Museo de Arte e Historia de Durango
Museum housed in the Etxezarreta Baroque palace, with contemporary Basque art, a room on the history of Durango and temporary exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Durango town council acquired the Etxezarreta palace in 1984, a building erected between 1782 and 1787 by José Joaquín de Echezarreta, with a façade decorated in the Rococo style and a layout closer to that of Baroque palaces. The rehabilitation of the building was carried out by the municipal architect Federico Arruti, and the museum opened its doors on 13 June 1986.
In its early days it brought together a collection of contemporary Basque art, holdings on local history and ethnography, a library and a historical archive. In 1995 the library moved to the Garai palace and its space became a room for temporary exhibitions. After the safety and accessibility works carried out in 2018, the collection and the route were reorganised.
Today the collection exceeds 1,060 works. The third floor is devoted to contemporary Basque art, with artists such as Zumeta, Balerdi, Herrero and Zubiaurre, and the first floor houses the room on the history of Durango, which traces the town from prehistory to the present day. The other rooms host temporary exhibitions of art or on historical themes. The museum also has the Centro de Historia del Crimen de Durango and in 2026 it celebrates its fortieth anniversary.
Highlights
- Etxezarreta Baroque palace of the 18th century with a Rococo façade
- Collection of contemporary Basque art on the third floor
- Room on the history of Durango from prehistory to today
- Model of the town of Durango in the 15th century
- Centro de Historia del Crimen de Durango
Permanent exhibitions
- Arte vasco contemporáneo – Collection of painting and sculpture by contemporary Basque artists, displayed on the third floor of the palace.
- Historia de Durango – Room tracing the history of the town from prehistory to the present day.
- Founded
- 1985
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de Durango
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission to the museum according to the Basque tourism portal.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Ramps and a lift; barrier-free space. Accessible toilets and an accessible counter on the second floor; the lecture hall has a space reserved for wheelchairs. There are folding benches and stools, audio guides and an induction loop. Signage meets accessibility standards and includes Braille. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are admitted, and guided tours are adapted to visitors who are interested.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers workshops for schools and the programme “Aste bat artista bat”.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups and of the temporary exhibitions, free of charge and by prior registration (telephone +34 946 030 020 or email museo@durango.eus). Workshops for schools. There is also a virtual visit on the website. |
