Eibar, Industrial municipality in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
Eibar sits in the Ego river valley within the Debabarrena area, spreading between forested mountain slopes at around 120 meters elevation. The settlement stretches along the watercourse, with narrow streets and multi-story buildings filling the limited flat space between the slopes.
King Alfonso XI of Castile founded the settlement in 1346 under the name Villanueva de San Andrés de Heybar, granting it town privileges. Metalworking became the main livelihood from the 16th century onward and shaped the economic development of the place for centuries.
The name combines a Basque word for pasture with a centuries-old tradition of crafting firearms, still visible in workshops and training centers across the valley. Residents maintain this artisan identity through regular events and local initiatives that keep technical heritage alive and pass it on to younger generations.
The AP-8 motorway and trains from Euskotren connect the place regularly with San Sebastián and Bilbao. Visitors find most facilities in the narrow valley floor, where short walks between streets and squares suffice to explore the center.
The Escuela de Armería has existed since the 19th century and still trains young professionals in metalworking and mechanical engineering today. On site, engraved small arms from past centuries can also be viewed in local collections.
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