from the estuary, from the water, we recommend you to enjoy a beautiful boat route from the city hall of Bilbao to the Bizkaia Bridge. A promenade that allows us to enjoy most of the attractions of Bilbao in the most comfortable way possible. More information on boat tours in Bilbao.
- Boat tours in Urdaibai: The boat tours in Urdaibai are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful experiences of all that we propose. A great opportunity to enjoy the boat trips to Elantxobe, the boat trips to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or the boat trips along the coast of Bizkaia. You can book all these routes from here.
- Bike rental in Bilbao: Bike rental in Bilbao not only allows us to know the capital of Bizkaia on 2 wheels, it is also a great option for those who want to explore Plentzia by bike. And there are already many people who, renting a bike in Bilbao, have traveled the entire province by bike. An adventure that allows us to know and enjoy unusual corners of Bizkaia. Reservations here.
- 4×4 in Bakio: The 4×4 routes in Bakio have been designed to know the town from a unique point of view. A great opportunity to get to know Bakio from the mountains and cliffs that surround the town center. More information on 4×4 routes in Bakio. Reservations here.
- Water bikes in Bilbao: The water bikes in Bilbao are the latest transport to join the wide range of proposals we have to visit Bilbao from the water. We strongly recommend you to enjoy this innovative proposal. More information on water bikes in Bilbao. Reservations here.
- Forest baths in Euskadi: Forest baths have been developed in Japan since 1980. An activity that helps us to leave stress behind thanks to nature. Currently this experience is developed in different parts of Euskadi facilitating the practice of forest baths to all those who are interested. More information on forest bathing in Euskadi. Reservations here.
- Guided tours in Gernika: The Peace Museum of Gernika has launched several guided tours that allow us to learn about different aspects of the history of Gernika. Experiences that comply with the so-called “3b” good, nice and cheap. More information in our article about guided tours in Gernika. Reservations here.
Plencia, Plentzia or Placencia de Butron.
The name of this town has changed over time, in fact, the original name of the town was Placencia de Butrón. With the use and the passing of the years it was shortened to the current Plentzia. Formerly Plencia. In any case, it is worth mentioning that the name of the town has been changing since its creation in 1299 to the present day.
History of Plentzia.
The town we know today has little to do with what it once was. This small coastal town, today one of the most popular holiday destinations in Bizkaia, was once an important shipbuilding center. Although whale fishing was initially of great importance in Plentzia, the sector that had the greatest impact on the town until the appearance of tourism was shipbuilding. In order to know the history of Plentzia we must go back to the beginning of the 13th century when the lord of Bizkaia, Lope Diaz II de Haro, founded the parish of Gorliz. This urban center, one of the Biscayan powers in whaling at that time, had a coastal neighborhood called Gaminiz. A space, which in 1236 would be desanexaría of Gorliz to found Placencia de Butrón. In 1299 it was named a town by Diego López de Haro. If you like history and want to know more details about Plentzia, we recommend a visit to the Plasentia de Butron Museum.
How to get to Plentzia.
Plentzia is located about 30 minutes from the center of Bilbao and its airport. To get to Plentzia we can use both public and private transport. If we decide for the public transport we must value the options of bus and subway. Of course, although the subway is the most used transport in Bizkaia, the bus is also a great option to reach Gorliz from places like Armintza or Getxo. Do not dismiss it lightly.
- Bus: Bizkaibus line A3451 connects Plentzia with the rest of the towns on the Areeta – Armintza route. As you can see, it does not connect Plentzia with Bilbao but with Getxo, an urban center of great importance in the area.
- Metro: The Plentzia metro station represents the end and the beginning of line 1. This metro station does not have the same frequency as the stations found in the center of Bilbao, but it is undoubtedly one of the most used transports to reach Plentzia.
- Private vehicle: To get from Bilbao to Plentzia we must take the BI-634 road to Sopela. Once in this municipality we must take the road BI-2122 to reach Plentzia. If you want to arrive directly from Bilbao airport, the best option is to take the BI-631 to Mungia and then the BI-2120 to Plentzia.
- Cab: Plentzia has only one cab stand located next to the metro station. Although this option does not make much sense, you never know when you will need to use it.
Where to park in Plentzia.
If you arrive in Plentzia by private transport, we recommend that you leave your vehicles on the outskirts of the town center. The historical center of Plentzia is not the best place to park. We recommend you to park your vehicle next to the fronton or the metro station, the 2 areas with the most parking spaces. Both areas are only a couple of minutes walk from the center of town. If these 2 areas are full, you can also consider the possibility of parking in the neighboring town of Gorliz. The large parking lot in front of the beach of this town allows us to park the car without big headaches. Once in Gorliz we only have to walk in front of the sea until we reach Plentzia. If you opt for this last option, know that Gorliz has OTA (Ordinance of traffic and parking) during the summer season, so you must pay for parking.
Plentzia Festivities.
The festivities of Plentzia are held on September 2 in honor of San Antolin, a date that can vary between the last week of August and the first week of September depending on the calendar each year. As a curiosity we should mention that San Antolin is not the patron saint of the town but the Virgin of Candelaria. A virgin who, according to the Catholic calendar is honored on February 2. In any case, the festivities of Plentzia are famous for closing the summer together with the festivities of Lekeitio.
What to see near Plentzia.
Plentzia’s tourist attractions are complemented by a long list of places in neighboring towns. And within a radius of about 45 minutes we find a wide range of possibilities. Here are some proposals to see near Plentzia.
As you’ve seen, Plentzia offers a wonderful variety of places to see and enjoy. We hope this article on what to see in Plentzia helps you plan your trip to this idyllic corner of the Basque Country. If you have any questions, we encourage you to use the comment section below to let us know. We’ll try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!
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