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:

Nov. 10, 2023Badlands National Park anniversary
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
Aug. 29, 2023Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
Aug 20, 2026An orca near the Chilkat Mountains, Lynn Canal, Alaska, USA
Aug. 15, 2025The Canadian National Exhibition is here!
A peck between penguins
May 20, 2025World Bee Day
Desert daggers?
Mar. 15, 2024Abbotsford, British Columbia
Mar. 17, 2024St. Patricks Day
Mar. 9, 2025Daylight saving time begins
Nov. 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Mar. 10, 2024Daylight Savings
Jul 4, 2026Kaysersberg, Alsace, France
Apr. 20, 2026Buckets on maple trees collecting sap for maple syrup
Aug. 17, 2024International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
Aug 18, 2026Aerial view of Palmanova, a fortress city in Friuli, Italy
Jul. 29, 2025International Tiger Day
The ancient home of the Minoans
Jun. 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
May 11, 2026Great Barrier Reef from above, Queensland, Australia
Mar. 11, 2026Peach trees in Cieza, Murcia, Spain
Feb. 2, 2024Groundhog Day
Jan. 7, 2024Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
Sequoias of the sea
Jan. 21, 2026Eurasian red squirrel
The grass looks greener on this side
On a dark and stormy night...
Jul. 10, 2024Collared aracari
One of the oldest parks in Quebec