Ermua: Culture, Historic Routes and Landscape

Ermua offers several distinct starting points for a trip: a landscape shaped by steep slopes, historic routes and buildings from different eras. If you are planning your stay around culture or hiking, you can consider these themes separately and give them weight according to your interests. The landscape and the routes described offer a different perspective from the churches and palace architecture.

Landscape and Historic Routes

Ermua’s landscape is shaped by rugged terrain, with striking valleys between steep slopes. The PR-BI 70 offers a specific way to explore the area on foot: it is a circular route that begins and ends at the park in the Okin Zuri neighborhood. Some sections of the route follow the river alongside the old Camino Real. Check route information locally before setting out on a hike.

Historically, the Camino Real connected Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, which passed through Ermua, is a separate route: it ran along the coast from Irún to Itziar. The two routes offer different perspectives on the history of travel in the region. The Camino Real focuses on the connection between Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa; for the pilgrimage route, the coastal course and the named endpoints are key. Ermua’s history of routes can thus be explored through two distinct themes, without conflating the routes.

Church and Palaces in Ermua

The Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol was built in the 16th century and enlarged and rebuilt in 1602. Its single-nave layout is flanked by chapels. This allows you to consider both the original form and its later expansion in a single building. The main altar is described in particular detail: a Baroque work in walnut, unpainted and adorned with richly ornamented Solomonic columns. Its form, material and design offer different ways to consider the church as a subject of architecture and art history.

The Palacio Marqués de Valdespina was built in the first half of the 18th century, close to its first quarter. It is considered one of the most significant Baroque buildings in the Basque Country. The Palacio Lobiano offers a different historical perspective: it is a Renaissance building from the 16th century. It houses Ermua’s Casa de Cultura, with an exhibition space, an auditorium, and rooms for painting, theatre and dance. If you are interested in cultural facilities, check what is currently on offer before visiting, as individual facilities may change.

Festivals and Recurring Events

The patron saint festivities in honor of Saint James take place from July 24 to 27; the associated events program begins on July 14. The Santiagos in Ermua are notable for their wide range of activities, public participation and colorful txarangas. If you would like to plan your trip around these festivities, check the dates and program for the relevant year.

The Feria de San Martín is also tied to the calendar: it takes place on the Saturday closest to the feast of Saint Martin. Its date therefore depends on the calendar for that year rather than being fixed. It is a good idea to check the date for the year you wish to visit when planning your stay. This lets you make the festivities a focus of your trip while also deciding whether churches, palaces or the PR-BI 70 better match your interests.

Discover more destinations: Gatika, Larrabetzu, Muskiz, Gautegiz Arteaga, Güeñes, Zelaia, Urduliz, Mungia.

For the main travel overview: Bizkaia.