Points of Interest Heritage Communities

Communities

The communities originated a bit before the 13th cent. as civic entities with the right to decide on the matters of their territory. Their name in Spanish (anteiglesias) is derived from the front part of the church, the official place designated by the king for the meeting of the neighbours, and today they form part of the municipalities in the form of rural communities.
Getting to know these communities is an unforgettable experience. Visiting them will allow us to approach ethnographic, historical and artistic aspects disseminated throughout the territory and their most characteristic element is the parish church.
The communities of Aretxabaleta are located in suggestive landscapes with churches and tower houses that are worth visiting.
Eskoriatza contains a great number of them; we cannot miss its churches, cemeteries and manors.
In Antzuola is the community of Uzarraga with its emblematic Parish of San Juan.
In Arrasate we can find churches with roofs painted with spectacular starry skies and an ancient spa declared a provincial monument.
Oñati has maintained throughout its complex history two communities with their corresponding parishes, Araotz and Urruxola, which are well worth visiting.

ANTZUOLA

In order to know one of the oldest communities of Guipozkoa, we must visit the community of Uzarraga in Antzuola.

 

The first information of the Church of San Juan of Uzarraga are from 1305 although the oldest remains go back to the 13th century. The advocation of St. John has led to relate the founding of the church with the Order of the Knights Templar, for this reason, the important persons of the valley of Leniz chose to be buried in its cemetery.

Inside is an altarpiece of the 17th century by Jeronimo de Larrea, of the school of Antxieta, and a marble crucifix from the same era.
The area around the community offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in suggestive landscapes. The roads that leave from the church will lead us to ancient quarries, emblazoned manors such as that of Urrutia and the Hermitage of Santa Ageda.

 

ARETXABALETA

During the 14th and 17th centuries, Aretxabaleta was a community and formed, along with 16 others, the Valley of Leniz.

The large number of communities made difficult the management of the valley; for this reason, in 1630 it was decided to create two new municipalities that grouped all of them: Aretxabaleta and Eskoriatza. Both are located next to the Camino Real, the principal communicating road that crosses the valley.

Aretxabaleta currently has seven communities. In Korueta we find the Church of Santiago with the altarpiece from the 16th century that recalls the passing of the pilgrims through our valley. Aozaratza owns proof of the importance of the lineage of the Otalora with its tower house and with the chapel in the Church of San Juan. In Areantza we can get to know the Church of Andra Mari with carvings from the 15th century and in Larriño, that of San Cristóbal.
The community nearest the urban centre is Isurieta with the Church of San Pedro. Somewhat farther on is Galartza, located in a high area, projecting the group formed by the Church of Santa Lucía and the tower house of the 14th cent. of the Galartza family, one of the most important lineages of the valley.
From the Portasol neighbourhood we reach Arkarazo. The tower of the Church of San Millan was done by the prolific Martín Carrera in the 18th century.

ARRASATE

Arrasate is full of sharp contrasts. As soon as we leave the principal access roads it is possible to find five communities amidst idyllic rural environments.

 

In Bedoña, incorporated to Mondragón in 1966, the Church of Santa Eulalia houses pretty details such as the Romanesque windows of the west façade and the decoration of the starry sky in its vaults.

In the Church of San Miguel of Garagartza we can enjoy a rare plateresque relief.
On the way towards Aramaiona we cross Gesalibar. Its name is derived from the existence of springs of sulphur water in the valley that led to the construction of spas. The spa of Santa Ageda, today a psychiatric hospital, is declared a provincial monument.
In Udala the Church of San Esteban was built over the Romanesque remains and in its proximity it is possible to find ancient washing places and other interesting ethnographic aspects.
Although the community of Uribarri has lost is rural personality, nowadays the Church of Santa María de la Esperanza continues being of interest, where it is possible to observe various Romanesque remains.
Although it is not a community, it is worthwhile to go to the Hermitage of San Valerio of Meatzerreka. It is direct proof of the oldest guild of the town since its first information goes back to 1434 as the headquarters of the "venaqueros", the workers of the iron mines of Arrasate.

ESKORIATZA

During the 14th and 17th centuries, Eskoriatza was a community and formed, along with 16 other communities, the Valley of Leniz.

The large number of communities made difficult the management of the valley; for this reason, in 1630 it was decided to create two new municipalities that grouped all of them: Aretxabaleta and Eskoriatza. Both are located next to the Camino Real, the principal communicating road that crosses the valley.

Eskoriatza currently has seven communities and visiting them will not be a disappointment. We can discover churches that preserve the structure of the wooden vaulted roof such as the Hermitage of Santa Lucía de Marín, the Church of San Miguel in Bolibar and the Parish of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción de Mazmela. In Zarimutz the Parish of San Pedro stands out with medieval remains.
In Apotzaga we can enjoy unbeatable panoramic views and the possibility of visiting the circular cemetery that follows the style of the ancient Basque cemeteries, today it is considered a monumental element.
From the Church of San Juan Bautista of Mendiola we will enjoy the suggestive landscapes, and in the adjacent areas we can see the Hermitage of San Andrés of Eraña with medieval sarcophagi in the exterior.
Two kilometres from the town centre of Aretxabaleta is found Gellao. The Church of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción preserves Romanesque remains in the entrance.

OÑATI

The municipality of Oñati is divided into 15 neighbourhoods of enormous historical –monumental interest, but only two of them are communities. The visit to these two communities is high recommended for the survival of the rural nature that is experienced in them.

On the road to Arantzazu we find the crossroad that leads us to the community of Araotz. Its location, separated from the urban centre, which, under the Count's control, favoured its being a refuge of criminals and delinquents. In addition, in the vicinity of Aguirre, we find the house where the polemic colonizer of the Amazon was born, Lope de Aguirre.

The Church of San Miguel de Araotz is in an elevated area. In this 16th cent. building we can see Gothic remains of a previous temple as well as an interesting wooden roof imitating the ribbed vault. The baroque altarpiece of the main altar is decorated with the carvings by the sculptor from Araotz, Domingo Zumalde, dating back to the middle of the 16th cent. or beginning of the 17th cent.
Not far away we find the rural community of Urruxola. Its centre is composed of a parish, rectory, school and cemetery. The Church of Nuestra Señora de Urruxola is from the beginning of the 16th century although most of the building corresponds to a layout of the 17th cent., a clear exponent of classic baroque style. As in Araotz, the roof is made of wood, imitating the ribbed vault.