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Balmaseda, a historic trading hub on the wool route, is home to a really valuable gem: The museum ‘La Encartada Fabrika-museoa‘. Now regarded as a benchmark for industrial heritage in Europe, this textile factory has remained virtually intact since the 19th century. It is a must-see in Bizkaia’s oldest town.

La Encartada Fabrika-Museoa

On the outskirts of Balmaseda, on the road to Burgos, lies one of the jewels of Basque industrial heritage: La Encartada Fabrika-museoa. Founded in 1892 by five ‘indianos’ who had made their fortune in Mexico, this textile factory processed wool for a whole century. Its historical significance is such that today it features as a key site on the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH).

Although they were best known for producing traditional basque berets, they also manufactured blankets, cloth and knitwear. A small working-class community grew up around the factory, with housing, a chapel-school and vegetable gardens, which today offer a glimpse into that way of life.

What makes La Encartada unique is its original machinery, which still operates using the pulley and belt system dating from 1892. The site preserves a traditional old house with its original decoration, offering a glimpse into daily life in the industrial area. It is a place that has remained virtually intact to this day after a century of textile production.

Transformed into a museum in 2007, the site retains its original character and takes us back to the early days of industrialisation in the Basque Country. It is an exceptional example of industrial archaeology, offering an insight into the production process of our most iconic apparel: the txapela (among other knitwear). To round off your visit, you can buy one right in the factory where they used to be made.

After the trip, we will head to the historic centre of Balmaseda, located about 2 kilometres from the factory. The medieval streets of Bizkaia’s oldest town await us on the other side of the Old Bridge (13th century) and lead us through a layout where religious buildings, mansions and remnants of a former era stand side by side.

To understand the town’s strategic relevance, it is well worth climbing up to Cerro del Castillo. At its highest point stood the old defensive fortress with its walls. Balmaseda was one of the main medieval strongholds, a gateway to Bizkaia and a key commercial hub in the region’s history.

The History Museum and the Living Passion Interpretation Centre offer an insight into the origins and traditions of the area. The Balmaseda Way of the Cross, the most famous in the Basque Country, is renowned for the realism of its Crucifixion scene. Both museums are situated in the heart of the old town, surrounded by restaurants and pintxo bars where you can stop for a bite to eat.

To round off the day, we invite you to climb Kolitza. Setting off on foot from behind the Town Hall, you’ll reach the summit in a couple of hours. At 879 metres above sea level, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the neighbouring valleys. It is one of the five ‘horned’ mountains of Bizkaia. From its summit, crowned by the Romanesque chapel of San Roque, the General Assembly of Gernika was summoned for centuries by bonfires and the sounding of horns.

Must-see

imagen de Guided tour of the old town

Guided tour of the old town

Discover Balmaseda on a guided tour of its medieval old town and the iconic Old Bridge. The itinerary takes you through Bizkaia’s oldest town and includes admission to the History Museum and the Living Passion Museum. You can choose between a standard tour or an immersive experience using virtual reality headsets.

imagen de Climbing Mount Kolitza

Climbing Mount Kolitza

It is one of the five ‘horned’ hills of Bizkaia. From here, the General Assemblies were convened with bonfires and the sounding of horns. The traditional route starts at the Town Hall and climbs to an altitude of 879 metres, where a Romanesque chapel and a 360-degree panoramic view await you.

imagen de Bean stew

Bean stew

More than just a dish, it’s a ritual. Born on the La Robla railway line, cooked in the heat of the locomotive, the ‘putxera‘ is the town’s emblem. It is prepared over a slow charcoal fire with beans and local specialities: ribs, bacon, chorizo and black pudding. A unique flavour to round off your trip to Balmaseda.

Practical Information

How to get there

Autobús

Check Bizkaibus lines

Tren

Balmaseda (43.196255, -3.190118)  Schedule

Vehículo privado

Balmaseda (43.193471, -3.193503)  View on Google Maps

Museo-Fábrica La Encartada (43.176862, -3.212290)  View on Google Maps

Alquiler y excursiones en bici

Beroutes  Visit website

Urgebi Bikes  Visit website

Lunch break!

Enjoy the gastronomy of Meatzaldea along your route

San Roque

Balmaseda

Skamata

Balmaseda

Amalurra

Artzentales

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View accommodations

Where to stay

Discover the best accommodations available in Meatzaldea, surrounded by mining history, tradition, and nature. Rural hotels and modern spaces near the best routes and viewpoints in our land. Wake up every day in a unique environment!

The route in pictures

Other routes

Iron and mountain

Iron and sea

Iron and water

A unique factory

The entrails of the Earth
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