The crumbling remnants of a 17th-century ironworks in Basque Country

Construction began in the 15th century and is believed that parts of the structure date back even further. By the 17th century, El Pobaleko burdinola, located in Muskiz, Basque Country, had become a fully functioning ironworks, complete with a water tunnel, hydro-system, and various other mechanisms designed to aid in the mining and smelting of iron. In the 19th century, the windows, doorways, and other structural elements were restored to their former glory, and the building was largely left untouched for the next two centuries. It wasn’t until 2004 that the Basque government stepped in and declared the ruin a monument, preserving it for future generations to discover. Today, El Pobaleko burdinola still stands as a small, rustic structure, typical of old Basque industries, now serving as a museum.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons