La Encartada S.A. was founded in 1892 and remained in operation for exactly 100 years. Its share capital was provided by five indianos—emigrants from Bizkaia who made their fortunes in Mexico—three of whom were originally from Balmaseda. The company specialised in wool processing and the manufacture of a wide range of products, from berets—its main product—to blankets and cloths, as well as gloves, scarves, visors, balaclavas and, of course, skeins and balls of wool. A small working-class neighbourhood developed around the factory, including housing for workers, a chapel-school, the director’s house (now demolished), and other facilities.

Since 2007, La Encartada Fabrika-Museoa has operated as an industrial museum. The buildings, machinery and workers’ settlement form a highly evocative ensemble, transporting visitors to the early days of the Industrial Revolution on the Iberian Peninsula.

One of La Encartada’s greatest assets is its exceptional collection of machinery, largely of English origin, dating from the late 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. The site has preserved its appearance and technological equipment almost intact and retains every element of the production process in its entirety, from the reception of raw materials to the packaging and dispatch stages. This technical integrity and excellent state of preservation make La Encartada a unique heritage site open to visitors.

La Encartada Factory-Museum is an industrial and historical heritage site, and visits are conducted exclusively through guided tours, which take place across original buildings and spaces dating from the late 19th century. The site provides a parking area, a shop and a leisure area with a children’s play space. Due to the characteristics of the preserved heritage and the layout of the site, accessibility conditions may vary depending on the areas open to visitors and the guided route. For this reason, it is recommended that each visitor, according to their specific accessibility needs, contact the museum in advance to obtain information about the available routes, existing support measures and the specific conditions of the visit.