Mundaka

Mundaka's port

Coast near Mundaka, Biscay

Mundaka is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. On the coast, Mundaka is internationally-renowned for its surfing scene.

Mundaka is accessible from Bilbao by EuskoTren on the Bermeo line.

History

Mundaka is known as one of the most important places of the Lordship of Biscay, it was the birthplace of Jaun Zuria, the first Lord of Biscay, son of the Scottish princess who arrived to Mundaka escaping from an English King. The name of the town has Danish origin, it is proven that the Vikings arrived there 900 years ago. According to the history of the Lordship, Mundaka has the oldest temple of Biscay, so that, it has the first seat of the General Parliament.

The port is in the center point of the town, from there the old part of the town grew. All the houses are medieval, fishermen houses, always looking to the sea.

The coat of arms of Mundaka is formed by an oak in a gold farm with a wolf, surrounded by a chess game.

Surfing

Mundaka is well renowned world wide for its quality of surf. Huge swells roll in from the Bay of Biscay and slam into the rocky coastline of the Basque Country. The estuary at Mundaka has created a perfect sandbar which forms hollow waves that can be watched from the town's harbor wall. Mundaka was formerly one of the sites of the World Championship Tour of Surfing.[1]

Some great surfers have marked their legacy on Mundaka such as Andy Irons, Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater, Mark Occilupo and Joel Parkinson.

External links

• City council web page
• MUNDAKA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (Spanish)
• YOUTUBE video of surf in Mundaka
• YOUTUBE Incredible tubes in Mundaka
• [2]

Coordinates: 43°24′26″N 2°41′54″W / 43.40722°N 2.69833°W / 43.40722; -2.69833