Meatza | Iron and mountains

Larreineta Funicular > The Mining Village of La Arboleda > La Arboleda Mines

Larreineta Funicular

Your route begins in the La Escontrilla neighbourhood of Trapagaran, where the historic Larreineta funicular awaits you. Since 1926, this iconic mode of transport has linked Trapagaran with La Arboleda on a journey of just ten minutes that is well worth the trip.

Named a Cultural Asset in the Monument category, the funicular stands out for its distinctive route (1,198 metres) and its horizontal platform, a unique design in Europe that allows for the transport of people, minerals and vehicles. In its day, it was extremely important to the lives of mining families.

Mirador de la estación

Once you reach the top, head to the station’s viewing terrace: you’ll see a spectacular panoramic view of Meatzaldea, Ezkerraldea, Bilbao, Getxo and the Cantabrian Sea. It’s the perfect place to start exploring the mining area.

The next stop on the route is La Arboleda, a hidden gem amongst the mountains. You can get there on foot (about 20 minutes) or by taking the shuttle bus provided by the funicular, which allows you to shorten the journey when the weather is not on your side.

Poblado minero de La Arboleda

This former mining village is one of the places that best preserves the memory of mining in Bizkaia. Even today, some of the original wooden houses still stand, the classic barracks where families lived alongside the mines.

The settlement features a fully restored house which can be visited in the Basque Country Mining Museum. Those early buildings were basically makeshift barracks thrown together, although over time the housing improved and the neighbourhood had a hospital, a church, schools and shops.

After a pleasant stroll, beans with pork are the perfect dish to recharge your batteries, but La Arboleda has much more to offer. You’ll be surprised by the lively atmosphere in its streets, which are packed with restaurants, taverns and pintxo bars where you can take part in the traditional ‘poteo’ ritual.

Now that you’ve recharged your batteries, we recommend taking an easy stroll through the spectacular natural surroundings and scenery of La Arboleda. What is now a haven of nature was, just a few decades ago, a whole lunar landscape, filled with mining operations. Today, however, the vegetation has reclaimed its place and the old mine shafts have become lakes.

El parque de esculturas

Don’t miss Meatzalde Goikoa Park, a stunning sculptural trail right in the heart of the mining route. The path winds its way between the lakes formed from the former Hostión, Parkotxa and Blondis wells, transforming the old industrial landscape into a natural setting of great beauty and life.

To round off the experience, be sure to visit the Meatzaldea-Peñas Negras Ekoetxea, an environmental interpretation centre located just 2.5 km from La Arboleda. This centre will help you understand the transformation of the mining landscape from an environmental perspective and discover how nature has reclaimed its place. You can get there on foot (about 40 minutes), by bike (about 15 minutes) or by car (about 10 minutes).

Must-see

Larreineta funicular

Since 1926, this funicular has linked the Trapagaran valley with La Arboleda. Its pioneering design is notable for a unique horizontal platform capable of carrying both vehicles and passengers. What began as an industrial project remains today a means of transport and a living testament to Bizkaia’s mining history.

Visit a mining village

Visit an authentic miner’s cottage with the Basque Country Mining Museum and discover what daily life was like back then. This journey into the past in La Arboleda stands in stark contrast to its present: a landscape of lakes and footpaths that have sprung up from the old industrial pits, ideal for a break in the fresh air.

Peñas Negras labyrinth

Venture into the Peñas Negras Labyrinth, a spectacular and whimsical karst landscape brought to light by mining activity. This landscape invites us to explore its curious rock formations and nooks and crannies. Follow the route and you’ll see how industrial activity has sculpted one of the most photogenic spots in Meatzaldea.

Practical Information

Cómo llegar

We recommend starting Route 1 at the Larreineta funicular station, located in the La Escontrilla neighbourhood of the municipality of Trapagaran. You can get there either by public transport (Bizkaibus and Renfe Cercanías line C2) or by car.

Autobús

Check Bizkaibus lines

Tren

Trapagaran (Urioste stop) (43307582-3040183) Schedule

Vehículo privado

Of course, travelling by private car gives you the option of getting around the area much more easily.

Basque Country Mining Museum (43.311463, -3.070415) View on Google Maps

Alquiler y excursiones en bici

Beroutes Visit website

Urgebi Bikes Visit website

Consejos para la ruta

– Wear comfortable shoes.

– If you’re travelling by car, remember that cyclists and pedestrians have right of way.

– If you’re cycling, always wear a helmet and ride with caution on sections shared with vehicles.

– Respect the environment, local residents and animals.

– Respect general traffic regulations.

– Enjoy nature quietly and at an easy pace.

– Take care, especially when passing through tunnels and over viaducts.

Lunch break!

Enjoy the gastronomy of Meatzaldea along your route

Gloria

Zierbena

Mugarri

Muskiz

Basilio

Sopuerta

See more →

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

Basque Country Mining Museum and the Bodovalle Mine (Concha II)

This route complements the previous one, and we recommend combining them to get the full experience. The itinerary will take you to the Basque Country Mining Museum, in the Gallarta neighbourhood (Abanto-Zierbena). The centre displays a large collection of the artefacts, tools and machinery that played a key role in the golden age of steelmaking in Meatzaldea.

In addition to its technical collection, the museum features a themed area dedicated to the famous Dolores Ibarruri, known as ‘La Pasionaria’, who was born in Gallarta in 1895. The guided tour shows how mining laid the foundations for Basque industrial development and shaped the way of life of local families. It is the best way to understand the history of an area where iron mining completely transformed the landscape.

La mina Concha II

Next to the Mining Museum, you’ll find another of the main attractions on this route: the Concha II mine, also known as the Bodovalle mine or Concha 2. At this impressive open-cast mine, the largest in the Basque Country, over 14 million cubic metres of material were excavated in less than two decades.

In order to make mining possible, the neighbourhood of Gallarta was relocated house by house to its current site, making way for Europe’s largest iron mine, with 50 kilometres of underground tunnels. A visit to its viewing point is the perfect way to round off a nice trip to the Ekoetxea Meatzaldea, an environmental interpretation centre that documents the landscape’s transformation.

The size of the Bodovalle mine is colossal: a hollow with a 700 metres perimeter, a diameter of 350 metres and a depth of 150 metres, descending from the hill to 37 metres below sea level. This is why it was designated a monument in 2011.

Industrial remains continue to appear along the route. In the neighbouring town of Ortuella, the distinctive and revolutionary Apold-Fleisner calcination furnace, built by the Franco-Belga company, stands out. Listed as a Monument, this unique gem in Europe was used to enrich iron and is a key testament to our mining history.

This furnace is also interesting because, when it was in operation, it was truly ahead of its time: it used fuel oil instead of coal, the fuel was not mixed with the minerals, and it featured a system that reduced air pollution during the calcination process.

Now restored as a socio-cultural and administrative facility, the basement still contains the remains of the dock, the mineral washing facilities and a section of railway track along which the wagons used to run, carrying the mineral to be transported.

In the town centre of Ortuella, there is a deep sense of mining pride. In Otxartaga Park, the monument erected in honour of those who worked in the iron industry reminds us of the sacrifices made by an entire generation. Nearby, next to the pelota court, stands the figure of the driller, a symbol of the strength and skill of those who hammered away at the rock to make way for the mineral.

The tour ends near the station, where the imposing calcination furnace of the Bilbao mine stands as a final, fascinating testament to our industrial heritage.

From Ortuella, the Orconera Greenway (4 km) takes you to Trapagaran along a route that follows the path of the old mining railway. Along this route, you’ll pass through six tunnels and come across three rest areas from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the villages on the left bank.

From La Orconera, you can also return to the Basque Country Mining Museum on foot or by bike. Once you reach the end of the cycle path, a short 2 km road will take you back to the Campodiego neighbourhood in Gallarta, bringing this circular route to a close.

Must-see

The Earth's core

The Basque Country Mining Museum preserves the legacy of the industry that transformed the Basque Country. Its extensive collection of tools and machinery is essential to understand the hard work of generations of miners and ‘txirteras’. Located in Gallarta, next to the Concha II mine, it is the great guardian of the identity of Meatzaldea.

Ekoetxea viewing point

The Ekoetxea Meatzaldea explores the landscape of the Montes de Triano and its environmental regeneration. With centres in Ortuella and Gallarta, the latter offers a unique attraction: a viewpoint with stunning views of the Concha II mine. It is the perfect place to observe the vast open-cast mine that defines the landscape.

Route to Trapagaran

This route forms the backbone of Meatzaldea, linking past and present. The trail connects Gallarta, Ortuella and Trapagaran via an easy route, ideal to walk or cycle. The path serves as an open-air museum, filled with industrial relics that follow you at every turn.

Practical Information

How to get there

If you wish, you can reach the Basque Country Mining Museum by public transport. Nearby, in the Gallarta neighbourhood, there are several Bizkaibus stops, as well as the Renfe commuter station (Gallarta), which serves the C2 line from Bilbao. You can also cycle to the museum via the Montes de Hierro greenway.