Leintz-Gatzaga
Encyclopedia
Leintz-Gatzaga is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country
, northern Spain
.
The second part is linked to the saltmine (gatzaga in Basque
) located in the village, part of the reason for the village's existence. Salt is no longer produced but used to be a mainstay of the village's economy
. It is situated in a mountaneous area with steep hillsides, wooded and with almost no flat agricultural land. It is in the region of Alto Deva where the source of the river Deba
is located.
Leintz-Gatzaga has a small old part that consisting of 4 streets, formerly walled. Most of the residents live in this part, the rest spread over some 35 Basque farmhouses
s around the village.
and these are the principal reason for the fundation of this village in 1331. Before this village was formed, there were some farmhouses and small towns that were protected by the Castle of Aitzorrotz. Although the saltmines were owned by the Royalty, the residents of the village had some privileges to develop trade and the exploitation of salt.
The saltmines were of major economical importance and led to some disputes. For example, in 1374 the Count of Oñate appropriated the village and Leintz-Gatzaga has been burnt down several times, in 1334, 1371, 1492 and 1498. Following the last burning, it was ordered that the old part must be built of stone.
Whereas in most places the vaporization system was used in salt mining, in Leintz-Gatzaga, due to its cold and wet climate, saltminers would use fire to evaporate the water. The machinery used changed throughout the centuries. Until the 19th century the work was done without machinery, but when a company called Productos Leniz bought the saltmine, new machinery was introduced in 1920 and production increased. However, the quality of the salt was not as high as that of sea salt and after 1500 years, in 1972, the saltmine was closed.
In the 17th century the Royal Road was built. This road joins the coast of Gipuzkoa with the interior. So this village became part of the route that joined Castilla
with Europa. For this reason, the economy of the village grew but this prosperity was affected by wars, such as the War of Spanish Independence, the War of the Pyrenees
or the Carlist Wars.
The decline of the village began in the middle of the 19th century. On the one hand, the opening of a new road between Idiazabal
and Altsasua in 1851 reduced the importance of the Royal Road. And on the other hand, the construction of the rail-ling between Madrid
and Irun
. These two facts marginalized the village and reduced its importance gradually. Apart from that, the saltmines also grew less profitable and were closed. These factors combined plunged the village serious economic and demographic downturn.
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, northern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Etymology
The first part of the name, Leintz, comes from the name of the valley, the village being located in the Valley of Leintz.The second part is linked to the saltmine (gatzaga in Basque
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
) located in the village, part of the reason for the village's existence. Salt is no longer produced but used to be a mainstay of the village's economy
Geography
Leintz-Gatzaga covers 14.7 km² and is located in the province of Gipuzkoa, very close to ÁlavaÁlava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
. It is situated in a mountaneous area with steep hillsides, wooded and with almost no flat agricultural land. It is in the region of Alto Deva where the source of the river Deba
Deba
- Geography :*Deba, Gipuzkoa, a town in the Basque Country*Deba , a river in the Basque Country*Deba, Nigeria, a town in the Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State- Other :*Deba bocho, a Japanese type of kitchen knife...
is located.
Leintz-Gatzaga has a small old part that consisting of 4 streets, formerly walled. Most of the residents live in this part, the rest spread over some 35 Basque farmhouses
Baserri
A baserri is a traditional type of half-timbered or stone-built farmhouse found in the Basque Country in Northern Spain and Southwestern France. The baserris, with their gently sloping roofs and entrace portals, are highly characteristic of the region and form a vital part in traditional Basque...
s around the village.
Saltmining
Saltmines were operated here since the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and these are the principal reason for the fundation of this village in 1331. Before this village was formed, there were some farmhouses and small towns that were protected by the Castle of Aitzorrotz. Although the saltmines were owned by the Royalty, the residents of the village had some privileges to develop trade and the exploitation of salt.
The saltmines were of major economical importance and led to some disputes. For example, in 1374 the Count of Oñate appropriated the village and Leintz-Gatzaga has been burnt down several times, in 1334, 1371, 1492 and 1498. Following the last burning, it was ordered that the old part must be built of stone.
Whereas in most places the vaporization system was used in salt mining, in Leintz-Gatzaga, due to its cold and wet climate, saltminers would use fire to evaporate the water. The machinery used changed throughout the centuries. Until the 19th century the work was done without machinery, but when a company called Productos Leniz bought the saltmine, new machinery was introduced in 1920 and production increased. However, the quality of the salt was not as high as that of sea salt and after 1500 years, in 1972, the saltmine was closed.
In the 17th century the Royal Road was built. This road joins the coast of Gipuzkoa with the interior. So this village became part of the route that joined Castilla
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
with Europa. For this reason, the economy of the village grew but this prosperity was affected by wars, such as the War of Spanish Independence, the War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees refers to the Pyrenees front of the First Coalition's war against the First French Republic. Also known as Great War, War of Roussillon, or War of the Convention, it pitted Revolutionary France against the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal from March 1793 to July 1795 during the...
or the Carlist Wars.
The decline of the village began in the middle of the 19th century. On the one hand, the opening of a new road between Idiazabal
Idiazabal
Idiazábal is a town and municipality in the Goierri region of the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, northern Spain....
and Altsasua in 1851 reduced the importance of the Royal Road. And on the other hand, the construction of the rail-ling between Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Irun
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
. These two facts marginalized the village and reduced its importance gradually. Apart from that, the saltmines also grew less profitable and were closed. These factors combined plunged the village serious economic and demographic downturn.
Economy
There is little economic activity in the village. Of the 125 people in employment, only 50 work locally. Most work in the industrial sector. Currently, the village is promoting tourism.Demography
Today the population is 250 and while the village had never been very large in 1950 the population shrank because Leintz-Gatzaga was the only village of the region which did not take part in industralization. The population is ageing although inmigration has altered the demographics somewhat.Culture
There is a Salt Museum, detailing how it was extracted and the importance of this in the local economy.External links
- Official Website Information available in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and BasqueBasque languageBasque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
. - LEINTZ-GATZAGA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) Information available in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...