Skip links
MEMBERS AREA
Sociedad Bilbaina

History

Linked to the
history of Bilbao

Founded in 1839, Sociedad Bilbaina is an exclusive social club in Bilbao, with a rich history and a historic headquarters on Navarra Street.

The origins

The First Carlist War (1833-1839) was in its final stages when 133 illustrious citizens of Bilbao decided to found a social club similar to those that were appearing in other European countries.

Thus, one day in May 1839, the founders of the Sociedad Bilbaina met and appointed the first Board of Directors. The first tasks of this commission were to select a suitable location for the new club and to draft the first regulations by which the entity would be governed.

See more

The Plaza Nueva stage

The Sociedad Bilbaina, from that moment, started at full speed. In fact, the year after its foundation it already had 240 members. The entry fee, which at the beginning had been established at 40 reais of fleece (2 dollars), rose to 100 reais (25 pesetas). The initial monthly installment, which was three pesetas, remained unchanged until 1844, when it rose by one peseta.

See more

From 1815 to the Centennial

Regarding the project to change the headquarters of the Sociedad Bilbaina, it should be noted that the land of the new site, known as Terrenos de la Concordia, was owned by the Banco de Bilbao and its surface measured slightly more than 2,000 square meters.

See more

From the postwar to the present

The space between the end of the Civil War (1939) and the celebration of 150 years of the Sociedad Bilbaina (1989) is marked by three special events: the building on Navarra Street celebrates its first 50 years in 1963; the Sociedad Bilbaina created its country club, a task that spanned a period of six years (1969-1975); and, finally, the Villa is involved in the catastrophic flood of August 1983.

See more