Elorrio - Disfruta Bizkaia

Elorrio is striking for its monumental old town, palaces and crests, group of high crosses and the Argiñeta necropolis, one of the most unique heritage treasures in the Basque Country.

There are villages that invite you to take a stroll on first sight, and Elorrio is one of them. Located in the heart of the Duranguesado district, this town is one of those getaways that combines heritage, history and a peaceful setting that you always feel like seeing. At the feet of the Besaide peak and surrounded by nature, Elorrio has kept a very marked identity and it has an old town that makes it one of the most special inland villages in Biscay.

One of the main attractions is precisely its historic city centre, which is one of the prettiest and best conserved in the territory. Strolling through its streets is to find a village that has known how to keep its character through the centuries, with palaces, houses with coats of arms and plazas that speak of its historical significance. It’s one of those places where it’s worth taking your time to have a look and stop at the details and let yourself be surprised by the amount of heritage that appears at every step.

If Elorrio stands out for something it’s for being an authentic village of coats of arms. Its facades show enormous heraldic richness that gives personality to your visit and reinforces the feeling of being in a place with a lot of history behind it. In addition to that, the group of high crosses, which is one of the most unique and significant in the Basque Country, is another major symbol. Among them the well known Kurutziaga cross stands out as one of the most emblematic heritage pieces in the town.

A visit to Elorrio can’t be fully understood without also seeing the Argiñeta necropolis, one of the most spectacular places in the town. It’s a funerary enclave with enormous historic value and is considered to be one of the most important in the Basque Country. It is, without a doubt, one of those stops that turns your visit into something even more interesting, especially for people who enjoy places with a past and a lot of heritage.

In addition to the old town and Argiñeta, in Elorrio some of the most prominent buildings, like the Marqués de Tola palace, the Santa Ana monastery or the church of San Agustín, are also worth a visit. All those buildings help complete a visit that is very rich in history and very pleasant to do on foot.

Elorrio is one of those villages that works very well for a quiet getaway without having to have big plans. You can just walk around the old town, enjoying the unhurried ambience and slowly discovering everything its streets, plazas and buildings hold. It’s a perfect destination for people looking for a charming spot in the interior of Biscay, and for anyone who enjoys discovering villages with their own personality.

What to see in Elorrio

The Old Town

It’s one of the most interesting monumental clusters in Biscay, full of palaces, coats of arms and spots with history.

Crests and houses with coats of arms

Elorrio is famous for the number of coats of arms decorating its facades, which gives it a very characteristic image.

High Crosses

The town conserves one of the most valuable clusters of high crosses in the territory with such recognisable pieces as the Kurutziaga cross.

Argiñeta necropolis

It’s one of the most unique places in Elorrio, and it can’t be missed if you want to understand the historical importance of the town.

Marqués de Tola palace, Santa Ana monastery and the churn of San Agustín

Three highly recommended stops to complete your visit and learn more about the local heritage.

How to Get There

Elorrio is in the Duranguesado comarque, which is well located for an inland getaway in Biscay and at a very convenient distance from Bilbao.

By Car: The AP-8 and N-634 join Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián. From Durango or Abadiño you can go directly to Elorrio on the N-636. If you’re coming on the AP-1 that joins Maltzaga with Vitoria-Gasteiz, as you approach Arrasate you can get on the N-636 to get to Elorrio.

By Train: For train lovers, the line that joins San Sebastián and Bilbao goes through Durango and Abadiño. In that case, you would have to then take a coach from either place.

By Coach: Bizkaibus coaches can take you from Bilbao. See the timetable of line 3923 to Elorrio and the return to Bilbao. From Arrasate there are services with Lurraldebus on the DG02 line.