Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
© Eloi_Omella/Getty Image
Pilgrimage to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Gaztelugatxe is a stunning islet on the coast of Biscay in the Basque Country, Spain. It is famous for its dramatic scenery and the small hermitage, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, dedicated to John the Baptist at its peak. The hermitage, which dates back to the 10th century, has been rebuilt several times due to damage from battles and fire. Today's building is perched atop the islet and is accessible by a narrow path that includes 241 steps. It's a popular pilgrimage site, and visitors often ring the church bell three times and make a wish. According to legend, John the Baptist himself set foot on the islet. The views from the top offer panoramic vistas of the rugged coastline and the Cantabrian Sea. Gaztelugatxe gained international fame as a filming location for the TV series 'Game of Thrones,' where it served as Dragonstone, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen.
Related Images
Mua Caves in the Ninh Bình province of Vietnam
Bioluminescent algae along the shores of the Matsu Islands off the coast of Taiwan
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
La Digue, an island in the Seychelles
Cefalù on Mediterranean Sea in Sicily, Italy
Firefall at Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California
Shoreline near Tofino on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Wildflowers in bloom at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona
Bing Today Images
