Gaztelugatxe an islet just off the coast on the Bay of Biscay and dates from the ninth century. It is connected to the mainland by an impressive man made bridge. The chapel is dedicated to John the Baptist. The island was a strategic spot for controlling the coast.  Historically Gaztelugatxe constituted one of the bastions of resistance against invasion from Alfonso XI, the King of Castile. Gaztelugatxe was defended in 1334 by seven knights who resisted the attacks of a well organised army for more than a month. Having failed to siege the island, Alfonso withdrew humiliated. In 1593 it was attacked again and sacked by Francis Drake, whose troops plundered everything to be found in the sanctuary and threw a hermit off the cliff.

Gaztelugatxe panorama.

One and a half kilometres of walkway including 250 odd steps.

John the Baptist was a bit of a boat boffin judging by the lovely bronze propeller.

Below is a picture taken from Gaztelugatxe if you zoom in you can just see Cork in Ireland on the right, just to the left is Greenland but a fair bit further away and on the left a little further over is Newfoundland. Neat eh!

By the way part of season seven of Game of Thrones was filmed at Gaztelugatxe.