Abellaneda Assembly Hall

Abellaneda, meeting place of the Encartaciones

The Casa de Juntas de Abellaneda (Assembly House) was the place where the representatives of the councils and valleys of Las Encartaciones met to deliberate on the region's general affairs. Although Las Encartaciones has always been part of the Señorío of Bizkaia (the Lordship of Bizkaia) since the latter was definitively constituted in the 13th century through the addition of Las Encartaciones itself and the Duranguesado region (except Orozko, which would do so in the 18th century) to the territory considered a Lordship until then, that is, “nuclear” Bizkaia, the Encartaciones region maintained a certain political independence from the Lordship, a fact that was manifested through the General Assembly of Abellaneda which survived, not without conflict, until 1801.

During the Middle Ages, meetings were tumultuous, attended by large numbers of people. During the Modern Age, a system was institutionalised whereby each encartado (chartered) council was represented by one single apoderado or representative.

For the General Assemblies of Gernika, one or two representatives of the Encartaciones were elected to represent the entire region at those meetings.

For centuries, the independence of the Encartaciones region caused tensions between the two entities (The Juntas of Gernika and Juntas of Abellaneda). Gradually, especially from the 17th century onwards, movements for a full integration into the Lordship intensified and caused small temporary schisms among the councils of the Encartaciones.

As an example, in the second half of the 17th century, a split occurred between the United Republics (those that had incorporated into Bizkaia, each with their own right to vote, but maintaining their political membership to the body of the Encartaciones), namely the councils of Gordexola, Güeñes, Zalla, Galdames and the Three Councils of Somorrostro; and the Non United Republics (Carranza, Sopuerta, Four Councils of the Valley of Somorrostro, Trucíos and Arcentales). Although all of them would later fully incorporate again into the Encartaciones region, thus reverting to the previous status quo, a split would again be repeated years later, although this time with different members on each side.

Finally, all the chartered councils were incorporated into the Lordship of Bizkaia in 1801, and the General Assemblies of Abellaneda ceased to meet.

ADDRESS

Barrio Avellaneda, s/n (Sopuerta-Bizkaia ) 48869


SCHEDULES

WINTER

(16 September to 14 July)

Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

Sundays and holidays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed on Mondays, 25 December, 1 and 6 January

SUMMER

(15 July to 15 September)

Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

Sundays and holidays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mondays Closed


THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE

THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE

The location where the representatives of the councils and valleys of Las Encartaciones met to deliberate on the general affairs of the district.

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MONUMENTAL GROUP

MONUMENTAL GROUP

Throughout the years, the Casa de Juntas was completed with other accessory buildings.

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ABELLANEDA IN THE 20TH CENTURY

The Regional Government of Bizkaia undertook the "recovery" of the Casa de Juntas.

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ABELLANEDA IN THE 20<sup>TH</sup> CENTURY

THE ENTRANCE TO DE ASSEMBLY HOUSE

Access the virtual tour of the Abellaneda Assembly Hall and discover its beauty and history in a quick, simple and original manner.

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THE ENTRANCE TO DE ASSEMBLY HOUSE