Encartaciones 3
We start our route from Bilbao taking the highway of Cadagua towards Balmaseda up to the town of Zalla. There, taking first the BI-630 road and then the BI-2701, we will arrive to the village of Sopuerta. At the entrance we are welcomed by the imposing silhouette of the Tower of Abellanada, that was the centre of government of the encartado for many centuries and now houses the Museo de las Encartaciones. This old Assembly House is a must for those who want to discover the history, culture and rich heritage of this region with a strong identity.
Then we will go back by the BI-2701 road up to the crossroads of Malabrigo, where we will continue by the BI-630 until we get to the village of Balmaseda. After about one kilometre from the town s exit in direction Burgos following the BI-636, we find on the left side La Fábrica Museo La Encartada. We have to continue for 300 metres to reach the roundabout that allows us to turn with the car. In La Encartada we find a true gem of Biscay s industrial heritage: the old and perfectly-preserved factory of wool-made articles (berets, blankets, cloths), today transformed into a museum. Unknown for many, it will impress us for its facilities and the history of the men and women that worked there. For lunch, the restaurant-brasserie of the Museo de La Encartada is a good option.
In the afternoon, going back by the BI-630 towards Zalla, we will continue by this road until we get to the bordering village of Lanestosa. There we can visit the Koben Koba, an Interpretation Centre for European Palaeolithic art that has transformed the cave of Los Judíos, located in the neightboorhoud of Sangrices (between Karrantza and Lanestosa), in the first interpretation centre of Palaeolithic cave paintings in Europe.