REGIONAL HISTORICAL ARCHIVE OF BISCAY

The Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) seeks to be a deposit, a location to safeguard and make available all the historical documentation about Biscay available to the public, whatever its origin or medium, with no limitations except those provided by the law for historical documents and their public consultation.

The Archive began to be compiled in 1990 with the addition, on the one hand, of own funds from the Provincial Council of Biscay, which was known until then as the Archive of the Assembly House of Guernica, located in the Provincial Archive of Biscay and in several offices attached to the Provincial Council of Biscay. On the other hand, from the judicial resources of the Corregidor of Biscay, from its mayoral offices and other judicial courts prior to the 20th Century; from the resources of local councils in the historical territory that agree thereto, from certain notary protocols that were disperse, materials from different institutions and enterprises originally located in Biscay, and from the archives of some Biscay families.

PROVINCIAL HISTORICAL ARCHIVE OF BISCAY

More information PROVINCIAL HISTORICAL ARCHIVE OF BISCAY

ARCHIVE DETAILS

The Regional Historical Archive of Biscay currently has the following numbers on catalogued and digitalised files.

Archive structure

Information

  • SCHEDULE
    • Winter
      • Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 20:30
      • Saturday: 09:00 to 13:00
    • Summer
      • Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 19:30
  • OBSERVATIONS
    • The investigation must be finished and returned the documentation 15 minutes before the Investigators Room (Reading room) closes.
    • Hours to request documentation:
      • From 09:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 19:30 (Winter)
      • From 09:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:30 (Summer)
      • From 09:00 to 12:00 (Saturday)
  • OPENING HOURS & OPENING TIMES
    • WINTER (From 2nd of January to 16 of June and 18th of September to 30th of December, both dates inclusive)
      • Monday-Friday: 09:00 - 20:30
      • Saturday: 09:00 - 13:00
      • During the winter period the Archive will remain closed the following days
        • 6 January
        • 6, 7 & 10 April
        • 1 May
        • 25 July
        • 6 September
        • 12 October
        • 1 November
        • 6, 8, & 25 December
      • During the winter period the Archive will remain closed the following Saturdays:
        • 7 January
        • 8, 15,  & 29 April
        • 2, 9, 16 & 23 September
        • 14 October
        • 2, 23 & 30 December
    • SUMMER (From 19th of June to 15th of September, both dates inclusive)
      • Monday-Friday: 09:00 - 19:30
      • Closed
        • 25 & 31 July
        • 15th & 25 August
      • ASTE NAGUSIA (Local holiday):Open only morning 21, 22, 23 & 24 /VIII/2023
  • Access: to access the REGIONAL ARCHIVE OF BISCAY (BFAH/RHAB), you only need to present your ID card or equivalent document.
  • Documentary information: is designed for the public and institutions. We provide information on the archive (resources, descriptive instruments…) and guide the research of those people who come to the centre and those who make enquiries by phone, in writing or over the Internet.
  • Reprography
    • Maximum number of photocopies per person/day: 20
    • Price per photocopy:
      • 0,10 € (A4)
      • 0,15 € (A3)

      Archive public price (589 KB)

    • Recorders and reproducers of images and sound, cameras, mobile telephones and scanner may not be used without the consent of those responsible for the Archive.

Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (BFAH/RHAB)

Calle María Díaz de Haro, 11 48013 BILBAO (BIZKAIA)

By bus
  • BIZKAIBUS: The bus lines that stop near the Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) are numbers A3340, A3151, A3247 (airport), A3, (stop at Gran Vía 79)
  • BILBOBUS: The bus lines that stop near the Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) are numbers 26, 58, 62, A3, (stop at Gran Vía 62)
  • TERMIBUS: The main bus station in Bilbao is that of Termibús, close to the intermodal station of San Mamés. You can get to the Termibús from the San Mamés stop of Metro Bilbao, from the Bilbao tramway (EuskoTran) and from the Renfe suburban lines.
By car

Departing Santander (A8) / with destination Donostia-San Sebastián Vitoria-Gasteiz or Pamplona / Iruñea (A68 and A8): from the motorway that rings the city by taking the Bilbao Sagrado Corazón exit. At the end of the avenue of arrival (Avenida Sabino Arana) at the level of Sagrado Corazón square, turn right down Gran Vía. Once on Gran Vía take the first right down calle María Díaz de Haro, and you will find RHAB at number 11 of this street.

The Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) does not have its own visitor car park. However, it is possible to park in surrounding municipal parking spaces (payment by parking meter) or in the nearby car parks of Plaza Indautxu or Palacio Euskalduna:

  • Palacio Euskalduna car park: go down Avenida Sabino Arana until you see the sign for the car park.
  • Plaza Indautxu car park: from calle Juan de Garay llegando or Zabalburu Square, turn right to take Alameda San Mames. You can go into the car park just before reaching Indautxu Square.
By underground

The closest underground stations to the Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) are Indautxu (Areilza exit) and San Mamés station (Sabino Arana exit).

By tramway

The closest tramway stops to the Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) are Euskalduna and Sabino Arana

by train

The closest suburban stations to the Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (RHAB) are those of Autonomía (María Díaz de Haro exit) and San Mamés station (calle Luis Briñas exit).

Regional Historical Archive of Biscay (BFAH/RHAB)

Calle María Díaz de Haro, 11 48013 BILBO (Bizkaia)

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES OF THE ARCHIVE

A collection such as the one conserved at the Provincial Archive is a window to the past. An isolated document may be the subject of individual study and show us a situation, a problem or a solution to a problem at a specific moment in our history. When researching a set of documents, this vision is enhanced and can lead us to understanding a way of being, of thinking or of living.