Bengoetxe baserria, building in Biscay, Spain
Bengoetxe baserria is a farmhouse in Loiu built between the early and mid-1500s, divided into three sections with symmetrical arrangement and a sloped tiled roof. The lower portion consists of large stone blocks, while the upper part features wooden beams and framing with decorative details visible throughout the structure.
The house was built in the first half of the 1500s and combines Gothic and Renaissance architectural features, reflecting the design evolution of that era. Its designation as a protected cultural heritage site by the Basque government acknowledges its importance as a rare surviving example of period construction techniques.
The name Bengoetxe baserria reflects the farming heritage of the Basque region, with baserria meaning farmhouse in the local language. Today the building operates as a restaurant and demonstrates how traditional spaces continue to hold cultural value while serving new purposes in community life.
The house is located near the center of Loiu and today operates as a restaurant, accessible to visitors who wish to see the interior wooden structures and original construction details. Visitors should note that access is governed by its restaurant function, though the exterior can be explored and photographed from the surrounding area.
The interior reveals a massive wooden frame structure made of oak beams extending from ground to roof that independently carries the building's weight, distinguishing it from standard construction methods of the era. This separate timber framework, standing apart from the stone walls, represents a specialized building technique that allowed the house to endure and remain stable for centuries.
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