Discover Elorrio: Old Town, Heritage and Trails

Elorrio can be explored through several distinct themes: its preserved medieval town plan, religious buildings, archaeological remains and trails through its districts. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are particularly interested in the old town and architecture, earlier periods, or walking and cycling routes. The sights and landscape features give the town a range of clearly distinguishable character.

Medieval town plan and history

The historic route through Elorrio traces the town’s founding in 1356 by Don Tello, Lord of Bizkaia. It also shows the medieval arrangement of the housing blocks, preserved to this day, around two parallel streets: Calle del Campo and Calle del Río. If you are interested in urban history, this allows you to explore not only individual buildings but also the town’s inherited urban layout.

Ironworking is another part of the town’s history. In medieval Elorrio, it was the most socially, economically and politically significant craft, carried out by ironworkers and blacksmiths. It later developed into the iron industry, whose products were exported throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, and even to America. This development thus extends beyond the history of a single trade, linking Elorrio to a far-reaching history of trade and production.

Basilica, convent and wayside crosses

In the centre of the old town, on Gernikako-Arbola Square, stands the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. This Gothic building with Renaissance elements was completed in the 16th century. Its dimensions give an idea of its scale: the basilica is almost 50 metres long and 25 metres wide. The Convent of Santa Ana is also in the old town. It houses a statue of Saint Valentine and a museum.

The wayside crosses also offer insight into the town’s religious and artistic history. Elorrio preserves nine crosses from the 16th century. The Kurutziaga Cross is Late Gothic; the others reflect various phases of the Renaissance. The contrast between this Late Gothic exception and the Renaissance crosses reveals several styles within the same historic collection. In 1964, Elorrio became the first place in Vizcaya, Spain, to be declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

Argiñeta and the landscape around Elorrio

The Argiñeta necropolis lies in the district of Zenita on the outskirts of town, among ancient oaks beside the hermitage of San Adrián. It comprises around twenty sarcophagi dating from the 7th to the 9th centuries, as well as five grave stelae with astral iconography. Its location and features make it an interesting place for travellers who, alongside the medieval town centre, would also like to explore earlier archaeological remains.

Another feature combines architecture and landscape: the Fuente de Berriozabaleta consists of a fountain and a washhouse on a semicircular terrace overlooking the Urkiola mountains. Naturbideak is a network of trails through Elorrio’s districts, showcasing their natural, cultural and landscape diversity. The surrounding area therefore offers both individual landscaped sites and a network of trails, catering to different interests when planning a visit.

Exploring on foot and by bike

The Vía Verde del Tren, on the Elorrio–Apatamonasterio section, follows almost the entire route of the former Durango–Elorrio railway and connects to the Vía Verde de Arrazola. The former railway line is now used as a walking and cycling path. By comparison, Naturbideak is a network of trails through the districts, exploring different aspects of their natural, cultural and landscape diversity. The routes therefore differ in their described form: one is the Vía Verde, which follows a former railway line; the other is a network of trails through Elorrio’s districts.

The Elorrio audio guide is available in Basque, Spanish, French, English and Catalan. Check the current terms of use before travelling. When choosing a hotel in Elorrio, you can first consider what you would like to focus on during your stay: the historic townscape and its buildings, its religious and archaeological heritage, or the walking and cycling routes described here. These themes offer different ways to match Elorrio to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bermeo, Nabarniz, Urriola, Sopuerta, Lezama, Mundaka, Basauri, Arrieta.

For the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.