The idea for the HONTZA Museum was first developed in 1962 by the malacologist Enrike Huerta, the founder and current chairman of the Hontza Museoa Foundation. Noticing the lack of such museums in the Basque Country, Huerta decided to build a collection of specimens with a view to creating a natural science museum at some point in the future.
The museum opened briefly in 1985, only to close its doors again in 1990. In November 2014, it reopened in in Mañaria. Its new home was the Zumelaga building, home of the renowned Basque writer Ebaristo “Kirikiño” Bustinza until his death. During its first phase, 541 specimens from around the world are on exhibition, in 21 different groups, including Botany, Fungi, Geology, Palaeontology, Invertebrates and Vertebrates. The theme of the museum is “SIZES, SHAPES, COLOURS and PATTERNS” showing the great DIVERSITY of our planet in land, river and marine habitats. The museum is guided by a belief that “We cannot defend what we do not love, and we cannot love what we do not know”. Its mission is to teach.
Hontza Museum, Natural Science Museum of the Duranguesado area
Director: Leire Huerta
Ebaristo Bustinza “Kirikiño” Kalea, 18 – 48212 Mañaria (Bizkaia)
Tel.: 946216555 (contact and reservations, 11 am - 12.30 pm, and 5 pm - 7 pm)
E-mail: hontza@hontzamuseoa.com
Website: www.hontzamuseoa.eus
Winter (October to March)
Tuesday to Friday: 5 pm - 7 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 1 pm and 5 pm - 7 pm,
Sundays and public holidays: 11 am - 1 pmand 5 pm to 7 pm
Mondays: closed
Summer (April to September)
Tuesday to Friday: 5 pm - 8 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 1 pm and 5 pm - 8 pm,
Sundays and public holidays: 11 am - 2 pmand 5 pm to 8 pm
Mondays: closed
Mondays closed
Closed 25 December, 1 January
Guided tours for groups, schoolchildren, retired people, etc., any day and time (including Monday), by prior appointment.
General: €3
Reduced: €2 (Retired people, 12 - 15 years old people, Museum staff and students with accreditation)
Free: Children under 12, Teachers with groups, ICOM members and museum directors
School groups (maximum per group, 25 students): Primary €1, Secondary €2
