Oiartzun

Oiartzun (Basque: Oiartzun, Spanish: 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).

Oiartzun
Coat of arms of Oiartzun
Oiartzun is located in the Basque Country
Oiartzun
Oiartzun
Location of Oiartzun within the Basque Autonomous Community
Coordinates: 43°17′55″N 1°51′40″W
Country Spain
Autonomous community Basque Country
ProvinceGipuzkoa
EskualdeaOarsoaldea
Founded1453 (1453)
Government
  MayorJexux Leonet Elizegi (EH Bildu)
Area
  Total59.71 km2 (23.05 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[1]
  Total10,276
  Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Basque: oiartzuar
Spanish: oyarsonense
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
20180
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

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.

Partial view of the church of San Esteban

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:

References

  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
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