Llodio combines walking routes with architectural landmarks and festival traditions. To plan your visit, you can first choose your focus: getting active on the routes, architectural and military history, or visiting during a fair. Two circular routes at the Santuario de Santa María del Yermo have estimated durations; the Vía Verde of Parque Lineal del Nervión is another option, which can be explored on foot or by bicycle.
Walking and cycling
The Vía Verde del Parque Lineal del Nervión is approximately 15 kilometres long. At several points, walkways cross the riverbed, allowing you to walk above the river. This also makes the route distinctive for its structures over the water. If you would rather walk or cycle, you can use it on foot or by bike, according to your plans.
The Cinturón de Hierro route offers another point of reference. It passes fortifications, trenches and machine-gun positions from the 1936–1939 war, visible between Llodio and Arrankudiaga. You can choose your route based on this historical theme: the short circular route is 8.5 kilometres long and takes approximately two and a half hours; the long route is 13 kilometres and has an estimated duration of four and a half hours. Both start at the Santuario de Santa María del Yermo. This gives you two different time frames to choose from for the same starting point.
The Laudio Basabideak route also combines activity with local history. Its ethnographic features include lime kilns and ice houses; the restored lime kiln at Mintegieta is a particular highlight. If you are interested in these traces of local life, this offers a different thematic perspective from the Cinturón de Hierro route, which focuses on the military installations and the 1936–1939 war.
Park and architectural history
Parque de Lamuza is an architectural and landscaped complex with an aristocratic summer residence and an expansive garden designed as a park. The grounds have been publicly owned since 1975 and now serve as a public park. You can combine a visit to the park grounds with a look at their architectural and garden history, without reducing the park to a single building.
Other historic architectural forms come together at the Santuario de Santa María del Yermo: the architectural complex is characterised by Gothic-Renaissance architecture and has a freestanding tower. The Ermita de Santa Lucía was built as an addition to the Santuario between the 15th and 16th centuries. These two buildings offer a concrete reason to include different parts of the religious architectural ensemble in your itinerary. The Santuario is also the shared starting point for the two Cinturón de Hierro circular routes.
Fairs and local products
The Feria de San Blas takes place in Laudio every year on the first Saturday in February. The fair showcases pigs, vegetables, horticultural produce and handicrafts. It also features culinary competitions and food preparations. If you want to plan your stay around this event, you can take the fixed day of the week into account when choosing your travel dates and check the specific event date before travelling.
At the Feria del Viernes de Dolores in Laudio/Llodio, local producers, livestock farmers and craftspeople sell their products. Talo, cider and Txakoli are also available to taste. The focus is therefore on the sale and tasting of local products. Baserritar Eguna, meanwhile, takes place as part of Laudio/Llodio’s August patron saint festivities: the fair features agricultural, handicraft and local products, as well as traditional dances and rural sports.
The three events each have a different focus: San Blas combines agricultural and handicraft products with gastronomy, the Feria del Viernes de Dolores with sales and tastings, and Baserritar Eguna with a fair, dances and rural sports. If a festival is the main reason for your trip, check its specific date before you travel.
Getting there and practical planning
Renfe’s C3 line between Bilbao and Orduña stops at Areta, Llodio and Santa Cruz de Llodio stations. If you are travelling by train, check the timetable for your travel day. The starting point is also important when planning your hikes: both Cinturón de Hierro circular routes start at the Santuario de Santa María del Yermo.
The Laudio motorhome and car park has 14 spaces for motorhomes and 77 for cars, including three spaces for people with reduced mobility. Vehicles may be parked there for a maximum of 72 hours. As operational details may change, it is advisable to check the information before travelling. This will help you plan your arrival and stay while keeping the parking limit in mind.
Discover more destinations: Condado De Treviño, Zarautz, Larraul, Abaltzisketa.
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