Fortress of Txoritokieta

Fortress of Txoritokieta is a military stronghold built on a mountain near Errenteria with gun batteries and defense positions. The main building has a pentagonal layout with an interior courtyard, and below ground sits a water storage chamber for the garrison's supply.

Military engineer Luis Nieva designed this installation, which opened in 1890 as part of a larger defensive line on Mount Oyarzun. It served Spain's effort to fortify its northern border during that period.

The fortress embodies the defensive approach that shaped this border region during the late 1800s. Visitors can see how such military installations were built to control the mountain passes between the two countries.

The fortress is not open to visitors and its entrance is secured with barriers, making close inspection impossible from inside. The best way to experience it is to walk the mountain paths around it, where you can see the outer structures and understand how it commands the terrain.

The fortress originally housed larger cannons that were replaced with smaller but more powerful models just a few years after it opened. This upgrade demonstrates how quickly military technology changed during this period.