Balmaseda combines distinctive architectural heritage with a mountainous landscape and pilgrim routes. When looking for a hotel in Balmaseda, it is worth first choosing what you want to focus on: the town’s history, outdoor activities or local food culture.
Bridge, Town History and Industrial Heritage
The Puente Viejo dates from the 12th century. Its three Romanesque arches are of different proportions: the central one is significantly larger and topped by a Gothic tower. Historically, the bridge was both the entrance from Castile to Bizkaia and the gateway to the walled area of Balmaseda. According to researchers, Castillo de Balmaseda was built in the 13th century on the hill overlooking Balmaseda.
The Museo de Historia de Balmaseda is housed in the Iglesia de San Juan del Moral. It presents historical and ethnographic aspects that help reconstruct the town’s past. La Encartada Fabrica-Museo is a restored textile factory that preserves nearly all the machinery from a complete production line. While the town museum offers historical and ethnographic perspectives on Balmaseda’s past, the Fabrica-Museo focuses on textile production.
Mountain Scenery and Routes
Balmaseda lies in a mountainous landscape, with the Cadagua running through a narrow valley. Kolitza reaches an altitude of 879 m and is one of Bizkaia’s five Bocinero mountains. Zoko Maitea forest is considered the only forest of flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus) in the Basque Country. Kolitza gives the landscape a clearly defined elevation, while Zoko Maitea adds a different natural feature with its flowering ash trees.
The Centro de Nordic Walking Balmaseda has four circular routes of varying difficulty. The BTT routes are also circular and are graded blue, red and black according to difficulty. It is worth distinguishing between the difficulty ratings: the colour grades apply to BTT, while the Nordic Walking routes are described as having varying levels of difficulty. The ratings for the BTT routes may change, so check the current difficulty before setting out on a particular route.
The second stage of the pilgrim route from Güeñes to Nava de Ordunte is 22.9 km long, passes through the Cadagua River basin and includes Balmaseda as a cultural stop. The Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela passes through Balmaseda along the “Ruta de la montaña.” The stage thus combines a crossing of the Cadagua basin with a cultural stop in Balmaseda.
Putxera and Local Tradition
Putxera is part of the local food culture: a charcoal-heated pot that originated in the tradition of the Balmaseda–La Robla (León) railway line and is used to cook a bean stew. Putxera refers to the cooking vessel; the bean stew is the dish prepared in it. The San Severino festival includes the International Putxera Competition, whose first edition was held in 1971.
Discover more destinations: Garai, Markina-Xemein, Ibarrangelu, Bakio, Basauri, Orozko, Plaza, Osma
For the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.
