Albéniz, Álava facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albéniz Albeiz
Concejo
Albeiz/Albéniz
View of the Albéniz church
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Álava
Municipality	Asparrena
Elevation	585 m (1,919 ft)
Population
• Total	84

Albéniz is a small village in Álava, a province in the Basque Country of Spain. It is a typical village found in the Alava Plain, also known as Llanada Alavesa in Spanish or Arabako lautada in Basque. The village is part of the Asparrena municipality.

Albéniz is surrounded by mountains like Umandia, Albéniz, Olano, and Ballo. The village has a beautiful church with a tall tower. Some parts of Albéniz include San Juan and San Bartolomé. There are also small groups of houses in Moñete, Orrao, and La Estación.

History of Albéniz

Albéniz has a long and interesting history, though some parts are not fully known.

Ancient Times

It is believed that an old Roman road once passed through this village. This road connected Bordeaux in France to Astorga in Spain. Today, this ancient route is used by the Madrid-Irun railway and the N-I highway.

Some historians think that the people of Albéniz might be connected to a group called the Albanians. This idea comes from the similarity between the village's name and an important Roman settlement called Alba. Many old objects and remains have been found in the area, supporting this idea. For example, a historian named Lorenzo de Prestamero saw an old Roman tombstone in a chapel in Orrao in the 13th century. Even though it is now gone, it suggests a Roman presence.

In the nearby Araia Church, there are four stones with Roman writings. They are hard to read, but they add to the evidence of Roman times.

Connecting Albéniz to Alba

Another clue linking Albéniz to the ancient Alba is the distance mentioned by a Roman writer named Antonino. He said the distance between the Roman settlements of Tulonio (now Alegeria, Dulantzi) and Alba was about 3 leagues or 12 miles. This is the same distance between Alegeria and modern-day Albéniz.

An article from 1932 in a journal about Basque studies also mentioned "Alba (Albéniz) close to Salvatierra." This further supports the idea that Albéniz is the same place as the ancient Alba.

Origin of Álava's Name

Some people believe that the name of the province, Álava, comes from the word "Alabanians." This word was used to describe the people living in the area. An old Arabic text from 758 AD called the people of this region "varduli alabanensis." This suggests a strong connection between the ancient Albanians and the name Álava.

Middle Ages and Later

In the Middle Ages, Albéniz was mentioned in important documents. For example, in a document from the Voto de San Millán, Albéniz and three nearby villages had to pay a ram as a tax. In 1062 and 1071, the name Albéniz appeared in documents as a family name.

In the 13th century, Albéniz became part of the Archpriesthood of Eguílaz. This included the area of Amamio, which was a village between Albéniz and Araia. For a long time, Albéniz was protected by the Count of Oñate.

War of the Convention

Because Albéniz was on the road to France, it was affected by wars. During the War of the Convention in 1795, French soldiers looted the village. This happened after their defeat at the Battle of Vitoria. Records show that the French entered the church but did not cause much damage there because valuable items had been hidden.

People of Albéniz

We know some interesting facts about the people who have lived in Albéniz over the years.

Population Changes

In 1556, about 30 families lived in Albéniz. There were also five clergymen who served the San Juan church and two chapels. By 1786, the village had 119 people. The population grew to 178 in 1888 and 195 in 1900. This increase was mainly due to the growth of local mills.

However, after that, the population started to decline. In 1950, there were 164 people, and in 1970, only 134. Today, the population is 84.

Health and Education

Around 1845, people described Albéniz as a "cold and healthy" village. However, its residents often suffered from chest and side illnesses.

In the 19th century, Albéniz already had a school. It had enough money to support itself, and about fifteen children, both boys and girls, attended it. The San Juan Bautista church was served by two priests. One of them was in charge of caring for the souls of the villagers.

Famous People from Albéniz

Albéniz is the birthplace of some well-known people, especially in the world of cycling.

• Alberto López de Munain: He is a professional cyclist. He rode for the Fundación Euskadi team starting in 1996. He won several races, including Stage 0 of the Dauphiné Libéré in France in 2000. He also won stages in the Tour of Asturias in Spain in 2000 and 2001, and a stage in the Alcobendas Classics in Spain in 2001. He finished third overall in the Naranco Ascent in Spain in 2003.
• Luis Maria Diaz de Otazu: He is also a professional cyclist from Albéniz. He was part of the ONCE team.

Places to Visit

Albéniz and its surroundings offer several interesting places to explore.

• San Juan Bautista Parish Church: This is the main church of the village.
• San Juan de Amamio Hermitage: This old chapel dates back to the 16th century.
• Two River Mills: These are old mills that used the power of the river.
• The Lece Cave: This is a spectacular cave formed by the Artzanegi river. It is a popular spot for canyoning, which is an adventure sport where you travel through canyons using various techniques like walking, climbing, and sometimes rappelling.

In Araia

• Ajuria Urigoitia Foundery: Just 3 miles from Albéniz, in Araia, you can find this old iron factory. It was built with stone in the early 19th century.

Celebrations

The main celebration in Albéniz is the feast of St. John. It is celebrated every year on June 24.

See also

In Spanish: Albéniz (Álava) para niños