<P> Gaztelugatxe is an islet on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo, Basque Country (Spain). It is connected to the mainland by a man - made bridge . On top of the island stands a hermitage (named Gaztelugatxeko Doniene in Basque; San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Spanish), dedicated to John the Baptist, that dates from the 10th century, although discoveries indicate that the date might be the 9th century . With another small neighboring island, Aketx, they form a protected biotope that extends from the town of Bakio until Cape Matxitxako, on the Bay of Biscay . </P> <P> The word gaztelugatxe (ɡas̻teluɡatʃe) comes from the Basque gaztelu = "castle", "fort" and gaitz = "difficult", "tremendous", forming gaztelu gaitza, gaztelugatxe "the craggy fort". </P> <P> The Basque coast is rough in this area . The sea ceaselessly erodes the rocky coast creating tunnels, arches and caves . The island of Gaztelugatxe is in the center of this section of coast next to the small Aketx island, a sanctuary for marine birds . </P>

San juan de gaztelugatxe bermeo basque country spain