Atxondo

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Atxondo is a small municipality in the Basque Country, Spain. It is in Biscay, in the Durangaldea region, about 6 km from Durango and 36 km from Bilbao. In 1962, three old districts—Apatamonasterio, Arrazola and Axpe—joined to form Atxondo. The name means something like “beside the rock” in Basque.

Geography: The valley is formed where the Ibaizabal river meets the Zumalegi river from the Anboto mountains. Atxondo has two main parts: an industrial area around Apatamonasterio, and farming and residential areas around Axpe, Arrazola and the neighborhoods of Marzana and Santiago. It borders Abadiño to the west, Elorrio to the east, and the province of Álava to the south.

Population and living: About 1,342 people live there (January 2025). The area sits at about 170 meters above sea level.

Getting there: The BI-634 road goes through the valley, connecting Durango with Arrasate-Mondragón and linking to routes toward Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián. Three Bizkaibus lines stop in Atxondo (A3923, A3914 and A3913) serving Apatamonasterio and other parts of the municipality.

History: Each former elizate had its own church and took part in regional events such as the War of the Bands. Notable people from Atxondo include Esteban de Urizar, governor of Peru, and Arrazola de Oñate, a royal chamberlain.