Museo Dolomitas
Museum housed in the former dolomite factory of Ambasaguas, showing the industrial and mining history of Karrantza and the life of its working families.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum occupies part of the former Dolomitas factory, in the Ambasaguas district, to which the material extracted from the Pozalagua quarry in today's Armañón natural park was taken. The material was carried down to the factory by an aerial tramway of about 2.9 km. The factory stopped operating in 1990, and its building is protected as a cultural asset with the status of a monument.
One of the factory's main products was refractory bricks, which lined the interior of the blast furnaces of the large foundries, since the treated dolomite withstood temperatures that would melt ordinary bricks. The building retains the system of large pulleys that once moved the aerial tramway by hand, unique in the Basque Country.
The museum traces the industrial and mining history of the valley and the lives of the families who worked in the factory; the quarry work also lies behind the discovery of the Pozalagua cave. A visit takes about an hour and is complemented by family activities.
Highlights
- Former dolomite factory, a protected cultural asset with monument status
- System of large pulleys that once moved the aerial tramway by hand, unique in the Basque Country
- History of refractory bricks and industrialisation
- Stories of the families who worked at the factory
- Combined discounted ticket for the Pozalagua cave
Permanent exhibition
- La antigua fábrica de Dolomitas – Tour of the dolomite factory and its machinery, with the industrial and mining history of the valley, refractory bricks and the life of the working families.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children aged 6 to 12, retired people and pensioners, and people with disabilities. |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 to 12 pay the reduced rate; children under 6 enter free of charge. |
| “Trivial en familia” experience (Saturdays at 12:00) | €5With advance booking; children under 2 free. |
| “El viaje de los sentidos” experience (Saturdays at 12:00, April to October) | €5With advance booking; children under 2 free. |
Only cash is accepted. With the Pozalagua cave ticket, admission to Dolomitas costs €3; with the Dolomitas ticket, the Pozalagua cave costs €6 instead of €10.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The visit is designed for all audiences; at the ticket office you can request the visit commentary in easy-read format or with pictograms.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
On Saturdays there are family experiences with advance booking: “Trivial en familia”, a quiz game about the factory, and “El viaje de los sentidos”, a participatory sensory visit.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in Ambasaguas, next to the Karrantza tourist office and near the Pozalagua cave and the Parketxe Armañón.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Adapted teaching units are available for school groups; information by phone on +34 946 806 928 and +34 696 446 301. |
