Busturialdea

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Historical Busturialdea (red) in the context of formation of Biscay (orange)
(open image for full legend)

Modern extension of Busturialdea

Busturialdea, the area of Busturia, is one of the original districts (es merindades, [eu] eskualdeak) that united to constitute Biscay. Today this name refers to a diminished portion of the same original subregion.

Busturialdea is located along the Urdaibai estuary, now a Biosphere Reserve and holiday area, though originally also included all the coast up to Guipuscoa.

Busturialdea is sometimes also called simply Busturia, specially in Spanish, but this may cause confusion with the municipality of that name.

Busturialdea was historically the core of Biscay: the capital of the province, Gernika, was located in it; the village of Mundaka, also belonging to this district, had the privilege of speaking always first in the sessions of its parliament and for some time, the harbour of Bermeo was the main portuary facility, until Bilbao was founded in 1300.

Busturialdea and its lush estuary was also important in prehistory. Particularly significative is its site of Santimamiñe cave, that yielded a full sequence of human habitation from Neanderthals to the Iron Age, and beautiful Magdalenian cave paintings.