Parque Cultural de Zerain
Cultural park in Zerain with an ethnographic museum, the Aizpea mines and the Larraondo water sawmill, with guided visits at weekends.
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About the museum
The Parque Cultural de Zerain brings together several attractions in the Gipuzkoan town of Zerain, in the Goierri region, which show traditional life and its mining and industrial past: the ethnographic museum, the Aizpea mines on the Montaña del Hierro (Iron Mountain), the Larraondo water sawmill, and the 1711 prison, which can be visited in the Ostatu restaurant.
The ethnographic museum is a small museum on the village square. It presents the evolution of the way of life and customs of Zerain through tools, furniture, utensils and documents, from the farming and herding of old to the age of mining and the present day. All the objects were donated by local residents, and a touchscreen with multimedia content welcomes visitors.
The Larraondo sawmill, built around 1890, ran on water from the Lasurtegi stream until 1960 and still retains its mechanisms. The Aizpea mines are part of the Montaña del Hierro, a monumental site protected by the Basque Government, where iron was mined from the 11th century. Both attractions are visited on guided tours at weekends and public holidays.
Highlights
- Ethnographic museum with objects donated by local residents
- Guided visit to the Aizpea mines on the Montaña del Hierro
- Larraondo water sawmill, with its mechanisms still in place (around 1890)
- 1711 prison lined with oak, in the Ostatu restaurant
- Touchscreen with multimedia content in the museum
Permanent exhibition
- Museo etnográfico de Zerain – Tools, furniture, utensils and documents donated by local residents, showing how life in Zerain evolved from farming and herding to mining.
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de Zerain
Admission & discounts
| Guided visit to the Aizpea mines | €6Children aged 5 to 12, €3; under 5s free. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. |
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| Guided visit to the Larraondo sawmill | €4Children aged 5 to 12, €2; under 5s free. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 12:00. |
| Aizpea mines and Larraondo sawmill | €9Children aged 5 to 12, €4; under 5s free. |
The ethnographic museum does not publish an admission fee. Guided visits (weekends and public holidays, minimum 6 people per group): Aizpea mines €6 (children aged 5 to 12, €3), Larraondo sawmill €4 (€2) and combined visit €9 (€4); free for children under 5. Booking through the town council's website.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on the village square, where the tourist office is also located.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
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| Good to know | The Aizpea mines are visited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 10:45 in Basque (euskera) and at 12:45 in Spanish (castellano); the Larraondo sawmill at 12:00 (bilingual); the combined visit at 10:45 in Basque and at 12:00 in Spanish. The tourist office also offers guides in French and English by advance booking. The 1711 prison can be visited in the Ostatu restaurant every day except Wednesdays. |
