MILL OF HELL

Set in a ravine surrounded by Atlantic forest, it offers a mysterious and authentic setting, ideal for cultural and nature tourism.

Located in the Orabidea neighbourhood of Lekaroz, beside the Infernuko Erreka stream, this is an emblematic site where the people of the valley once ground their maize. The mill dates to the 19th century and was fundamental to the domestic economy of the Baztán. According to local tradition, it gained special significance during the Spanish Civil War by remaining clandestinely active while other mills in the area fell silent, a fact that reinforces its symbolic value as a testament to rural life and the everyday resilience of the local community. The Molino del Infierno stands out for its ethnographic and symbolic value as a representative example of traditional hydraulic energy use in rural Baztán. Its location in a narrow ravine surrounded by dense Atlantic forest heightens the sense of isolation and mystery behind its name. The preserved structure and part of its machinery help visitors understand the workings of the old flour mills and their importance to the valley's subsistence economy. The site has also established itself as a cultural and nature tourism destination, valued for its authenticity, its integration into the landscape, and its capacity to convey the historic relationship between the local community and the natural environment.