BIBAT Museum (Archaeology & Fournier Playing Cards)
Bibat
A twin museum in the old town, combining a Renaissance palace with a modern black stone-box extension. It displays Álava's archaeological finds and the world-famous playing card collection.
BIBAT consists of the 16th-century Bendaña Palace and the new building designed by the architect Mansilla, a black box of bronze and stone. One side is the Álava Archaeology Museum, which displays finds from prehistory to the Middle Ages and Roman tombstones. The other side is the Fournier Playing Card Museum. Built on the collection of Fournier, a local card manufacturer, it displays more than 20,000 decks of playing cards from around the world, dating from the 15th century onward. It is a unique collection.
Entry costs about €3, and it is free during certain weekend hours. The museum is closed on Mondays and is located on Correría Street in the old town.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 10:00–14:00, 16:00–18:30; Sunday mornings
Nearby sights
- Medieval Quarter (Casco Medieval)
- Santa María Cathedral
- Medieval Wall
- Los Arquillos
- Church of San Miguel
- Plaza de España (Plaza Nueva)
- Artium Museum
- Plaza de la Virgen Blanca