Durango, Biscay
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Durango is an industrial town situated 30km east from Bilbao in the Biscay province, in the Basque Country (northern Spain). It has 26,131 inhabitants (2004). The town is crossed by the Ibaizabal river and lies in the middle of its wide valley, with the scenic Urkiola mountain range and natural park to the south. The most important peak is the majestic Anboto (1331m).
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[edit] History
Durango is a historic city, home of conquistadors like Francisco de Ibarra, and as a result there are more Durangos in America named after the Basque original one, not least of which is a state in Mexico called Durango, the principal city of which is called Durango.
The town has the unfortunate claim of being the first place to be blitzed by Hitler's German Air force, at the request of General Franco.
Just like the Gernika bombing that followed, it was a busy shopping day - St. Maria, the central church (now a basilica) with a covered market, was the target. About 500 people were killed in Durango but it was not as famous as the following bombing of Gernika a few days later, to which Pablo Picasso paid tribute in his painting for the Paris Exhibition.1
There is less heavy industry in the town than ten or twenty years ago as it's being replaced by high technology industries.
[edit] Communications and Transport
Durango is the home of Euskal Telebista (http://www.eitb.com/english/). This public television company broadcasts in Euskera (Basque) and Spanish. It also has a global presence with satellite channel beamed across the world.
[edit] Bus
Every half an hour there is a BizkaiBus bus service to Bilbao. There are two routes, one via the A8 motorway which takes about 30 minutes. This bus runs on the hour. The other slower route which offers a wonderful tour of the local countryside and villages, takes about 50 mins.
Buses also run to a variety of coastal villages. Also Vitoria, Gernika and Donostia (San Sebastian) are served.
[edit] Train
The trains (from EuskoTren company) are narrow gauge and run on a single track. At this time Durango is cut in two by the railway, as level crossings are used, this can cause unexpected delays in traffic. A rail tunnel is being built under the town, that will solve the problem of the level crossings by 2009.
Trains also run to Bilbao and it is possible to get to Gernika also with a train change at Amorebieta
[edit] External links
- Durango City Hall
- Urkiola Natural Park
- DURANGO in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (Spanish)
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