Just a 15-minute drive from San Sebastián is a town known as the "little Basque Manchester". The name may sound industrial and grey – but the reality is very different.
Errenteria, with just over 40,000 residents, boasts a well-preserved medieval old town, prehistoric remains in the surrounding hills and a working-class legacy that continues to shape its character.
Errenteria's medieval town centre
Errenteria has the largest historic centre in the whole of Oarsoaldea – a result of its steady growth during the Middle Ages, when it needed more space than neighbouring towns. Even so, its seven medieval streets retain their original layout, lined with tower houses, Baroque palaces and other notable buildings.
- The Gothic-style Church of Our Lady of the Assumption dominates the main square. Close by stand the Augustinian convent and Zubiaurre Mansion.
- Another highlight is the Mikelazulo tunnel, beneath the New Tower, once part of the medieval defensive system and now one of the town’s most visited landmarks.
- The Fanderia Mill, on the banks of the Oiartzun River, is also worth a visit. From the 15th century, it used water power to work iron, later becoming a feed factory until 1996. Today, it serves as a cultural space which promotes the area's industrial and cultural heritage.
Why is it called the "little Basque Manchester"?
The comparison with Manchester lies in the defining industrial boom both places experienced. Founded in 1320 as a trading port at the mouth of the Oiartzun River, Errenteria underwent a profound transformation in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Glassworks, Papelera Española and other major firms attracted thousands of workers from across Spain. Chimneys multiplied, factories expanded, and the town was reshaped entirely by industry.
From prehistory to cinema
In the hills around Errenteria stands the Aitzetako Txabala dolmen – a megalithic monument more than 5,000 years old, set among American oak trees and reached by an easy walk from the town.
Errenteria has also produced notable names in Spanish music. Leire Martínez, former lead singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, was born and raised here and has always maintained close ties to her hometown – helping to place it firmly on the cultural map of the Basque Country.
More recently, the town served as the main setting for La Infiltrada, directed by Arantxa Echevarría and starring Carolina Yuste – winner of the 2025 Goya Award for Best Film.
What to do and what to eat in Errenteria?
Nestled between mountains in Gipuzkoa, the town is an excellent base for exploring Aiako Harria Natural Park – with routes for all levels, from gentle walks to demanding climbs offering views of the Basque coast and the Pyrenees.
Another highlight is San Marcos Fort, perched 260 metres above sea level. From this vantage point, you can take in the Bay of Pasaia and San Sebastián – a reminder of why the area has long held strategic importance.
As for food, txangurro (spider crab), cod omelette, Tolosa beans and fresh fish from Pasaia showcase the best of traditional Basque cooking.
