Iron River, eight routes through Bilbao and Bizkaia

‘Iron River’ proposes eight routes through Bilbao and Bizkaia, linking greenways and 41 industrial heritage sites that are fundamental to understanding the history of the area.

Today, Bizkaia is a land of friendly towns, blue rivers and open skies. But for centuries it was a trading port. And always the land of iron. Not so long ago, it was bored by vast mines, heated by smelters, fired by furnaces, trampled by tens of thousands of workers who handled picks and wagons, forges, red-hot billets, giant chemical hoppers, steam pistons, grease guns and bulk barges.

It was all rust, smoke and hardened mahogany overalls under txapelas and hard hats.

‘Iron River’ recovers this memory. Its catalogue offers a unique experience to explore the historical and industrial wealth of Bizkaia in a different way. It covers a wide range of destinations and points of interest. From the old Bilbao shipyards, Barakaldo and Sestao and their steelworks, Portugalete and the Bizkaia bridge, to the mansions of Getxo or Pozalagua, Güeñes and the Karrantza valley, among others.
It proposes eight specific routes and three green routes to explore the area, including Bilbao, the Iron Villages, the Mining Museum and the Bodovalle, and the Karrantza Valley.

The routes link museums, walks, historic sites and other places of interest. ‘Iron River’ resents a total of 41 attractions from the area’s industrial heritage, grouped into eight routes.

It is worth getting to know them. Ask for a brochure at any tourist office or visit the website .

THE EIGHT IRON RIVER ROUTES