Hondarribia

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A view of Hondarribia from Bidasoa River
A view of Hondarribia from Bidasoa River

Hondarribia (Spanish: Fuenterrabía) is a fishing town in the province of Guipuzcoa, Basque Country of Spain on the Bay of Txingudi, by the border with France.

[edit] Understand

The exact date of its foundation is unknown. Hondarribia is an attractive, well preserved, walled town, with a typical fisherman's quarter, La Marina.

Its history is that of a frontier town, which was fiercely independent and desired by many. At the beginning of the second millennium it was formally under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Navarre, until its inhabitants decided to come under the protection of Castille in 1203, when the town was promoted to city and its citizens granted many rights and privileges.The subsequent kings of Navarre did not cede their claim on the town against the will of the people of Hondarribia. Ever since Henri Bourbon et Albret, French suitor to the Kingdom of Navarre, was crowned king of France, him and his descendents started wars of aggression against Spain and the city of Hondarribia to conquer it by force as their right to claim it for France was lacking. Accordingly France attacked Spain over the town repeatedly until Luis XIV and Felipe IV signed the 1658 Treaty of the Pyrenees, and France gave up its claim on Hondarribia.

As guarantee of the peace accord, Felipe IV's daughter married Luis XIV just across the border in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques; they then moved across the border to celebrate in the Church of Hondarribia. The previous night, Felipe IV's daughter spent the night in the Casadevante Palace, which incidentally is now a nice hotel.

There are two sections of town that are of especial interest to the traveler:

The main street of Hondarribia, with the Casadevante Palace and the Church
The main street of Hondarribia, with the Casadevante Palace and the Church
  • The old city — this section retains its medieval fortified walls and is home to the Palaces of Zuloaga and Casadevante, the Gothic Church "Nuestra Señora del Manzano," the castle of Carlos V, Pampinot Street...
  • La Marina — full of multicolored houses and their resident fishermen, along San Pedro and Santiago Streets.
The fishing fleet moored in Hondarribia's "Port of Refuge"
The fishing fleet moored in Hondarribia's "Port of Refuge"

Hondarribia's beach, ports, lighthouse, the beach of Ondarraitz (on the other side of the bay), and the neighborhing hillsides are just as attractive, and make it clear why Hondarribia has enjoyed its position as a vacation destination for more than 100 years.

[edit] Get in

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

  • Military Tattoos (Alarde de Armas). Early September (7 to 11, but in 2007 it could be seen at Sep 3). A civilian-military city parade commemorating the the victory over the largest siege by French troops led by the Prince of Condé on Sept 8, 1638. The victory is attributed to support of Guadalupe Virgin, patron saint of Hondarribia. A spectacular show involving most of the local population from morning time to about 11pm. 20 groups walk around the streets wearing traditional red berets, and plays fifes and drums--the same melody again and again. Young girls in traditional costumes head each group. One of the group is made of woodmen wearing sheep skin caps. The rest of the population are applauding to all of them in support. Obviously, it's virtually impossible to drive into the town during the event, and all pintxos bars are heavily overcrowded till the very closing time. edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Pintxos

Hondarribia is on par with San Sebastian and Bilbao as a gourmet destination of the Basque country.

  • Yola Berri, Calle Zuloaga / San Pedro Kalea 22 (across the street from Jáuregui Hotel), ☎ 943 642-780 / +34 943 645 611. Open and offering pintxos from 11am. One of the most cited places for pintxos in the town. edit
  • Gran Sol, Calle San Pedro, 65, ☎ 943 64 27 01. Kitchen closes before 23:00. Second most cited places for pintxos. Won many gastronomic awards for creativity in pintxos. Has both a bar full of tapas and a more formal restaurant for having a dinner. Pintxos €1.40-2.40, main courses €5.10-10.35.  edit

  • Enbata, San Pedro 22 (at the Jáuregui Hotel). Kitchen close after 11:30pm.  edit

  • Txantxangorri. In 2007 participates in Lo Mejor de la Gastronomia annual competition of pintxos bars. edit

  • Itxaspe. In 2007 participates in Lo Mejor de la Gastronomia annual competition of pintxos bars. edit

[edit] Dining

[edit] Budget

  • Horixe, c/Santiago 45, ☎ 943 640-455. Pizza and other quite touristic dishes. One of the few places you can eat during the mass city events like the city parade. Nothing special in the rest of the year. Main course: about €8-11.  edit

[edit] Mid-Range

  • Hermandad de Pescadores, Kalea Zuloaga 12, ☎ +34 943 64 2738. Thu-Mon: 1pm-3pm, 6:30pm-11pm, Tue: 1pm-3:30pm. Communal place for seafood. Reservation recommended, essential on weekends. Merluza en salsa verde is particularly good. edit

  • Sebastian, Calle Mayor (downstairs). Closed Sun and Tue, in November. Has a fireplace. edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Alameda: Michelin star restaurant. Closed Sun and Mon, and beginning of Oct and Jan.
  • Ramon Roteta

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

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