Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain Apr. 5, 2025

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.

© Eloi_Omella/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Let’s have a lek, see?
Apr. 5, 2024The Bahamas
Apr. 5, 2026Easter Sunday

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb. 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon
Oct. 30, 2024Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
Dec. 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Apr. 10, 2025Siblings Day
Dec. 25, 2024Merry Christmas!
Where the rainbow ends
Dec. 2, 2024Moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
A day for giving
Nov. 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Dec. 4, 2024Wildlife Conservation Day
Jun. 19, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Jun. 6, 2024The 80th anniversary of D-Day
Mar. 8, 2026Daylight Saving Time
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Stepping back in time
Nov. 9, 2024Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Frosty Finland
When landscape met wilderness
May 24, 2024Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Feb. 22, 2026Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
Oct. 31, 2025Happy Halloween!
Jan. 11, 2025Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
Feb. 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Dec. 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
Keep practicing, little guy
Dec. 17, 2024Traditional red fishermens cabins, Reine, Norway
The sprout with amazing potential
Nov. 14, 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
Big Bends birthday bash
Spring is the time for billing