EZCARAY TOWN COUNCIL

History of Ezcaray

Cilbarrena ruins

     The first records of inhabitancy in the valley of Oja are found in prehistoric remains in the area, both Palaeolithic and Neolithic (flattened axes, mallets and cutting instruments among others).

The pre-Roman tribes of the Austrigones and Berones also had their natural boarder in the valleys of Oja and Tirón.

     Some authors such as, Merino Urrutia, in his historical studies, established the Autrigones people as inhabitants of the Highlands of the Oja Valley, giving origin to the Basque toponymy that is recognised in this valley.
Other findings are sepulchres and objects from Roman times found in the area; civilizations such as the Visigoth and Arabs also inhabited this part of the valley.
The valley was uninhabited in the 10th century, when the Moors were expelled. The valley was later restocked by the Navarrese conqueror, Sancho Garcés I, guaranteeing his domain by making use of its soil resources.
Vascones emigrating from the Alaves and Navarrete Mountains brought with them their language, whose Basque voices are still here today.

     In the year 974, the King of Navarre Don Sancho donated to San Andrés de Cirueña the church of Santa María de Lueñe, creating a community of grazing lands with Cirueña, Ezcaray and Ojacastro: this was the first historical reference of Ezcaray. Ezcaray and the valley then became a definite part of the Kingdom of Castile in 1074, when Alfonso VI annexed the whole of La Rioja region.

     However, it was not until the year 1110 that the first records of Ezcaray appeared when Alfonso I the Fighter donated the Hermitage of Santa María de Ubaga in Ezcaray to the Monastery of Valvanera. This Sanctuary was highly worshipped in the country, and from this year it depended on the Monastery of Valvanera, who gave the hermitage its monk. It was inhabited until the abolition of religious orders in Spain in the 19th century. Today, all that is left is a humble stonewall on the road to the hamlet of Cilbarrena.

The Hamlet of Turza

     The key date of this town was 24 April 1312, when, celebrating his Courts in Valladolid, King Ferdinand IV “the Summoned” granted jurisdiction to the Valley of Ezcaray, Ojacastro, Zorraquín and Valgañón.

     With this jurisdiction the inhabitants of the valley were free of all taxes and loan capital, except five maravadis per neighbour of the king. Likewise, they were exempt from paying tolls for their cattle, merchandise, etc……, except in the cities of Toledo, Murcia and Seville. Moreover, another of the privileges of this Jurisdiction was to permit refuge and defence of malefactors who came to the valley in order to restock the valley; no one could come from outside to judge them, as Ezcaray had its own jurisdiction and justice system to do so.

     This jurisdiction was confirmed by King Alfonso XI and his wife Queen Constanza on 14 April 1326, and by the Catholic Monarchs on 26 November 1484. In the text of the amendment, the territory is officially named: "Valdezcaray". Lastly, King Ferdinand VII confirmed the Jurisdiction of Valdezcaray in Madrid on 13 December 1814. In the plaza de la Verdura Square one can see “La Argolla del Fuero” (“The Ring of Jurisdiction”), the symbol of the town’s past.

     From the 16th century, Ezcaray had an important textile industry which reached its most decisive point in 1752 with the creation of the Royal Factory of Santa Bárbara, to honour the wife of Ferdinand VI. This factory manufactured cloths, some of the finest in Spain. Shortly after, King Don Carlos III requested it be given the privilege of General Company. It went on to be called the Compañía Real de San Carlos y Santa Bárbara en Ezcaray. Around 1785, with a new resurge of industrial activity, the Dye building was erected, a fireproof structure with twelve boilers.

Cruise of Ezcaray

At the turn of the 19th century, the decline of the Royal Factory was unquestionable. Halfway through the 19th century there were still 29 factories in Ezcaray working with almost 1000 workers. During the Civil War (1936-1939), Ezcaray became one of the objectives of both armies due to its textile strength. As a result of raids the Royal Factory and others were closed; because the goods did not reach the clients, the clients sought other suppliers.

Another classic industry of Ezcaray was mining; there were more than ten ironworks in the 18th century, resulting in the inauguration of the train station, which today no longer exists.

Ezcaray is a major hotel spot; its hotels and restaurants bring fame to the region.
Tourism has awoken previous grandeur. Beautifully conserved old quarters, monuments, poticoed streets and squares that invite one wander through, sports centre facilities, an assorted trade, handicraft from the valley, mycology, important artisan armchair and furniture factories.
Moreover, just 14km from Ezcaray one finds the Valdezcaray Ski Resort, making the town a strategic point for mountain tourism, for which Ezcaray extended its attractions throughout the area of the high basin of the Oja where its hamlets are located.

Ezcaray is a privileged place one can enjoy all year round.