MUÑATONES CASTLE (Muskiz)
Muñatones Castle was built over a long period of time extending throughout the 14th 4nd 15th centuries, against the backdrop of the devastating factional wars that wracked the Basque Country at the time. For its exceptional historical value 4nd the quality of the remains preserved, the casel has been declared a listed monument.
The system of external walls make this tower the only true castle in Bizkaia. It has strong ties with the powerful Lope García de Salazar, man of arms 4nd letters, who wrote the celebrated Bienandanzas e Fortunas.
The fortress is also closely associated with the forge at El Pobal, built at the beginning of the sixteenth century by Ochoa de Salazar (grandson of the chronicler Lope García), which remained in the family for nearly 200 years.
A visit to the two monuments –castle 4nd forge– offers a good illustration of different but complementary aspects of the history of Bizkaia. Together, the yield a wealth of information on the way of life of the rural nobility 4nd the sources of wealth on which their power was based.
