Irun

Summary

Irun (Spanish: Irún, Basque: Irun) is a town of the Bidasoaldea region in the province of Gipuzkoa[2] in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain.

Irun
Irun City Hall
Irun City Hall
Flag of Irun
Coat of arms of Irun
Motto: 
Vigilantiae Custos
Irun is located in the Basque Country
Irun
Irun
Location of Irun within the Basque Autonomous Community
Irun is located in Spain
Irun
Irun
Location of Irun within Spain
Coordinates: 43°20′16.13″N 1°47′19.72″W / 43.3378139°N 1.7888111°W / 43.3378139; -1.7888111
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityEuskadi
ProvinceGipuzkoa
EskualdeaBidasoaldea
Founded28 February 1776
Government
 • MayorJosé Antonio Santano Clavero (2007) (PSE-EE)
Area
 • Total42.40 km2 (16.37 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (70 ft)
Highest elevation
825 m (2,707 ft)
Lowest elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total61,983
 • Density1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Demonym(s)irundar, irunés/irunesa
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
20300-20305
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

It lies on the foundations of the ancient Oiasso, cited as a Roman-Vasconic town.[3]

During the Spanish Civil War, the city was site of the 1936 Battle of Irun, which ended with a strategic victory for the Nationalist forces.

Location and transport edit

One of the biggest towns in Gipuzkoa, its location on the border between Spain and France, across the Bidasoa river from Hendaye,[2] has made Irun into a commercial and logistic centre. Irun railway station is a major break-of-gauge where the SNCF 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge rails meet the 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) broad gauge Renfe ones.

Currently Irun has a fairground with a modern exhibition and telecommunication facilities, just some 100 metres away from the actual border at the Santiago Bridge (river Bidasoa).

Irun is part of the conurbation of Txingudi bay with Hondarribia and Hendaye; the town is also within the area of the Eurocité Basque Bayonne-San Sebastián, a European economic interest grouping. (fr)

Culture and tourism edit

One of its main festivals is the Alarde de San Marcial, a parade recreating an episode of the Peninsular War, held every year on 30 June.

There are hot mineral springs in the town.[2]

Sport edit

The town is home to one of Europe's top handball team CD Bidasoa, who play at the Pabellón Polideportivo Artaleku.

Its football club is Real Unión who play in the third tier, and are based at Stadium Gal. There is a Real Unión B [es] in the seventh tier.

Climate edit

Irun has an oceanic climate courtesy of strong maritime moderation from the Bay of Biscay. Rainfall is frequent year-round since Irun is on the windward side of the Pyrenees. Rain often falls in high quantities on individual days with 1,649 millimetres (64.9 in) falling on just 138 days.[4]

Climate data for San Sebastián Airport, Hondarribia, adjacent to Irun (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.6
(76.3)
28.6
(83.5)
29.0
(84.2)
32.4
(90.3)
36.6
(97.9)
39.8
(103.6)
40.4
(104.7)
40.0
(104.0)
38.0
(100.4)
33.4
(92.1)
29.4
(84.9)
26.0
(78.8)
40.4
(104.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6)
13.8
(56.8)
16.1
(61.0)
17.5
(63.5)
20.7
(69.3)
23.1
(73.6)
25.1
(77.2)
25.7
(78.3)
24.0
(75.2)
21.0
(69.8)
16.2
(61.2)
13.5
(56.3)
19.2
(66.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.9
(48.0)
9.4
(48.9)
11.6
(52.9)
13.0
(55.4)
16.2
(61.2)
19.0
(66.2)
21.0
(69.8)
21.5
(70.7)
19.4
(66.9)
16.4
(61.5)
12.0
(53.6)
9.6
(49.3)
14.8
(58.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.7
(40.5)
5.0
(41.0)
7.0
(44.6)
8.5
(47.3)
11.8
(53.2)
14.8
(58.6)
16.9
(62.4)
17.2
(63.0)
14.7
(58.5)
11.8
(53.2)
7.8
(46.0)
5.6
(42.1)
10.5
(50.9)
Record low °C (°F) −12.0
(10.4)
−13.0
(8.6)
−5.2
(22.6)
−1.2
(29.8)
3.0
(37.4)
5.3
(41.5)
7.8
(46.0)
8.4
(47.1)
4.6
(40.3)
0.8
(33.4)
−5.8
(21.6)
−8.4
(16.9)
−13.0
(8.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 157
(6.2)
135
(5.3)
124
(4.9)
156
(6.1)
120
(4.7)
95
(3.7)
85
(3.3)
117
(4.6)
132
(5.2)
167
(6.6)
188
(7.4)
174
(6.9)
1,649
(64.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 13 12 12 14 12 10 9 10 10 12 13 12 138
Average snowy days 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Average relative humidity (%) 75 72 70 71 72 73 74 75 75 75 76 75 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 88 108 141 159 182 188 198 197 170 134 96 81 1,750
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[4]

People from Irun edit

 
Junkaleko Andre Maria church, Irun

References edit

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Irun" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 853–854.
  3. ^ "What is Oiasso Museum". Oiasso Roman Museum. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b "VValores climatológicos normales. Hondarribia, Malkarroa". November 2015.

External links edit

  • Irun municipal government website (in Basque and Spanish)
  • Lakaxita gaztetxea