The abandoned Bilbao plant
The abandoned Bilbao plant

The abandoned Bilbao plant

The abandoned Bilbao plant

Beyena, the dairy factory

Bilbao (Vizcaya), Spain

In the Basque Country there are several generations who have grown up by drinking milk from the Beyena company, a regional source of pride, well beyond its nutritional values. Every day, hundreds of trucks were leaving the factory located in Bilbao with their precious cargo of a wide variety of dairy products to serve the region.

The company is described as a strong and everlasting business. Yet, the new millennium has shot down Beyena. In May 2000, after a decade of turmoil, the last workers are thanked and the plant is abandoned.

Left to his fate since then, the building will be squatted and prey to looters. Stripped of its metal, tagged and vandalized by kids, the plant is not in very good shape today. It is also said that the looters, sometimes up to 30 at the same time, dismantled facilities at the sight of all. Pipes, son of copper, iron chests, window frames and even tin roofs are stolen and resold by these adverse explorers. Despite police patrols, nothing seems to discourage thieves. Exasperated, the owners decided to build a wall around the building. Alas, it was too late.

Despite all these years, the injuries to the factory and the peeling paint, Beyena logo is still visible on the walls. As if the Bayena plant refuse to die ...

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