Discover Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa
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Coco Chanel described him as the only authentic couturier (fashion designer)
Cristóbal Balenciaga, son of a sailor and a seamstress, was born in the pretty fishing port of Getaria on 21st January 1895 and went on to become the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Cristóbal Balenciaga's birthplace now pays homage to him with this unique museum which houses one of the world’s most important fashion collections.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a great fan of fashion - the museum sees Cristóbal Balenciaga’s pieces as authentic works of art. Because, as he himself explained, “A good fashion designer has to be an architect for the shape, a painter for the colour, a musician for the harmony and a philosopher for the size.”
Dresses to carry off to another time
Once inside, the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum is home to the most relevant collection of creations by Cristóbal Balenciaga at an international level, both due to the number and quality of the items included and to the timespan they cover. The presentation is magical; the mannequins faithfully reproduce the bodies for which the dresses were made, the display cases are light and seem almost non-existent.
The Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum is located in the old quarter of Getaria, in a new building adjoining the Palacio Aldamar. This is no coincidence, as this palace was the home of the marquises of Casa Torre, the grandparents of Queen Fabiola and mentors to the designer in the early years of his career.
After visiting the museum, you will discover that Getaria, also the birthplace of the explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano, has much more to offer: the silhouette of Monte San Antón which overlooks the sea, forming the famous "Ratón" (“Mouse”), a harbour where you can savour the finest fresh fish and one of our best-known and most highly-prized wines, the renowned Txakoli of Getaria.
The Museum offers free, one-hour guided tours at weekends and on public holidays.
Information and bookings:
Tel. 943 00 88 40
Less than an hour away…
