Basque town which was the site of the first airborne bombing attack on a civilian town during the Spanish civil war. The bombing, by the Condor Legion of Germany's Luftwaffe in 1937, inspired Picasso to paint the landmark cubist work ''Guernica'', now on display at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid.
Guernica [http://www.gernika-lumo.net/in_index.asp] (Basque: ''Gernika'') is also the traditional home of the Basque Country's parliament, which was established in the 16th century under the shadow of an oak tree in the town. The tree symbolises the Basque people's historic and traditional rights (Spanish: ''foros''), and is represented on Guernica's coat of arms.
Today, Guernica is a thriving commercial town with several museums. Because of its history, it has also become an important symbol of Basque culture and identity.
Get in
Guernica lies roughly 35km north-east of Bilbao on the N635 road to Bermeo.
Get around
The center of Guernica is easily covered on foot. Free car-parking is available near the Ertzaintza police station (follow road-signs). From there it is a short walk to the tourist office at Artekalea 8. All the main sights can be reached within 10-15 minutes walk from there.
See
Gernika Peace Museum Foundation. Basque: ''Gernikako Bakearen Museoa Fundazioa'', Spanish: ''Fundacion Museo de la Paz de Guernica''). laza de los Fueros 1. n square opposite tourist office. 34 94 627 1213. useoa@gernika-lumo.net. 34 94 625 8608. ttp://www.museodelapaz.org. ue-Sat: 10.00-14.00 and 16.00-19.00, Sun: 10.00-14.00 (Jul-Aug Tue-Sat 10.00-19.00. A thematic museum inspired by the 1937 bombing. It examines the nature of peace, the legacy of the Gernika bombing and peace in the modern world.
Euskal Herria Museum. /Allendesalazar 5, Gernika-Lumo. 34 94 625 5451. uskalherriamuseoa@bizkaia.net. 34 94 625 7415. ttp://www.bizkaia.net/euskalherriamuseoa/. ues-Sat: 10.00-14.00 and 16.00-19.00, Sun: 11.00-15.00, Public holidays: 11.00-14.00 and 16.00-20.00, closed Mon. dults ?3, children/students ?1.50. Housed in a Baroque mansion dating from 1733, the museum gives a broad overview of the historical, social and cultural significance of the Basque charter of rights, a background to the region, and some insight into Basque culture represented in visual arts, music, dance and sport.
'''Park of the Peoples of Europe''' (Spanish: ''Parque de los Pueblos de Europa'') with sculptures by Henry Moore and Basque artist Eduardo Chillida
'''Assembly House and the Tree''' (Basque: ''Batzarretxea eta Arbola'', Spanish: ''Arbol y Casa de Juntas'')
Udetxea Palace. llendesalazar etorb.. n Park of the Peoples of Europe. 34 94 625 7125. rdaibai@ej-gv.es. ttp://www.euskadi.net/urdaibai. on-Thu: 09.00-13.00 and 15.00-17.00, Fri: 09.00-14.30, (June-Sept Mon-Fri 09.00-14.30). ree. The palace houses the official headquarters of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, designated by Unesco in 1984. The reserve is a protected area where there is a commitment to sustainable development.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Lurdeia. rtike auszoa, z/g 48370 Bermeo. 34 666 477665. ww.lurdeia.com. bout ?100/night. ''Casa Rural'' guesthouse on an organic farm with stunning views over the estuary out to Bermeo. Offers bed and breakfast with self-catering options. The farm has some prehistoric standing stones.
Get out
Guernica is in easy reach of Bilbao, the provincial capital of Vizcaya, and also has train and bus connections to San Sebastian, and the coastal resort of Bermeo, 14km to the north.
The picturesque fishing village of Elantxobe, perched at the foot of sheer cliffs, is another short bus ride away, and as a bonus, you can watch the bus being spun around on a turntable before it can make its journey back up the narrow cliff-face road.
Other nearby beaches are at Mundaka and Lekeitio