Images

  1. Slide 1:
  2. Slide 2:
The image shows a frontal, elevated view of the Butrón Castle, highlighting its main tower and several cylindrical towers topped with battlements, built in light-colored stone. The façade has a symmetrical design, with narrow windows and defensive architectural elements typical of a medieval style reinterpreted in the 19th century. The castle stands on a hill and is silhouetted against a blue sky, with no pedestrian access routes or entrances visible in the image. The overall visual perception of the building is clear and dominant within the landscape, although its elevated and fortified configuration suggests potential physical accessibility limitations in the immediate surroundings.
The image shows the exterior view of Butrón Castle, surrounded by lush vegetation and landscaped areas. The neo-Gothic building features tall towers, battlements and stone walls, clearly visible from an open frontal space. In the foreground, there is a grassy area and a compacted dirt access path with no visible steps, although the surface is natural and uneven. The setting is wide and quiet, offering good visibility of the monument, though full access may require assistance due to the natural terrain.

Castle of Butrón

Go back to Butrón Castle

Description

The Castle of Butrón transports visitors back to the Middle Ages and to the banderiza wars that confronted different noble lineages for centuries. It is located in the municipality of Gatika, halfway between Bilbao and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, on a rocky hilltop surrounded by an ancient forest that reinforces its defensive character and symbolic presence in the landscape.

For more than three hundred years, from the 16th century onwards, the castle was the scene of continuous and violent conflicts between two noble factions in Bizkaia. The Lords of Butrón, sheltered within the fortress, exercised their power and control over the surrounding territory. However, Butrón was not always a castle: in the mid-13th century it was a tower house, which was transformed into a castle in the 14th century by the 5th Lord of Butrón.

With the end of the banderiza wars in the early 16th century, the building was abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair. It was not until the late 19th century that restoration work was undertaken, resulting in the current appearance of the castle. The project was led by architect Francisco de Cubas, who rebuilt the castle in 1878 following the historicist and romantic criteria of the time, inspired by the great medieval castles of Europe.

Highlight

The tours of the "Castillo de Butrón" begin in front of the castle parking lot, at the beginning of the bridge.

If we go by bus we have to get off at the stop of the hermitage Madalena de Butrón located at the edge of the road Mungia-Urduliz. From the stop, we descend about a hundred meters towards the castle, finding the parking and the bridge.

  • Cultural, historical and landscape wealth.
  • Place of tourist interest.

How to get here

  • By car:

    Toll-free Road BI-632.

  • By bus (Bizkaibus) routes:

    A3225.

Route

From the Butrón Castle parking lot to the Butrón neighborhood

Suitable for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

Section of less than 400 m, with a concrete surface.

We start the tour from the bridge that crosses the Butrón river towards the castle. Lowered pavement and without problems to access the bridge. Barely fifty meters away and in front of us, we can see the imposing Butrón Castle, we can go around it, although there is a notable slope to get to the back.

Features and services

  • Section length
    0,37 km
    Pavement
    Concrete
  • Is there reception equipment on the section?
    No

    Outdoor space: Parking areas and access to equipment

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No
    Are there railings and/or handrails?
    No

    Indoor space: General features

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No

    Personal care area

    Are there personnel trained in accessibility in the facilities?
    No

    Rest zone

    Is there a rest area at the reception?
    No

    Store

    Is there one or more stores at the reception?
    No

    Children’s area

    Is there a children’s area at the reception?
    No

    Exhibition room

    Is there an exhibition room at the reception?
    No

    Exhibition Hall

    Is there an exhibition hall at the reception?
    No
  • Are there trails on the section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there lighting at night?
    No
    Minimum accessible connection between parking spaces, if any, the start of the obstacle-free trail
    Yes
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    Yes, with no required assistance from third parties
    Parking spaces reserved for vehicles used to transport disabled people according to current regulations. At least 5% of the total spaces
    No
    Parking signage, if any, with the International Accessibility Symbol on the floor and/or on walls
    No
    Informative poster at the start of the trail indicating the length, route, difficulty, duration and slopes by sections
    No
    Path start sign positioned no higher than 195cm
    No

    Itinerary

    Vertical start signage
    No
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No

    Cycle touring lane

    Does the section have a cycle touring lane?
    No

    Lookout and observatory

    Is there a lookout or observatory on the section?
    No

  • Nature classroom

    Is there a nature classroom on this section?
    No
  • Is there a recreational area on this section?
    No

    Access

    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No
  • Is there a beach on this section?
    No

From the castle to the Arbinas dam

Suitable for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

Leaving the bridge and leaving the castle and the river on the left hand side, we continue straight ahead until the end of the large parking lot, reaching an asphalt road on the left hand side, between trees, little traveled by vehicles.

Between the trees you can see the river, which is only visible at the end of the almost 2 km of the route, when you reach a wooden structure behind the Arbinas dam.

Features and services

  • Section length
    1,73 km

  • Outdoor space: Parking areas and access to equipment

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No
    Are there railings and/or handrails?
    No

    Indoor space: General features

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No

    Personal care area

    Are there personnel trained in accessibility in the facilities?
    Yes

    Rest zone

    Is there a rest area at the reception?
    Yes

    Store

    Is there one or more stores at the reception?
    Yes

    Children’s area

    Is there a children’s area at the reception?
    Yes

    Exhibition room

    Is there an exhibition room at the reception?
    Yes

    Exhibition Hall

    Is there an exhibition hall at the reception?
    Yes
  • Are there trails on the section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there lighting at night?
    Yes
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No

    Cycle touring lane

    Does the section have a cycle touring lane?
    Yes

    Lookout and observatory

    Is there a lookout or observatory on the section?
    Yes

  • Nature classroom

    Is there a nature classroom on this section?
    Yes
  • Is there a recreational area on this section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No
  • Is there a beach on this section?
    Yes

Royal Way

Suitable for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

From the bridge, leaving the castle and the river on the right, we go to the small parking lot and follow the asphalt road parallel to it, one-way for vehicles arriving to the castle. It is the so-called "Camino Real", which in medieval times was the official entrance to the castle.

Around it we observe a typical landscape of agriculture and local livestock.

Features and services

  • Section length
    0,50 km

  • Outdoor space: Parking areas and access to equipment

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No
    Are there railings and/or handrails?
    No

    Indoor space: General features

    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    No

    Personal care area

    Are there personnel trained in accessibility in the facilities?
    Yes

    Rest zone

    Is there a rest area at the reception?
    Yes

    Store

    Is there one or more stores at the reception?
    Yes

    Children’s area

    Is there a children’s area at the reception?
    Yes

    Exhibition room

    Is there an exhibition room at the reception?
    Yes

    Exhibition Hall

    Is there an exhibition hall at the reception?
    Yes
  • Are there trails on the section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there lighting at night?
    Yes
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No

    Itinerary

    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No

    Cycle touring lane

    Does the section have a cycle touring lane?
    Yes

    Lookout and observatory

    Is there a lookout or observatory on the section?
    Yes

  • Nature classroom

    Is there a nature classroom on this section?
    Yes
  • Is there a recreational area on this section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    No
  • Is there a beach on this section?
    Yes