Muxika: Historic Buildings and Old Routes

Muxika can be explored through its building and route history: the town brings together a medieval residential tower, chapels, traces of ironworking and a section of an old route that linked the Basque coast with inland areas. Medieval farmhouses and a protected tree complete this picture. If you are looking for a destination with historic architectural styles and evidence of earlier work, its varied themes offer points of interest ranging from architecture to landscape.

Buildings and Early Local History

The Torre de Muxika was built in the 14th century by the lords of the House of Arteaga. Architecturally, it combines the features of a residential tower and a rural palace; its interior was used as a Renaissance palace and includes some Gothic elements. The Torre thus brings together a building type, the use of its interior and stylistic features.

The Ermita de San Román offers a different perspective: the rectangular building is made of sandstone masonry, has a pitched roof and features Gothic elements. Sandstone ashlar was used around the openings. While the Torre stands out for combining a residential tower and a rural palace, the materials, floor plan and roof at San Román provide specific points for architectural comparison.

The original estate of Muxika appears to have been associated with the Abendaño lineage in the early 14th century. San Román was probably a small settlement along the middle course of the Oka River.

Ironworking and Historic Routes

The Ferrería de Olea was one of Muxika’s smaller ironworks, on the banks of the Oromiño River. In the 18th century, there were five ironworks across the three anteiglesias. Of these, only Olea retains part of its structure, including the water intake and the tailrace. This makes it possible to understand ironworking through a specific site and its surviving structures.

The Calzada de Maume in Muxika preserves a section of an old route that linked the Basque coast with inland areas. Unlike the Ferrería, the focus here is not on traces of ironworking but on the former connection between the coast and inland.

The Stations of the Cross leading to the chapel of San Pedro and San Pablo also follow a clearly described route: it begins at the site of the former parish church of Ibarruri and ends at the chapel. Its starting point and destination set it apart from the coast-to-inland route of the Calzada. The chapel’s portal depicts musicians, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and warriors.

Chapels and Landscape

The Ermita de San Lorenzo is the only religious building in the district of Maume and stands at an altitude of 435 metres. These details give the building a specific connection to its district and elevation. Unda has medieval farmhouses, another testament to Muxika’s rural architectural history.

The Encina de Urkieta adds a natural feature: this protected, exceptional tree has a canopy approximately 26 metres wide.

The Olabarri mill in Zugaztieta-Muxika is also among the mills in Busturialdea and the surrounding area that are still operating. If you are planning a visit, check in advance whether it is still operating.

Discover more destinations: Valle De Carranza, Butroi, Sestao, Arrigorriaga, Areatza, Izartza, Orozko, Muskiz

For the overview of the wider region: Bizkaia.