Aixerrota Mill, the guardian of Punta Galea.

Visit the Aixerrota Windmill and get to know one of the few windmills that exist in the Basque Country.

The Aixerrota mill, one of the most outstanding tourist attractions in the Biscayan town of Getxo, has been witness to the history of this Basque town since its construction in 1726. The environment in which it is located, next to the cliffs of La Galea, in the Andra Mari district of Getxo, next to the sea, gives us a golden opportunity to enjoy the stretch of coast that connects Getxo with the towns of Sopela, Barrika, Plentzia, Gorliz and Armintza, a coastal route that you fall in love with just thinking about it, a walk along the coast of Bizkaia that we recommend to do with eyes closed. The name of the mill that concerns us today, Aixerrota, makes its identity clear, and the meaning of this word is none other than “windmill” in our language, Basque. This mill has been renovated to become a space to enjoy art, a small gallery, where we find a large collection of works by local artists. The image of this historic building, emblem and symbol of Getxo, is used as a representative of the town in all kinds of popular events.

The Errotabarri mill in Gamiz-Fika is another magnificent example of the variety of mills that can be found in the province of Bizkaia. Unfortunately, there are few mills in operation, a list to which we cannot add the Aixerrota mill. Although its exterior remains in perfect condition after the remodelling carried out in the 20th century, the same cannot be said of its mechanisms and interior, little or nothing remains of its golden age.

The same wind that today makes it possible to fly over the cliffs of Getxo in paragliding, was the source of energy for the Aixerrota mill until the end of the 20th century. The 4 blades of this small Basque mill turned the shafts and the millstones that obtained the corn flour, a task that was vital during the deep drought that hit the Basque Country at the end of the 18th century.

Unique in the area: In the Basque Country, a land rich in rain and rivers, it is common to find water mills scattered throughout its geography, a situation that has nothing to do with the windmills in our territory. Currently, the Aixerrota Windmill is the only windmill still standing in the town of Getxo and one of the few in Bizkaia.

Symbol of Getxo: Since the Town Council of Getxo agreed in 1967 to use the figure of this mill as a trophy for all public activities and competitions, the Aixerrota Mill has become one of the most representative icons of the town.

Characteristic of Aixerrota: This singular building has nothing to do with the mills that Don Quixote and Sancho Panza used to deal with. It is not cylindrical but truncated cone-shaped (a mill with a wide base that narrows at the top), it is not large but rather small, its origin is later and unfortunately, its blades stopped turning.

The Provincial Historical Archive of Bizkaia helps us to understand the life in this mill thanks to small phrases that we extract from its pages: the “windmill” had “its lands for sowing bread and vineyards” and the adjoining building had “living room, kitchen and camarato” with a “separate farmhouse”, a rural building with a lot of charm next to the cliffs and the fields of La Galea.

Name: Aixerrota. This name comes from two Basque words, two words in Euskera, aixea (haizea) and errota. If we translate it, we see that haizea means wind while errota means mill, giving rise to the meaning we have mentioned above, windmill. In the texts found throughout time, this getxotarra mill is also referred to as Azerrota, Aterrota or Aizerrota.

Production: The Aixerrota Mill was once a producer of corn flour for human and animal consumption, thus, the so-called “artourune”, the fine flour, the one for human consumption, the one used for the elaboration of our beloved talos, shared mill with the “artobirrine”, the ordinary flour, the one for animal consumption, two products as important as necessary at that time.

Interior: The interior of the Aixerrota Mill was divided into two floors, on the second floor were the millstones, the ones in charge of crushing and grinding the corn grains, while the upper floor was occupied by the mechanisms in charge of transmitting the force of the wind to the millstones.

History: Aixerrota arose as a solution to the great drought suffered by the Basque Country at the end of the XVIII century. This mill, built between 1726 and 1727, stopped grinding corn in 1787 after an essential production for the town of Getxo. Aixerrota, became a common house, losing its splendor, deteriorating, getting closer to the image of a demolished building than to that of a mill, until, in 1955, the Town Council of Getxo, decided to buy the building to return its splendor and to increase this way, the charms with which the town of Getxo counts on.

Location: Between the Fort of La Galea, the golf course of Neguri, the beach of Arrigunaga and the vertiginous cliffs of Getxo, in the Getxo neighborhood of Andra Mari, we find the Aixerrota Mill, one of the charms of the promenade of La Galea. The location of the Aixerrota Mill is not mere coincidence, in La Galea, the strong northeast winds blow, an element of nature ideal to move the blades of this mill.

Walking along the promenade of La Galea not only gives us the opportunity to enjoy the Mill of Aixerrota, its route around the Bay of Abra and the Cantabrian Sea are worth walking. Its location allows us to enjoy many other attractions of Getxo. An ideal place from which to start a nice day at the coast. Shall we plan your day?

Views: The route of La Galea, in front of the Serantes mountain and its “txapela”, the super port of Bilbao, the sea and the cliffs never cease to amaze us with their breathtaking views, are you going to miss it?

Sunsets: The sunsets from the Aixerrota Mill are another of the attractions of this enclave in Bizkaia, one more on the list, let’s enjoy!

Surf: Punta Galea Challenge, the only European event of the giant wave tour (minimum size between 6 and 7 meters) is one of the biggest and most anticipated sporting events of the year. Here is a video summary

Cubita Restaurant: Next to the mill, in the annex building, we find the Cubita restaurant, one of the most renowned gastronomic establishments in the town. A restaurant with good raw material and culinary expertise. A delight for the senses.

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