Aikur Museo de las Abejas

About the museum

Aikur was born in the 1990s as a beekeeping centre that, in addition to working with bees and selling their products, made the life of these insects known to the public. It started in a building attached to a house that had previously been used as a materials store. It opened as a museum in 2007, with the support of the Lenbur Foundation, and today presents itself as the most important museum specialising in bees in the Basque Country (Euskal Herria).

The museum occupies about 260 square metres over two floors, in a natural setting on the outskirts of Urretxu, very close to the hermitage of Santa Bárbara. The ground floor has the reception with a small shop and three areas: mythology and history, beekeeping and pollination, and hive products. Each area includes a touch-screen interactive, as well as beekeeping tools and models of old hives used in the Basque Country. From there, access leads to a small honey extraction plant.

The upper floor is devoted to the life of bees: a panel with a giant bee explains its anatomy, and touch screens show its internal organs, how a bee sees and the dance it uses to communicate. Two observation hives and a large glass case allow visitors to watch the bees at work. There is also an audiovisual room and a workshop where children make a beeswax candle and fill a jar of honey. Outside, a path shows nectar-bearing plants and old hives from different origins.

Highlights

• Observation hives and a glass case with a swarm
• Touch screens on bee anatomy and vision
• Old hives and tools from the Basque Country
• Children's workshop to make a beeswax candle
• Shop with honey, pollen, propolis, candles and creams

Permanent exhibition

• La vida de las abejas y la apicultura – Two-floor exhibition on the mythology and history of bees, beekeeping, pollination and hive products, with touch-screen interactives and observation hives.

Founded

2007

Operated by

Aikur

Admission & discounts

Individual admission: €3. Free admission with the Lenbur card.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the workshop, children learn to make a beeswax candle and fill a small jar of honey to take home as a souvenir.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the outskirts of Urretxu, near the Santakutz hotel and the hermitage of Santa Bárbara.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop with hive products (honey, propolis, candles, wax, pollen, ointments), also available in the online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit