The first phase of the intervention will include cleaning, landscaping, and educational displays through signage and guided tours.
The restoration of the La Galea Fort for social use and enjoyment is one of the interventions most requested by the public, as evidenced by it being the second most voted option in the Getxo participatory budgets for 2025.
Aspects such as the historical, heritage, and emotional value of the monument, its beauty, and its strategic location as a watchtower over the Abra Bay, as well as the increasing number of locals and visitors who walk through its surroundings and wish to explore and enjoy it, justify the intervention in themselves.
Furthermore, the tours organized during 2024 by the Punta Begoña Foundation “Getxo, Puntatik Puntara” have received a significant public response, both from Getxo residents and visitors interested in learning about the history of the municipality, based on the historical axis that connects Punta Galea and Punta Begoña.
The resolution of the participatory budget process has resulted in the allocation of 156,000 euros to act on the fort through cleaning and landscaping interventions in the various spaces and walls.
This is intended to disseminate the history of the monument, as well as the beauty and potential of the site, through guided tours.
The refurbishment works of the La Galea Fort, or Prince’s Castle, stem from a citizen proposal, which is why information and participation will be key elements in the following phases until the full restoration and social use of the monument is achieved.
Beyond the uses defined for the monument by the Strategic and Action Plan, the immediate objective is to prepare the space to progressively turn it into an accessible and enjoyable place for the population.
The La Galea Fort was built in 1743 and became one of the most emblematic military defenses on the Biscay coast. Throughout its history, it has had various uses, both military and civil. In 2025, the first steps will be taken in its process of recovery, participation, and social use.
