Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava

About the museum

The museum opened on 16 May 1986 in the building known as the Torre de Doña Ochanda. The tower and the adjoining palace date from the early 15th century, but their present appearance is due to the 1971 restoration, which rebuilt the crenellated tower from the original, which had been hidden inside the building until then.

The ground floor and the first two floors are open to the public, although only a small part of the holdings is displayed. The geological collections bring together minerals, gems, rocks and fossils, mostly from the Basque-Cantabrian region. Notable are the samples of Lower Cretaceous amber from Álava, more than 100 million years old and coming from sites such as Peñacerrada, together with amber from northern Europe, and the invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, including fish and shark teeth and remains of Cretaceous dinosaurs, turtles and crocodiles.

The biological section includes an insect collection (entomoteca) with insects from all the major groups, especially beetles and butterflies, a display of birds and mammals from the surroundings, and the VIT Herbarium, which holds three historical herbaria: that of Lorenzo Prestamero (late 18th century), that of Lacoizqueta (late 19th century) and the collection of European mosses by Ernst Bauer.

Highlights

• Lower Cretaceous amber from Álava, more than 100 million years old
• Iberian minerals and invertebrate fossils, such as ammonites and sea urchins
• Fish and shark teeth and remains of Cretaceous dinosaurs, turtles and crocodiles
• Insect collection with beetles and butterflies
• VIT Herbarium with three historical herbaria
• Torre de Doña Ochanda building, 15th century

Permanent exhibition

• Colecciones del museo – Display of the geological collections (amber, minerals, fossils) and of biodiversity (arthropods, birds and mammals) across three floors of the tower.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Diputación Foral de Álava

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Free wheelchairs and folding walking-stick seats, requested at reception. Adapted counter, induction loop at reception and a kit with technical aids for reading.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

Information service and sale of publications.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit