Old tower house. Its construction dates back to the late 15th century.
It is a quadrangular construction, built of masonry, with ashlars in the main areas of the building. It has four floors. Its roof is a hipped roof, typical of medieval tower houses.
Belonging to the Salazar family in Portugalete, it represents the military strength and power of this family in the attempt by the Senior Relative to gain entry into Portugalete. From here, all maritime traffic could be controlled, as well as the roads surrounding the town.
Over time, the building transformed from a defensive tower to a stately residence, transforming itself according to the changing needs of its inhabitants. In 1934, during the October Revolution, the house was burned down. A wall of the old tower house was then revealed. On top of these remains, architect Joaquín Irízar rebuilt the tower in 1958 to resemble a medieval castle. The final reconstruction took place when it was acquired by the City Council for cultural purposes in 2003.
It houses a museum with exhibits and documents on the history of Portugalete and the Lord of Salazar, a temporary exhibition hall, and a Basque haute cuisine restaurant. For opening hours, call the Tourist Office at 944 729 314.
Click to listen to the podcast with more information (1:42 min) This audio was recorded years ago, and it is important to clarify that it is not possible that Lope died in it, since the tower was built later, as corroborated by existing documentation.
Click to watch or listen to a micro-video about Lope García de Salazar (1:14')
Accessibility:
The cultural center is accessible for people with reduced mobility (PRM).