Uribe Larrabetzu

Routes

Leisure

HISTORY

Street at Larrabetzu

Larrabetzu occupies the entire valley of the river Aretxabalgana, surrounded by the peaks of Gaztelumendi, Atxispe, Bizkargi and Aretxabalagana, separating this from the neighbouring towns. The extensive, flat or gently sloping terrain of the valley provides perfect conditions for agricultural activities and for this reason, throughout its history, the local population has been mainly engaged in agricultural and livestock breeding activities.

The town was founded in 1376 following the granting of privileges by Juan, son of the Lord of Bizkaia, fundamentally out of a need to provide a safe location. The town is surrounded by a wall to protect the local population against continuous clashes with rival kingdoms, which were common at that time.

The urban structure of that medieval town is perfectly recognisable today: the main street, which in reality was the road that crossed the village, is lined with houses. The medieval quarter of Larrabetzu, built around the street called Andra Mari, was declared a cultural asset in 1994 and was given the category of “Conjunto Monumental” (group of monuments forming a whole). The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Palaces of Icaza and Angulería (the latter is truly spectacular), are located in the centre of the town.

A constant feature of the history of Larrabetzu is its importance as a crossroads of important routes within the Domain, on the road that connects Bilbao and Gernika. This road, used as a route to the coast by the Romans, was later utilised by early Christian missionaries to gain a foothold in this part of the country. Evidence of this is offered by the foundation date of the Church of Goikolexea.

Later, it would become part of St James’ Way to Santiago de Compostela, which crossed Bizkaia. The Way must have played a decisive role in the development of Larrabetzu, as it fostered a thriving economy and acted as a vehicle for the cultural refinements that arrived from France.

In the 16th century, Larrabetzu acquired great importance once more as an obligatory stop on the “Ruta Juradera”, the route along which the Lords of Bizkaia travelled to swear their allegiance to the special Laws of the territory as a premise to receive recognition of their authority. The architectural treasures surrounding the Church of San Emeterio and Celedonio belong to that golden period in the history of Larrabetzu.

Should the visitor wish to get a firsthand knowledge of other well-known scenarios of our contemporary history, a visit to Mount Gaztelumendi is a must. One of the most decisive battles of the war was fought on that mountain, which formed part of the historic Iron Belt, constructed in order to defend Bilbao during the Civil War. Many remains from this period are still preserved in this area.