The approximately 1 km walk through Otxandio’s Old Town is an easy introduction to the town. You’ll also find historic buildings, a fountain associated with the blacksmithing trade, and various routes to help you plan your visit. This lets you decide whether to focus on the town center or include a cycling or hiking route as well. The attractions have different points of interest, so you can choose according to your interests.
Otxandio’s Old Town and history
The San Martín Hermitage is Otxandio’s oldest building and dates from around 1500. The Church of Santa Mariñe dates from the 16th century. The town hall was built in 1742 and declared a National Monument. These buildings represent different historical periods and give a visit to the town a clear cultural focus.
The Old Town walk is a circular route of approximately 1 km and offers a compact way to explore Otxandio on foot. The Vulcano Fountain is also one of the town’s notable cultural features: it recalls Otxandio’s historical importance in the blacksmithing trade. Another itinerary commemorates events of the Civil War in Otxandio. Architecture, the history of craftsmanship, and remembrance thus offer different ways to explore the town’s history.
Choose routes according to your interests
For hiking, the PR-BI 51 trail leads to the end of the Urrunaga Reservoir. The area is designated as a Site of Community Importance. You can choose this trail based on its destination at the reservoir; the Old Town walk, by contrast, focuses on the historic town center.
For cycling, the OTXANDIO-BARAZAR route connects Otxandio and Puerto de Barazar. It is a cycling tour for families. Another route description identifies the GR-38 stage from Estibaliz Monastery to Otxandio: it is 37 kilometers long. When choosing, therefore, consider both the activity and the respective starting and ending points. The cycling route description refers to a connection between Otxandio and Barazar, while the GR-38 description names a specific stage starting in Estibaliz and ending in Otxandio.
The town walk, the cycling tour, and the two hiking options are different ways to plan your stay. If you mainly want to see the historic buildings, you can plan the Old Town walk as a separate activity. If a particular route is your focus, its stated endpoints can help you plan your day. This lets you balance culture and outdoor activity according to your interests, without treating the routes as one combined circuit.
Getting there and planning an overnight stay
Otxandio can be reached by bus services operated by Bizkaibus and Alsa. As bus services and routes can change, check the connections in effect for your travel date before departure. The N-623 passes through Otxandio and connects Durango with Gasteiz. If you plan to use this road to get there, factor the current route and road conditions into your plans.
When planning an overnight stay, you can first decide which aspect of the town matters most to you: its historic buildings and short walk, the blacksmithing theme, or one of the routes described. If you’re looking for hotels in Otxandio, base your choice on the activities you actually plan to do. For a route, its stated starting and ending points can be helpful; for a visit focused on the Old Town, the walk is the main attraction.
Discover more destinations: Zamudio, Laukiz, Urduliz, Güeñes, Elantxobe, Trucios-Turtzioz, Loiu, Nabarniz
For the full travel guide: Bizkaia.
