Oiartzun ( eu, Oiartzun, es, Oyarzun) is a town and municipality located in the

Basque Country Basque Country may refer to: * Basque Country (autonomous community), as used in Spain ( es, País Vasco, link=no), also called , an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain (shown in pink on the map) * French Basque Country o ...

, in the province of Gipuzkoa lying at the foot of the massif Aiako Harria (Peñas de Aya in Spanish).

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 Irun ( es, Irún, eu, Irun) is a town of the Bidasoaldea region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. History It lies on the foundations of the ancient Oiasso, cited as ...

, 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 Alfonso VIII (11 November 11555 October 1214), called the Noble (''El Noble'') or the one of Las Navas (''el de las Navas''), was King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. After having suffered a great defeat with his own army at ...

chartered it as town but it took some decades before its independence from Orereta was total. San Esteban plazatik Oiartzun

Sports

The town's football club,

Oiartzun KE Oiartzun Kirol Elkartea is a Spanish football club from Oiartzun, Gipuzkoa, founded in 1975. It is best known for its women's section, established in 1981. History Oiartzun was one of the leading teams in the first years of organized women's f ...

, 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

Sebastián Lartaún Sebastián Lartaún (died 9 October 1583) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Cuzco (1570–1583). ''(in Latin)'' Biography On 4 September 1570, Sebastián Lartaún was appointed Bishop of Cusco during the papacy of Pope Pius V ...

, Roman Catholic prelate who served as

Bishop of Cuzco The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco ( la, Cuschen(sis)) is a Latin Metropolitan archdiocese with see in the city and old Inca imperial capital of Cusco, in Peru.Xabier Lete (1944–2010), writer, poet, singer and politician * Izaskun Zubizarreta Guerendiain, (born 1970), ski mountaineer * Juan María Lekuona (1927–2005), priest, poet and linguist * Rafael Picavea y Leguía (1867–1946), industrialist, politician and journalist * José Manuel Lasa (born 1940), cyclist *

Txomin Perurena Domingo Perurena Telletxea or Txomin Perurena (born 15 December 1943) is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist. He is most famous for winning the overall mountains classification of 1974 Tour de France. He also finished second at the ...

(born 1943), cyclist * Miguel María Lasa (born 1948), cyclist *

Iker Leonet Iker Leonet Iza (born December 10, 1983) is a retired Spanish cyclist who last rode for . When he joined in 2005 he was the youngest rider in the team. Major results Source: ;2004 :1st Stage 3 Vuelta a Cantabria The Vuelta a Cantabria is a mu ...

(born 1983), cyclist

Twin towns

Oiartzun is twinned with: * Carhaix, Brittany in France

References

External links

Roman Museum of Oiasso
(Basque, Spanish, English and French)
Town Hall official site
(Basque and Spanish)
Guispuscoa Government site: Oiartzun
(Basque and Spanish)
OIARTZUN in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)
Information available in Spanish Municipalities in Gipuzkoa {{Basque-geo-stub