The Transcantabric Route: Bilbao

Although Bilbao was founded in 1300 by Diego López de Haro due to mining, a Castilian noble who signed the founding charter and left the symbol of his family on the city’s coat of arms: the two wolves, archaeological excavations have determined that settlements existed in the area prior to the 14th century, such as the Church of San Antón or the medieval wall, now hidden among the buildings of the Old Town.

The development of modern Basque metallurgy took place after the end of the Carlist Wars, starting in 1876, with the massive exploitation of iron mines located in the same area, much of which was destined for export.

Bilbao is a town that currently has a great industrial tradition due to its iron mines, which exist throughout the province. Some of the oldest mines in the area, some of which have now disappeared, include the Morro mine, Julia mine, Sílfide or Primitiva mine, and Malaespera or San Luis mine.

The municipality of Bilbao is located in northern Spain, situated between two mountain ranges, with its average altitude not exceeding 400 meters. The town of Bilbao is a municipality and the capital of the province of Vizcaya, which belongs to the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Bilbao is the most populous city in this autonomous community and stretches along the Bilbao estuary or the Nervión estuary, also known as the Ibaizábal estuary. The Bilbao estuary flows into the Cantabrian Sea through its rivers Nervión and Ibaizabal, as well as their last tributaries upon reaching the Bay of Biscay.

Bilbao offers a wide range of cultural, gastronomic, and leisure possibilities. In recent decades, Bilbao has transformed into a modern and avant-garde city with the construction of the Guggenheim Museum, which has become the city’s icon and a must-visit attraction, with its spectacular exterior structure full of asymmetrical forms.

The charm of Bilbao’s Old Town is formed by the streets of Somera, Artecalle, Tendería, Belosticalle, Carnicería Vieja, Barrencalle, and Barrencalle Barrena, which have also given it the name of the Seven Streets. Through them, you can enjoy the true essence and charm of Bilbao’s old town, discovering the places and monuments that are part of it, visiting the Ribera Market, also known as ‘the Plaza,’ and shopping in some of its stores while also tasting some of the typical pintxos of Bilbao, such as the famous Marmitako, Bacalao a la Vizcaína, Piperrada, Cocochas, and its famous Idiazabal cheese.

The city of Bilbao is currently the second city (or the penultimate one) of the starting point of the Transcantabric Route, which allows us to deeply explore Northern Spain aboard the Transcantabric Train.

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