Euskadi It's not a place where you can find castles, and unless they go back to the Middle Ages.
But in my recent trip to the Uribe region, which you can visit very near Bilbao, not only did I discover the one that is considered the only castle in Euskadi, but also the best remaining example of a defensive tower of the Middle Ages.
The first fortification I am referring to is the butron castle, which as we can see now is the result of a great reform and expansion that was carried out in the 19th century, when it became the property of the Marquis of Cubas.
The castle, which is currently closed and unused, shows a mix of architectural styles that lead to defining it as a fortress. Romantic which maintains such an attraction that its enclave is visited every day by numerous tourists.
But the true origin of the castle is found in the tower houses that abounded in Bizkaia in medieval times.
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Defensive towers in Bizkaia
But what were these like? tower houses? In the same Uribe region you can see the tower house that is best preserved in Bizkaia maintaining its original configuration. It's about the Martiartu Tower, which you find near Erandio.
El origin of tower houses goes back to the Middle Ages, when in Bizkaia the new social category of the sonsdalgos and the lords of the new local nobility.
Their first homes became fort-houses, in reality defensive towers that over time could evolve into fortified palaces.
El New Jurisdiction of Bizkaia of 1526 eliminated the limitation that until then existed that “villains and farmers” could build their own fort-house. This led to the Middle Ages, only in the merindad of Uribe that grouped 37 towns, up to 22 towers were counted, and that in all Bizkaia There were more than 160 tower houses.
Martiartu Tower
La Martiartu Tower It has its origins in that period, although its current tower configuration is from the 16th century, after the expansion and conversion into defensive tower in order of Don Martín Ortiz de Martiartu.
Distributed over three floors, 18 meters high and 14 meters wide, the ashlar walls are 2,40 meters wide.
La Martiartu Tower It is one of the few fortifications that has not been topped, and also features a machicolation and a loophole on its west façade.
Located on the side of a mountain, next to the tower you find the small hermitage of San Antonio de Martiartu and a field where competitions of dragging stones by oxen, one of the traditional rural sports of Euskadi.
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