Oñati

Oñati
Municipality
Flag
Oñati Location of Oñati within the Basque Autonomous Community Show map of the Basque Country Oñati Oñati (Spain) Show map of Spain
Coordinates: 43°02′N 02°25′W / 43.033°N 2.417°W / 43.033; -2.417
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Gipuzkoa
Comarca	Debagoiena
Government
• Mayor	Izaro Elorza
Area
• Total	100.31 km2 (38.73 sq mi)
Elevation	230 m (750 ft)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	11,308
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Demonym	Oñatiarra
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	20560/20567/20568/20569
Website	Official website

Oñati (Basque: Oñati, Spanish: Oñate) is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has a population of approximately 10,500 and lies in a valley in the center of the Basque country. It lies about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the Bay of Biscay and is about 236 metres (774 feet) above sea level. The name is Basque and translates roughly as "place of many hills", reflecting the landscape of the area. The town is surrounded on three sides by green mountains on the southern side by the Aloña limestone formation.

Main sights

Dating back to the Medieval period, Oñati is home to numerous monuments. The University of Oñati, the ancient university of the Basque Country, which is in the town's centre, is one of the oldest university buildings on the Iberian peninsula. Today it houses the International Institute for the Sociology of Law. Other important sites include the monastery and hospice of Bidaurreta and the Church of Saint Michael.

Above the city lies the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, which is known for its Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady. A shepherd is said to have discovered a figure of the Virgin here in 1469. The original 16th century chapel was replaced in 1950.

Oñati is also known for having hosted the Boise State University Campus in the Basque Country program at ETEO. The time was very volatile politically since it saw the death of Franco and the transition to a non dictatorial political system. Currently, the main campus of the Faculty of Business Studies of Mondragon University is in the town.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Oñati is twinned with:

• Guadalajara, Mexico^[2]

Notable people

• Lope de Aguirre (1510–1561), conquistador

See also

• Urquía, surname which originated in the municipalities of Isasondo and Arautz (now Oñati)

References

External links

• Official Website Information available in English, Spanish and Basque.
• OÑATI in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) Information available in Spanish

This page was last edited on 27 March 2023, at 08:42