Very little is known of the origins of the town of Etxebarria. Apparently, towards the end of the 14th century, the lord of the Barroeta mansion founded a parish dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew on his property, known as the Cartagoitia.
However, there is no mention of this event in 14th century documents, and no ruins of the parish have been found.
Etxebarria is located on Mount Kalamua at 767 m. above sea level. The Urko river runs through the town. The surrounding country is composed of steep hillsides and narrow valleys that have provided access to Gipuzkoa since the Middle Ages.
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Points of interest
THE COUNTRY ROAD
The path is 2 km kong. It begins at the gates of the Munibe mansion, on one side of the road that links Markina-Xemein to Etxebarria, and follows the Urko river for the most part, passing by mills, ironworks and house-towers.
The path was once a royal road between the two towns. It has now been revived as an offer that combines leisure, sports and culture. When we take the path, we learn more about Etxebarria, the local people and their historical heritage.
THE MUNIBE MANSION
This eclectic country mansion (Romantic-Neoclassic) was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Herrera style, but it incorporated many Baroque elements. The mansion is protected by over 160 acres of private land.
In 1992, a fire destroyed part of the building and some of the books in what is considered to be one of the most important Basque 18th century libraries.
The mansion´s farm once raised thoroughbred English horses. Currently, the property belongs to the BBVA Bank.
THE ANSOTEGUI MANSION
The mansion was built on top of a previous construction towards the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 18th century. Next to the house are a mill and an ironworks.
The building is an enormous ashlar masonry cube. The façade bears the coat of arms of the Ansotegui family, which is believed to come from Andrés Ansotegui, a knight of the Order of Calatrava. The coat of arms carries the Order´s Cross.
THE ASOTEGUI MILL AND IRONWORKS
Located next to the Ansotegui mansion, they once were part of the mansion´s outlying buildings, along with a nearby dam and water tank.
Currently, after it was renovated, the mansion is a country hotel, although it preserves most of its original structure, such as the watermill and the ironworks. The mill still has a few grinding stones.
THE MAÑOZKA MANSION
Originally, the mansion was a 15th century house-tower, although the building itself was built much later at the end of the 18th century. Constructed in ashlar masonry, there is an empty space on the façade where there was once a coat of arms.
Juan Mañozca, Archbishop of Mexico from 1643 to 1653, and José Santos Mañozca, martyred and killed by indians in the 18th century when he was the Bishop of Cuba, were born in this masion.
THE URRUSOLO MILL
The watermill is located near the road that links Etxebarria to Barinaga, on the banks of the Urko river.
It is a small mill in relatively good condition that still preserves a grinding stone for corn and another one for wheat, as well as a water tank. It remained in operation until a few years ago.
THE IBARGUEN HORREO
The hórreo, or raised granary, is beside the road that links Etxebarria to Barinaga. Built in the 16th century, it stands on four pyramid-shaped columns. The upper part is made entirely of oak.
This hórreo is the best, naturally preserved raised granary in the Basque Country. It was also the first one to be studied by European researchers in the 1920s.
THE JAUREGI MANSION OR PATROKUA
This Baroque mansion, built at the beginning of the 18th century, is now a country home. It is located in the town centre, very close to the Saint Andrew parish church.
The façade shows the coat of arms of the Barroeta family, who owned the mansion and were the patrons of the church in 1796. The coat of arms shows a helmet, feathers, leaves and two eagle heads on the upper corners, as well as two small belfries and the Cross of Calatrava.
APOSTLE SAINT ANDREW´S CHURCH
The Apostle Saint Andrew´s Church was built, apparently, in the 14th century. Possibly, the first church was built on the current site, on a low hill called Cartagoitia. It was rebuilt in 1570 and the main chapel was roofed in 1616.
The church, built in the shape of a basilica, is Baroque, with four vaulted sections. The last one ends in a triumphal arch that holds a Baroque altarpiece of undeniable value. The vault and the tower were built towards the end of the 17th century.
Inside the church, the Baroque main altarpiece is very beautifully made. Its columns reveal that it was made during the latest stages of the Baroque period. In the central section, there is a statue of Saint Andrew, flanked by two other statues. Worth mentioning are two 19th century oil paintings on bronze sheets, that the Barroeta family donated to the Church. They hang on the sides of both transepts, in the main aisle.
Lea Artibaiko Garapen Agentzia
Xemein Etorbidea, 12. 48270 Markina-Xemein
History and monuments route
Very little is known of the origins of the town of Etxebarria. Apparently, towards the end of the 14th century, the lord of the Barroeta mansion founded a parish dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew on his property, known as the Cartagoitia.
The path is 2 km kong. It begins at the gates of the Munibe mansion, on one side of the road that links Markina-Xemein to Etxebarria, and follows the Urko river for the most part, passing by mills, ironworks and house-towers.
This eclectic country mansion (Romantic-Neoclassic) was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Herrera style, but it incorporated many Baroque elements. The mansion is protected by over 160 acres of private land.
The mansion was built on top of a previous construction towards the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 18th century. Next to the house are a mill and an ironworks.
Located next to the Ansotegui mansion, they once were part of the mansion´s outlying buildings, along with a nearby dam and water tank.
Originally, the mansion was a 15th century house-tower, although the building itself was built much later at the end of the 18th century. Constructed in ashlar masonry, there is an empty space on the façade where there was once a coat of arms.
The watermill is located near the road that links Etxebarria to Barinaga, on the banks of the Urko river.
The hórreo, or raised granary, is beside the road that links Etxebarria to Barinaga. Built in the 16th century, it stands on four pyramid-shaped columns. The upper part is made entirely of oak.
This Baroque mansion, built at the beginning of the 18th century, is now a country home. It is located in the town centre, very close to the Saint Andrew parish church.
The Apostle Saint Andrew´s Church was built, apparently, in the 14th century. Possibly, the first church was built on the current site, on a low hill called Cartagoitia. It was rebuilt in 1570 and the main chapel was roofed in 1616.
