Gaztelugatxe Dragonstone BW

by RicardMN Photography

Title

Gaztelugatxe Dragonstone BW

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RicardMN Photography

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Photograph

Description

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. The bridge transitions into a narrow path that contains 241 steps and zigzags its way back and forth to the top. On top of the island stands a hermitage (San Juan de Gaztelugatxe), 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 until Cape Matxitxako, on the Bay of Biscay.

HBO filmed scenes for season 7 of its fantasy series Game of Thrones at the islet. Gaztelugatxe stood in for Dragonstone, with a digitally created castle on top of the islet.

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.

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September 16th, 2017

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