Eibar

Sister cities

• Užice
• Vilariño
• Yecla

History

The city was chartered by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1346, receiving the name of Villanueva de San Andrés de Heybar. The feudal families that dominated the territory engaged in the War of the Bands. Eibar, like the rest of settlements in the valley, had an industry based on finery forges and arms manufacturing. In 1766, Eibar was engaged in a social revolt known as the Machinada, and years later, in 1794, it was attacked by the French, who destroyed the town. In the Carlist Wars, Eibar sided with the Liberals. The labour movement and socialism became particularly strong in Eibar. In 1931, it was the first city in Spain to proclaim the Second Spanish Republic; in recognition it was given the title of "Very Exemplary City". In the Spanish Civil War, Eibar was practically destroyed by Italian bombers aiding the Spanish Nationalists. The subsequent rebuilding brought significant industrial development and a demographic increase, as Eibar's population increased to nearly 40,000 within a few years. Due to the lack of space for expansion, several factories moved to Durangaldea and Álava. The industrial crisis in the 1980s also caused Eibar to lose a great part of its population. At the beginning of the 21st century, Eibar's economy is based on industry and services.

Geography

Eibar lies at an altitude of 121m above sea level, in the west of the province of Gipuzkoa, very close to Biscay. Eibar has an oceanic climate. The town lies in a narrow valley in a mountainous area, with mountains like Karakate, Kalamua and Akondia being between 700 and 800 metres tall. Eibar is traversed by the river Ego, which is a tributary of the Deba. Apart from the urban area, the municipality consists of five rural neighbourhoods: Otaola-Kinarraga, Aginaga, Arrate, Mandiola and Gorosta.