Oñati Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Oñati

Municipality

Flag

Oñati

Location in Basque Country

Oñati

Location in Spain

Country

Spain

Comarca

Debagoiena

Area

• Total

100.31 km² (38.73 sq mi)

Elevation

230 m (750 ft)

Population

• Total

KIDDLE_IB

Demonym(s)

Oñatiarra

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

20560/20567/20568/20569

Altar of San Miguel Church, Oñati.

Oñati (Basque: Oñati, Spanish: Oñate) is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has a population of approximately 10,500 and lies in a valley in the center of the Basque country. It lies about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the Bay of Biscay and is about 236 metres (774 feet) above sea level. The name is Basque and translates roughly as "place of many hills", reflecting the landscape of the area. The town is surrounded on three sides by green mountains on the southern side by the Aloña limestone formation.

Main sights
International relations
- Twin towns – Sister cities
Notable people
See also

Main sights

Dating back to the Medieval period, Oñati is home to numerous monuments. The University of Oñati, the ancient university of the Basque Country, which is in the town's centre, is one of the oldest university buildings on the Iberian peninsula. Today it houses the International Institute for the Sociology of Law. Other important sites include the monastery and hospice of Bidaurreta and the Church of Saint Michael.

Above the city lies the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, which is known for its Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady. A shepherd is said to have discovered a figure of the Virgin here in 1469. The original 16th century chapel was replaced in 1950.

Oñati is also known for having hosted the Boise State University Campus in the Basque Country program at ETEO. The time was very volatile politically since it saw the death of Franco and the transition to a non dictatorial political system. Currently, the main campus of the Faculty of Business Studies of Mondragon University is in the town.