Urrelur. Museo de Minerales y Fósiles
Municipal museum in Urretxu with one of the largest mineral and fossil collections in Spain, on the ground floor of the Casa de Cultura.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Urrelur museum was founded in 1987 through the collaboration between Urretxu town council and the Aguado-Goñi family, who donated their mineral and fossil collection. It is on the ground floor of the Casa de Cultura Aizpuru Enea, on Calle Jauregi, and is today considered one of the largest mineral and fossil exhibitions in Spain.
The exhibition has two parts. The mineralogy section brings together around 1,000 catalogued and classified specimens, grouped by composition into eleven groups. The palaeontology section shows fossils from all five continents, presented in chronological order. A special section is devoted to rocks. Interactive panels and workshops let visitors test properties of minerals such as hardness, streak, magnetism and radioactivity.
The museum has its own programme. Urrelur Week (Semana Urrelur) of mineralogy and palaeontology takes place every year at the end of October and the beginning of November, with excursions, lectures, workshops, monographic exhibitions, a mineral park for young people and a fair of minerals, fossils and gems. Around 18 May, for International Museum Day, free guided visits, street activities and workshops for children are organised. In addition, in May and October, one-day excursions are offered that combine collecting specimens with cultural visits.
Highlights
- Around 1,000 mineral specimens classified in eleven groups
- Fossils from all five continents in chronological order
- Rock section and interactive panels
- Urrelur Week and mineral fair every autumn
- Free audio guide and self-guided visit
Permanent exhibitions
- Minerales – Around 1,000 catalogued specimens, grouped by composition into eleven groups, with panels on the properties of minerals and a display case of minerals from Euskal Herria (the Basque Country).
- Fósiles y rocas – Fossils from all five continents presented in chronological order and a section devoted to rocks.
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de Urretxu
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Seniors | €2Retirees on a guided visit: €2. |
|---|---|
| Students & apprentices | €2Students under 25 and retirees on a guided visit: €2. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3.30 per personGuided visit for groups of at least 10 people, by appointment; lasts 90 minutes. Payment by bank transfer. |
Self-guided visit and audio guide are free, with no advance booking needed. Guided visit: €3.30 per person (groups of at least 10 people); tourist table promotion: €2.80. School groups: €3.20 per person.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Educational and children's workshops, a family programme during Urrelur Week and a mineral park for young people.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the urban centre of Urretxu, in the Casa de Cultura on Calle Jauregi.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
During the Urrelur Week fair, minerals, fossils and gems can be bought.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Self-guided visit with handheld guides and information panels, free audio guide, or guided visit by appointment (flexible duration of around 90 minutes). There is an educational offer for schools and a teaching kit in a case for teachers. |
