Memorial of the Iron Belt (Berango) and Captain Goicoechea

You may know that during this year, 2014, several European countries commemorate the 50 anniversary from the beginning of the World War I.

The truth is that great wars are part of our historical and cultural heritage, and that explains why many sites that have been scenes of battles, or large cemeteries, have become places of tourist interest.

Very near Bilbao, in the population of of late for the Uribe region you can learn the history of one of the key moments of the Spanish Civil War.

Specifically, the history of the fortification that was installed around the city of Bilbao during the war, which was called iron belt.

The passion of the people grouped in the Sancho de Beurko Association It is the driving force that has led to the recovery of this time of the Civil War, which has led to the creation in the aforementioned town of the Uribe region of the Iron Belt Memorial.

Iron Belt History

Aitor, one of the promoters of said association and councilor of Berango, tells us the history of the Iron Belt during the visit of interpretation Center.

If you are not familiar with it, as was my case, I will tell you that to know the origin of the Bilbao Iron Belt We must go back to the initial moment of the conflict, when Franco's troops failed to occupy Madrid.

This led Franco to try to occupy the republican area that had been isolated in the north of Spain, specifically in part of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, Cantabria and Asturias.

In October of 1936, José Antonio Aguirre, then president of the Basque autonomy and representative of the republican state in Euskadi, decided to build a large defensive line with a network of trenches and machine gun nests around the city of Bilbao, which became known as the iron belt.

After its construction, finally on June 12, 1937, Franco's troops made an attack, concentrating their forces at a specific point on the defensive line, and after two days of fighting, the Iron Belt was overcome, which marked the prelude to the surrender of the city of Bilbao.

Iron Belt Memorial

Now, in the guided tours organized by the Berango town hall, which begin at the headquarters of the Iron Belt Memorial, through several thematic showcases and information panels, Aitor He is going to tell you this story in detail.

In addition, you will be able to see many objects related to it, such as uniforms, weapons, weapons, newspapers from the time, etc...

After finishing this visit by watching a short documentary made by the members of said association, a historical recreation of the environment experienced in the trenches, the most interesting moment of the visit arrives: climbing a nearby mountain to tour the old trenches and see the remains of the machine gun nests.

Aitor warns you that you have to imagine a very different landscape, because now in the mountains you have to enter a lush eucalyptus forest, when at the time of the Iron Belt The landscape showed the hills clear of vegetation, which in theory would favor its defense.

In addition to visiting the remains of the trenches, you will be able to see and enter the old machine gun nest Mendibi-Areneburu, the only one in the area that has been preserved almost perfectly, and one of the best preserved in the world. historic Iron Belt.

I will tell you that said nest was saved in extremis from being demolished during the clearing work for the construction of the highway that runs through the nearby valley, which did not happen with other nests in the same area. In the end, in this case, the arguments of protecting historical heritage prevailed.

You will also know the curious story of Captain Goicoechea, who fighting with the Republican army went over to the Francoist side, to which he provided the necessary information to attack the Bilbao defensive line.

This captain, in the post-war period, went on to work in a company that, given the lack of iron in Spain, was dedicated to the recovery of iron rods used in the construction of machine gun nests.

And the most curious thing, said captain was the famous engineer Alejandro Goicoechea, inventor of the pendulum train Talgo.

These guided tours, including hiking through the bush to see the trenches and the remains of machine gun nests, last about four hours and are free.

Of course, you must call in advance by phone (94 668 21 43) to ensure that the minimum group is formed to carry it out.