Castro Urdiales

Castro Urdiales
Municipality

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View of Castro Urdiales, Brazomar beach

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of Castro Urdiales
Castro Urdiales

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 43°23′4″N 3°12′54″W / 43.38444°N 3.21500°W / 43.38444; -3.21500
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Cantabria
Province Cantabria
Comarca Eastern coast of Cantabria
Founded Flaviobriga 74 AD
Government
  Alcalde Angel Fernando Díaz-Munio Roviralta (2015) (Castroverde)
Area
  Total 96.72 km2 (37.34 sq mi)
Elevation 19 m (62 ft)
Population (2010)
  Total 32,258
  Density 330/km2 (860/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Castreños
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 39700
Website Official website

Castro Urdiales is a seaport of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on the bay of Biscay. Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, date from the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are tourism, fishing, and the preservation of fish, especially sardines and anchovies, in oil. The "Lolin" and "La Castreña" anchovy canning factories serve as a reminder of the town's closeness to this industry and its proximity to the sea.

Tourism has greatly increased in Castro Urdiales in the last thirty years; many people from Bilbao and other parts of the Basque Country and Cantabria as well as Northern Spain in general keep summer homes in the town. Although the number of people registered in the town is around 32,000, the summer population can double or even triple this figure.The town is popular because of its beaches and scenic harbor.

History

Figure of a young Neptune providing from Mount Cueto
Port of Castro Urdiales. In the background the church of Santa María de la Asunción, the lighthouse of the Castle of Santa Ana and the medieval bridge.

Castro Urdiales was originally called Portus Amanum, and was the chief city of the Autrigones. In AD 74 a Roman colony was established under the name Flaviobriga, during the reign of emperor Vespasian. It was most likely established to mine the abundant iron in the area.[1]

In 1163 the town of Castro Urdiales received its municipal charter.[2] It lay at the western tip of the coastline of Navarre until 1200, when the kingdom was invaded by Alfonso VIII of Castile.[3][4] Castro Urdiales benefited much from its location at a crossroads in the trade between northern Europe and Castile. It remained in Biscay until 1476 at least, but it is not cited in the seigneury's assemblies thereafter.[5] Until the 18th century, the town recurrently attempted a reincorporation to Biscay (attested in 1799), but its attempts were met with the frontal refusal of Bilbao on account that it could tip the scale against its own trade balance.[6]

It was destroyed by the French in 1813, but was speedily rebuilt and fortified. Its rapid rise in population and prosperity dates from the increased development of iron-mining and railway communication which took place after 1879.

Main sights

The monument complex of Castro Urdiales, also known as Puebla Vieja, has medieval origins and is located near the sea. It was declared a Conjunto histórico in 1978.

Santa María de la Asuncion Church, apse

The Church of Santa María de la Asunción is in Gothic style. Built under the protection of King Alfonso VIII of Castile in the 13th century (though it was finished in the 15th century), it is a basilica church with three naves. In the interior are the images of the White Virgin and the Reclining Christ, and three Gothic carvings of the Magi. It was declared a National Monument in 1931.

The Castle of Santa Ana is located near the port and the church of Santa María de la Asunción. In modern times it housed a lighthouse.

Other sights include:

Monument on the waterfront in Castro Urdiales.
Lighthouse, church and San Guillén.

Twin towns

Notes

  1. http://www.muskiz.org/english/historia.php 30 May 2008
  2. http://english.turismodecantabria.com/cantabria/historia4.asp 1 June 2008
  3. Urzainqui, Tomás; Olaizola, Juan Maria (1998). La Navarra marítima. Pamplona: Pamiela. p. 108. ISBN 84-7681-293-0.
  4. Read the Division of kingdoms of Navarre and Spain, "et durat usque ad aquam quae dicitur Castre (quae dividit terram regis Navarrae a terra regis Castellae)"
  5. "Castro-Urdiales". Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia. EuskoMedia Fundazioa. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  6. Urzainqui, Tomás; Olaizola, Juan Maria (1998). La Navarra marítima. Pamplona: Pamiela. p. 109. ISBN 84-7681-293-0.
  7. Government of Cantabria, notificación del decreto

References

External links

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