In Muxika, buildings, historic roads and traces of past work tell different parts of the town’s history. The Torre de Muxika represents noble architecture, the Calzada de Maume an old route connecting the coast and inland areas, and the Ferrería de Olea the former ironworking industry. Together, these themes offer several starting points for a culture-focused trip: you can explore architecture, settlement history and landscape separately, or discover how they relate to Muxika in different ways.
Architectural History from Tower House to Chapels
The Torre de Muxika was built in the 14th century by the lords of the House of Arteaga. The building combines the architectural forms of a tower house and a rural palace. Its interior was used as a Renaissance palace and includes some Gothic elements. The Torre thus brings together different architectural forms and periods. The original estate of Muxika appears to have been associated with the Abendaño line.
The Ermita de San Román also features specific architectural details: the rectangular building is made of sandstone masonry, has a gabled roof and displays Gothic elements. The openings are framed with sandstone ashlar blocks. San Román was probably a small settlement on the middle reaches of the Oka River. The original church of San Vicente, in turn, was a Romanesque building, remains of which have survived. These places point to different historical layers, without reducing Muxika’s history to a single architectural style.
In the district of Maume, the Ermita de San Lorenzo stands at an altitude of 435 metres. It is the district’s only religious building. Unda has medieval farmhouses. Alongside the tower house, the architectural history of the area therefore includes religious buildings and rural dwellings; each of these details relates to the places and districts named.
Old Roads and Connections to the Landscape
The Calzada de Maume in Muxika preserves a section of an old road that connected the Basque coast with inland areas. The focus here is on a historic route between two landscapes. This is distinct from the Way of the Cross to the chapel of San Pedro and San Pablo: it begins at the site of the former parish church of Ibarruri and ends at the chapel. The two routes therefore have different points of reference and each tells its own story.
The chapel of San Pedro and San Pablo also features a specific architectural detail: its portal depicts musicians, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and warriors. The Encina de Urkieta, by contrast, draws attention to a protected, extraordinary tree. Its canopy is approximately 26 metres wide. Together with the medieval farmhouses in Unda and the elevated Ermita de San Lorenzo, the tree broadens the view from architecture to the landscape and districts of Muxika.
Traces of Ironworking
The Ferrería de Olea was one of Muxika’s smaller ironworks and stood on the banks of the Oromiño River. In the 18th century, there were five ironworks across the three anteiglesias. Olea is the only one whose structural elements have survived, including the water inlet and the tailrace. While the Torre reveals history through architectural forms, Olea illustrates the former ironworking industry through surviving structural features.
Another mill is Olabarri in Zugaztieta-Muxika. It is one of the mills in Busturialdea and the surrounding area that are still operating today. If you plan to visit the mill, check its current operating status in advance.
When choosing a destination, you can use your interests as a guide: architecture and religious buildings, historic routes, landscape or the former ironworking industry. These themes highlight different aspects of Muxika. If you are looking for a hotel in Muxika, these interests can help you decide which side of the town you would like to get to know better.
Discover more destinations: Ermua, Valle De Trápaga, Lejona, Lezama, Getxo, Elantxobe, Barakaldo, Balmaseda
For the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.
