Oiartzun Explained

Oiartzun
Settlement Type:Municipality
Pushpin Map:Spain Basque Country
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Oiartzun within the Basque Autonomous Community
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Gipuzkoa
Subdivision Type3:Eskualdea
Subdivision Name3:Oarsoaldea
Coordinates:43.2986°N -1.8611°W
Area Total Km2:59.71
Established Title:Founded
Population Demonym:Basque: oiartzuar
Spanish; Castilian: oyarsonense
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank Name Sec1:Official language(s)
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:20180
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Joana Mendiburu Garaiar
Leader Party:EH Bildu

Oiartzun (Basque: Oiartzun, Spanish; Castilian: Oyarzun) is a town and municipality located in the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa lying at the foot of the massif Aiako Harria (Peñas de Aya in Spanish).

Etymology

See main article: article and Oiasso. The name traces back to Oiasso or Oiarso, a Roman town closely connected to the Arditurri mines in the massif of Aiako Harria, which contained large amounts of silver and copper. However, it has been pinpointed to the current border town of Irun, so the name may have referred to the whole area.

Geography

A river bearing the same name meanders through the meadows and neighbourhoods of this sparse municipality. That is one of its main features, it is scattered in different quarters across the valley. Elizalde lies on a prominence and it is the central nucleus of the town, with the main church San Esteban and town hall being located there. At the foot of Elizalde lies Altzibar by the Oiartzun River. Ugaldetxo developed into an urban built-up area surrounded by industrial estates near the AP-8 motorway, while the rest of the neighbourhoods have hung onto their rural and picturesque landscape to a large extent.

Alfonso VIII of Castile chartered it as town but it took some decades before its independence from Orereta was total.

Sports

The town's football club, Oiartzun KE, plays at Karla Lekuona. The women's side has competed in the highest division of Spanish football, making Oiartzun one of the smallest towns in the country home to a top-flight club.

Notable people born in Oiartzun

Twin towns

Oiartzun is twinned with:

External links