BITRAVEL: The coastal route

The coastal road consisted, at least from Donostia-San Sebastián to Gernika-Lumo, of almost exclusively local references.The road from Gernika-Lumo to Bilbao and on to Balmaseda and the Mena valley has gradually become a source of political, economic and cultural significance. This road combines in seven stages the coastal and agricultural, urban and rural aspects of the Basque Country. Having followed the first stretch through Gipuzkoa, already well-known for its tourist attractions, it takes us to parts of Biscay which, on having remained relatively remote from to the more important points of communication, are a pleasant source of surprise.

The first stretch through Gipuzkoa was nevertheless far from a pleasant stroll. From the Bidasoa estuary to the border with Biscay, the rivers Oiartzun, Urumea, Oria, Urola and Deba break up the coastline on reaching the sea. Between the Deba and Oria rivers there is one of the nicest and picturesque of the Gipuzkoa coast. The difficulties of the coast of Gipuzkoa are finish when the pilgrim arrives to the Biscay coast through Markina-Xemein and he walks along the nice valleys of Lea-Artibai with a special interest in the Bolivar village and Ziortza.

After going through Gernika and Bilbao the roads goes until the village of Balmaseda set up in 1199, we have to emphasize the gothic San Severino church, and also the old bridge or the Muza Bridge, nowadays has been declared National Monument. Here the road leaves the Basque Country to go into Burgos or into the coast of Cantabria. The difficulties of orography and the absence of the important villages until the medieval period –for example Bilbao was set up in XIV- , made this road harder and less used that the French one. Even thought, this route is need of lodge, and infrastructures for the different pilgrims.