Marta Pilar
A fort on the cliff
After visiting the Mill Aixerrota and while touring the Paseo de La Galea, we came next to a cliff to see the Prince Castle (or Fort La Galea). Despite the cold we wanted to walk because the scenery and the view with different colors in the sky sky deserved it. So, we left the car close to the mill, all the way up to the car park the driveway is made of stone tiles, it has wooden benches and good lights. Along the cliff stands a XVIII century fortress construction, by Jaime Sycre, began in 1742 and it was built in order to protect commercial traffic of the port of Bilbao which was under threat from a major British fleet that roamed the area.
The fort had a great quarter in its central part, gunpowder and munitions depot, a large pit, a wooden bridge, the stone floor facilitated the transit of guns and ammunition. It originally had 20 guns but over the years these were reduced, 12 in 1765, 8 in 1773 and 6 in 1827. Since the late nineteenth century it was a lighthouse and when this was replaced by another, it was abandoned (but kept in fairly good condition). A couple of archaeologists and archeology students performed a study of the fortification, and possible future use thereof. The data belongs to the Tourist Office of Algorta (Getxo).
Read more



+22