Balmaseda

Balmaseda (Basque; called Valmaseda in Spanish) is a town in the Encartaciones (Basque: Enkarterriak) region of Biscay in the Spanish Basque Country.

It is located approximately 30 km (19 mi) south-west of Biscay's capital city, Bilbao. Balmaseda has been one of the most important cities in the Encartaciones region of Biscay due to its proximity to Cantabria and Castile. It has been, and continues to be, a major centre for the furniture and steel industries. It is also one of the many historical cities in Biscay and serves as the capital of the Encartaciones region of the west end of Biscay. With 7,000 inhabitants, it boasts an attractive historic quarter and a "puente viejo" (old bridge) crossing the river Kadagua that dates back to 1199. On 5 November 1808, it was the theatre of the battle of Valmaseda between the French and the Spanish armies.

Balmaseda has a passion play every easter

The town can be accessed on the FEVE narrow-gauge railway from Bilbao.