Salvatierra/Agurain

Salvatierra ( _eu. Agurain) is a town and municipality located in the province of Araba (Álava), in the Basque Country, northern Spain. The municipality numbers 4,014 inhabitants (2001), out of which 1,802 are in work (2001), 162 jobless (2004), as stated by the National Employment Office INEM. The gross income per family amounts to 6,784 € (1997, Basque Autonomous Community: 8,258 €). With reference to workforce by economic sectors, 10.36% are employed in agriculture, 35.78% in the industry sector, 47.92% in the service sector and 5.95% in the construction industry (data not available for the municipality, applies to the larger Salvatierra District). [cite web|url=http://www.gaindegia.org/es/Agurain | title = Lautadako Iraganbidea | publisher = Gaindegia|year=2004|accessdate=2008-01-30 Dossier in Basque]

The municipality comprises a core built-up area consisting of three historical streets that stretch out south to north, ie "Zapatari", "Mayor" and "Carnicería", which bear witness to ancient guild clusters. Outside the walls of the town spread age old neighbourhoods, such as the Madura (Basque for "swamp"), La Magdalena or San Jorge. On either side of the road connecting the 'Portal del Rey' (main south entrance to the town) and the train station, a sprawl developed in the 50s and 60s. The town keeps on growing east beside the Madura through new housing projects in the 2000s, ie Harresi Parkea. Other minor nuclei (villages) that dot the outward lands of the municipality of Salvatierra are Alangua, Arrizala, Egileor, Iturrieta and Opakua.

Economy

Agurain benefits from its location on the important European road axis N-1 E-5 E-80 and the Northern Railway, following that it developed industry since the early XX^th century. In this respect, it is worth mentioning the one time stinky Curtidos Salvatierra S.A.L., a tanning factory, which provided not long ago work for so many inhabitants. Nowadays the town numbers three industrial estates, the two existing so far and a new one under construction, namely, "Litutxipi" across the train station (Sallurtegui,...), "Agurain" on the west (with PEM, former PUM Española, as its traditional flagship factory; maximum surface area for building 19,773 m²) and "Galzar" (urbanization works under way in 2008, maximum surface area for building 14,035 m²). [cite web | url = http://www.aad.es/english/home.php | title = Industrial Estates | publisher = Alava Development Agency | accessdate = 01/03/2008] The two latter industrial estates participate in a wider regional logistic scheme known as "Vitoria Logistic Corridor".

A solar power plant is being built (inaugurated in 2007) on the outskirts, the biggest one in the Basque Autonomous Community, with a view to injecting into the power network 350,000 kWh/year. [cite web|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/prensa/20070317/aldia/entra-marcha-salvatierra-primer_20070317.html | title = Entra en marcha en Salvatierra el primer 'huerto' de energía solar del País Vasco | publisher = DV|year=2007|accessdate=01/03/2008 Article in Spanish]

History

The town of Salvatierra was founded in 1256 by the Castilian king Alfonso X on the former settlement of the village Hagurahin on top of a hill, which rendered the place a perfect location for military purposes. [cite web | url = http://www.euskonews.com/0353zbk/gaia35301es.html | title = El fuero de Salvatierra | publisher = Euskonews&Media | accessdate = 05/02/2008 Site in Spanish] Castile was intent on strengthening the territories bordering on the Kingdom of Navarre seized some decades ago. As a result, the king founded various strongholds or free towns ("salvas terras", "seguras" and "villas francas") over the lands of Gipuzkoa and Álava in route to Gascony through the northern Way of St. James, with a view at the same time to fostering Castilian trade.

Salvatierra was in the ensuing decades and centuries home to various scuffles, battles and sieges on the grounds of its bordering location with Navarre and its strategic position in the King's Highway to France. In the XIIIth century, the definitive layout of the town was established, with the walls circling it all around and two big fortified churches sealing Salvatierra at the north and south ends as we know it today ("Santa Maria" and "San Juan" churches respectively). The so-called "olbeas" were erected at this time too. These consisted of arcades, made originally of wood, next to both parishes in the one-time bustling marketplaces, and they have endured up to the present, although reconstructed in the XVIth century.

The town thrived on its good location and trade in the Way of St. James, and it even had a Jewish quarter, located in today's 'Arramel' st. In 1521 the town had to fend off the attack of its own lord, the Count of Salvatierra, a rebellious leader that revolted against emperor Carlos I in the Spanish war of "comunas". Yet he failed to take over the town, the Count was arrested by the emperor and executed, much to the joy of the inhabitants, who didn't sympathize with him. The joy didn't last long though, since shortly afterwards the plague hit hard the town, which eventually resulted in the burning of Salvatierra (1564), a disaster that some blame on a desperate attempt to put an end to the grim epidemic. Only the walls (and both main churches) were spared, almost the whole town was destroyed, a fact reflected in poems by the writer Juan Perez de Lazarraga. [cite web | url = http://klasikoak.armiarma.com/lazarraga/lazarraga-zuzenketak.pdf | title = Lazarraga, eskuizkribuaren transkripzioa | publisher = KM/Gipuzkoako Artxibo Orokorra| accessdate = 05/02/2008|format=PDF Site in Basque]

"Salbatierra
"egun ey dago tristeric
"oyta dabela
"eguiten asco negarric
"çerren jarri da
"guztia destruiduric
"ez da gueratu
"barruan ese galantic
"çerca çabaloc
"jarri ey dira bacarric
"oy onezquero
"ez da mercatu bearric (...)
"

After the burning, a vigorous and elegant reconstruction ensued under the hallmark of the Renaissance (late XVI-early XVII). Worth highlighting are the sumptuous walled stately homes in between the main streets, such as the "Casa de los Diezmos" in the 'Carnicería' st. [cite book | author = Portilla, Micaela J.| year = 1991 | title = "Una ruta europea Por Álava A Compostela Del paso de San Adrián, al Ebro" | publisher = Diputación Foral de Álava | city: Vitoria | isbn = 84-7821-066-0 | pages = p. 86] While the building frenzy of the previous century waned in the XVIIIth, there were still some outstanding works like the pentagonal San Juan Church's baroque style porch stretching out to the centre of the marketplace.

The XIXth century was to know unrest and turmoil in this area. To start with, at the beginning of the century the French troops settled in Salvatierra, as it is still evidenced by a sign that reads "Biande" at a house in the 'Carnicería' st. The First Carlist War left a mayor scar on the town's medieval nucleus, since the walls were demolished in order to furnish the near-by Guevara fortress, a Carlist key position, with proper material. Between both Carlist Wars the railway was established up to the French border; however, the stretch between Vitoria-Gasteiz and Olazagutia was ready by 1862 [cite web | url = http://www.afinet.eu/content/view/238/82/ | title = Envuelta a Vitoria de 1863 | publisher = Afinet | accessdate = 05/02/2008 Site in Spanish] , so Agurain had already a railway stop at that time, following that the town started to expand south out of the medieval nucleus by lining both sides of the road to the station.

Crossroads

The location of Salvatierra in the middle of a plain has been an important crossroads as early as the Neolithic age, as evidenced by the presence of two important dolmens around (see below). Scholars pinpoint the Roman manor "Alba", a milestone in the Astorga-Bordeaux Roman road (extending west to east), in the near-by village of Albeniz (some others point to Salvatierra). The way winding down the pass (cave) of San Adrian into the plains around Agurain that was to become the Way of St. James evidences prehistoric traces of seasonal cattle migration, dolmens and burial mounds in the area. It was also used by Romans and gained momentum after the seizure of Gipuzkoa and Alava by the Castilians.

The use of the Way of St. James lost ground to new and more convenient roads, like the one built through Salinas de Leniz in 1765, which proved more practical for carriages, resulting in the transfer of the traffic to the latter. [cite book | author = Portilla, Micaela J.| year = 1991 | title = "Una ruta europea Por Álava A Compostela Del paso de San Adrián, al Ebro" | publisher = Diputación Foral de Álava | city: Vitoria | isbn = 84-7821-066-0 | pages = p. 33] The traffic gone trickle first and drain later brought about some decay to Salvatierra. Yet new communications were being built at the time: Vitoria-Gasteiz was connected to the town with a new road in 1820, and on to the corridor of Burunda. In 1862 the railway connecting Madrid and Irun arrived in the town. After having crossed the town right in the south entrance to the Medieval Nucleus for decades, currently the main road E-5 A-1 ("Nacional I") passes by the town west to east in route to France.

Language

The main language of use in Salvatierra/Agurain is currently Spanish and it has been so for at least the last 150 years. However, nowadays younger generations that come out of Basque-language schools (called "ikastolas") since the 1970s may speak and/or understand Basque. Surprisingly, late in the XIX^th century an interpreter is still required by the town council for Basque speaking neighbours.

Features

* "San Juan" and "Santa Maria" churches: Both impressive churches tower over the town. Due to the fortified nature of Agurain, both churches seal off the town south and north in a continuum with the town walls. Hence military architecture may be noticed (thick and stark walls, few windows and outward corridors perched on their walls for the sentries). Their current construction dates from the period spanning XIV^th to early XVI^th century. They are both made in late gothic style and distributed in three naves. [cite book | author = Portilla, Micaela J.| year = 1991 | title = "Una ruta europea Por Álava A Compostela Del paso de San Adrián, al Ebro" | publisher = Diputación Foral de Álava | city: Vitoria | isbn = 84-7821-066-0 | pages = p. 82]

* Dolmen "Sorginetxe": This dolmen north of Arrizala is not far from another one, "Aizkomendi" (located north-east in the village of Eguilaz), which bears witness to dolmen building activity in the Neolithic. [cite web|url=http://www.alavavision.es/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=99 | title = Lugares Singulares: Los dólmenes de Sorginetxe y de Aizkomendi | publisher = Alavavisión | accessdate = 09/02/2008 Site in Spanish] These dolmens, used as burial monuments, were arguably situated at crossroads. The area is not without tales of witches and spells (in step with the dolmen's name: 'witch house'), especially as regards the cavern of Lezao.

* "Olbeas" of San Juan: The present-day arcade sloping up south to north goes back to the XVI^th century (rebuilt after the fire). The long corridor glows with picturesque charm, with some of its columns being made of wood. A marketplace is held there every Tuesday since the town charter was granted in 1256.

References

External links

* [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/126733 SALVATIERRA/AGURAIN in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)] Site in Spanish
* [http://www.turismoa.euskadi.net/s11-12375/en/contenidos/d_destinos_turisticos/0000005024_d2_rec_turismo/en_5024/5024-ficha.html Tourist information about SALVATIERRA/AGURAIN by the regional Basque Government]
* [http://www.cuadrillasalvatierra.org/ingles/frame.asp?pag=f_patrimonio.html&texto=HERITAGE Tourist information about the Salvatierra Municipality and District]
* [http://www.agurain.org Alternative point of view on town issues] Site in Spanish