geo.wikisort.org - Island

Gaztelugatxe is an islet on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo, Basque Country (Spain). It is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. On top of the island stands a hermitage (named Gaztelugatxeko Doniene in Basque; San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Spanish), dedicated to John the Baptist, that dates from the 10th century, although discoveries indicate that the date might be the 9th century. With another small neighboring island, Aketx, they form a protected biotope that extends from the town of Bakio to Cape Matxitxako, on the Bay of Biscay.

Etymology

The word gaztelugatxe [ɡas̻teluɡatʃe] comes from the Basque gaztelu = "castle" and atx = "rock", forming "the rock castle". The word atx and its derivatives are usual in Basque toponyms related to rocky summits: Aketx, Untzillatx, Atxulo...

Description

The Basque coast is rough in this area. The sea ceaselessly erodes the rocky coast creating tunnels, arches, and caves. The island of Gaztelugatxe is in the center of this section of the coast next to the small Aketx island, a sanctuary for marine birds.

Next to the hermitage, there is a small shelter with sea views that are used for picnicking and for refuge from the wind.

The hermitage is accessed by a narrow path, crossing the solid stone bridge, and going up 231 steps[1] (other sources cite the number as 229 or 237). According to legend, after the slightly strenuous climb to the top of the crag one should ring the bell three times and make a wish.

Hermitage

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The small church, 80 metres above sea level,[1] dates from the 10th century. In the year 1053 it was donated by Don Íñigo López, Lord of Biscay to the monastery of San Juan de la Peña near Jaca in Huesca. Medieval burials from the 9th and 12th centuries have been found on the esplanade and in the hermitage.

In 1593 it was attacked and sacked by Francis Drake. Among other incidents, it has caught fire several times. On November 10, 1978, it was destroyed in one such fire. Two years later, on June 24, 1980, it was re-inaugurated. The hermitage belongs to the parish of San Pelayo in Bakio.

The hermitage also houses votive offerings from sailors who survived shipwrecks.

Strategic uses

The strategic location of the site has given it an important role in historic episodes. It was one of the places where the Lord of Biscay, Juan Núñez de Lara, confronted Alfonso XI, King of Castile, in 1334.

In 1594 it was attacked by the Huguenots of La Rochelle, who sacked it and killed the caretaker. In the 18th century it was assaulted by English troops; in the Spanish Civil War the naval Battle of Cape Machichaco took place nearby.

Filming location

HBO filmed scenes for season seven of its fantasy series Game of Thrones at the islet.[2] Gaztelugatxe stood in for Dragonstone, with a digitally created castle on top of the islet.

Gallery

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  Gaztelugatxe, with Flag of Basque Country
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  A panoramical view of Gaztelugatxe

References

External links

• Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo Town Council website.
• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

На других языках

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[de] Gaztelugatxe

Gaztelugatxe ist eine zum spanischen Baskenland (Provinz Bizkaia) gehörende Insel im Golf von Biskaya, die unmittelbar vor der Felsenküste der Costa Vasca zwischen den Orten Bakio und Bermeo liegt.

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- [en] Gaztelugatxe

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[es] Gaztelugache

Gaztelugache[1] (oficialmente y en euskera, Gaztelugatxe) es un islote de la localidad vizcaína de Bermeo, País Vasco, España. Está unido al continente por un puente de dos arcos. Sobre la isla hay una ermita dedicada a San Juan que data del siglo X, aunque algunos descubrimientos datan del siglo IX. Dicha ermita se edificó sobre los restos de un castillo adscrito al Reino de Navarra y que fue asediado, sin ser tomado, por las tropas castellanas. Junto con otra pequeña isla vecina, la de Aqueche, forma un biotopo protegido, que se extiende desde la localidad de Baquio hasta el cabo Machichaco en Bermeo, en el golfo de Vizcaya.

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[fr] Gaztelugatxe

Gaztelugatxe, en espagnol Gaztelugache, est un îlot situé sur la côte de Biscaye au nord de Bilbao, dans la communauté autonome basque (Espagne), à 200 m du rivage auquel il est relié par un pont piétonnier.

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[it] Gaztelugatxe

Gaztelugatxe è un'isola spagnola lungo le coste della Biscaglia appartenente alla municipalità di Bermeo nei paesi baschi, collegata alla terraferma da un ponte del XIV secolo. Sulla parte più alta dell'isola sorge un eremo, denominato Gaztelugatxeko Doniene in basco e San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in spagnolo, dedicato a San Giovanni Battista risalente al X secolo, ma che secondo alcune scoperte potrebbe risalire al IX secolo. Dove oggi sorge la cappella di San Juan c'era un castello. Ogni 24 giugno, si svolge un pellegrinaggio da Bermeo alla rocca: centinaia di persone vi partecipano da tutta Biscaglia e da molti altri luoghi. Il 29 agosto si celebra una Messa in onore del Santo e si festeggia San Giovanni decollato (San Giovanni Battista ucciso per decapitazione). Il 31 dicembre si officia un'altra messa per finire l'anno.

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[ru] Гастелугаче

Гастелуга́че (баск. Gaztelugatxe) — островок на побережье Бискайского залива, относящийся к муниципалитету Бермео, Страна Басков (Испания).

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