Estacion de Bilbao Concordia (Bilbao-Concordia Railway Station), Bilbao

Bilbao-Concordia Railway Station, also called Santander Station, rolled into service in 1902 as the end point of the narrow-gauge line linking Bilbao with Santander and the Cantabrian coast. The project came from engineer Valent铆n Gorbe帽a, a man already familiar with reshaping Bilbao through the Kadagua Railway and the city鈥檚 19th-century expansion. Its name-鈥淐oncordia鈥�-stems from the pact that rescued the railway from bankruptcy, a reminder that Bilbao鈥檚 growth often came with equal parts risk and resilience. What the city gained was not just a functional station but one of the most striking Belle 脡poque landmarks along the Nervi贸n River.

The fa莽ade remains the showpiece: a Modernist composition touched by Art Nouveau, where iron, stone, and glass come together in a theatrical display. At its heart is a great circular stained-glass window that still dominates the view from the riverbank. Surrounding details-floral motifs, wrought-iron balconies, and decorative tiling-turn the exterior into something closer to civic art than railway engineering. Inside, broad platforms and sweeping iron canopies evoke the confidence of the early 20th century, while capitals carved with Hermes, the god of commerce, tie the station鈥檚 identity to Bilbao鈥檚 mercantile lifeblood.

The building spans two levels: the ground floor originally filled with offices, ticket counters, and a cafeteria, while the upper floor carried the tracks and platforms. For decades it shared duties with the larger Abando Station, channeling passenger traffic up and down the Cantabrian coast. Modernization has trimmed its role, but its historic character has never been stripped away.

Today, Bilbao-Concordia is as much admired for its architecture as for its trains. The stained glass, the ironwork, and its riverside presence all make it one of the city鈥檚 most photographed landmarks, a station that still carries the optimism of its steam-age beginnings.

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Sight Name: Estacion de Bilbao Concordia (Bilbao-Concordia Railway Station)
Sight Location: Bilbao, Spain (See walking tours in Bilbao)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Bilbao Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Bilbao, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Bilbao

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Often regarded as a jewel of Basque architecture and... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

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