Irun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irun
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Irun City Hall
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| Motto(s):
Vigilantiae Custos
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 Irun
Location in Basque Country
Irun
Location in Spain
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Euskadi | ||
| Province | Gipuzkoa | ||
| Eskualdea | Bidasoaldea | ||
| Founded | 28 February 1776 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 42.40 km2 (16.37 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) | ||
| Highest elevation | 825 m (2,707 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 61,983 | ||
| • Density | 1,461.86/km2 (3,786.2/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | irundar, irunés/irunesa | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
20300-20305
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Irun (Spanish: Irún, Basque: Irun) is a lively town in the Basque Country, Spain. It is located in the province of Gipuzkoa, right on the border with France. This special location makes Irun a very important place for trade and travel. It sits across the Bidasoa river from a French town called Hendaye.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Irun has a long history! It was built on top of an ancient town called Oiasso. This was a Roman-Vasconic town. The Vascones were an ancient group of people who lived in this area.
Later, during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, a big event called the Battle of Irún took place here. This battle was important for the Nationalist forces.
Location and Getting Around
Irun is one of the biggest towns in Gipuzkoa. Its location right on the border between Spain and France is very important. This makes Irun a busy center for business and moving goods.
Train Travel and Connections
The Irun railway station is a major hub. It's where the train tracks from France meet the tracks from Spain. These tracks are different widths! French trains use a standard width, but Spanish trains use a wider track. This means trains often have to change here.
Modern Facilities and Neighbors
Irun also has a modern fairground. It has great facilities for exhibitions and telecommunications. This fairground is very close to the border at the Santiago Bridge.
Irun is part of a group of towns around the Txingudi bay. These towns include Hondarribia and Hendaye. Together, they form a larger area known as the Eurocité Basque Bayonne-San Sebastián. This is a special group that helps with economic cooperation.
Culture and Fun
Irun has many interesting traditions and places to visit.
Festivals and Celebrations
One of its main festivals is the Alarde de San Marcial. This is a big parade held every year on June 30. It recreates a historical event from the Peninsular War. It's a colorful and exciting celebration!
Relaxing Hot Springs
The town also has natural hot mineral springs. These springs offer a relaxing experience for visitors.
Sports Teams
Irun is home to some great sports teams.
- Handball: The town has one of Europe's top handball teams, called CD Bidasoa. They play their games at the Pabellón Polideportivo Artaleku.
- Football: The local football club is Real Unión. They play in the third tier of Spanish football at their home stadium, Stadium Gal. There's also a younger team, Real Unión B, which plays in a lower league.
Weather in Irun
Irun has an oceanic climate. This means the weather is greatly influenced by the nearby Bay of Biscay. It often rains throughout the year because Irun is on the side of the Pyrenees mountains that faces the wind. About 1649 millimeters (65 inches) of rain falls on around 138 days each year.
| Climate data for San Sebastián Airport, Hondarribia, adjacent to Irun (1981–2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.6 (76.3) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.0 (84.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
36.6 (97.9) |
39.8 (103.6) |
40.4 (104.7) |
40.0 (104.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
33.4 (92.1) |
29.4 (84.9) |
26.0 (78.8) |
40.4 (104.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.1 (55.6) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
17.5 (63.5) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.7 (78.3) |
24.0 (75.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
16.2 (61.2) |
13.5 (56.3) |
19.2 (66.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.5 (70.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.6 (49.3) |
14.8 (58.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.7 (40.5) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
17.2 (63.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.0 (10.4) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
5.3 (41.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
8.4 (47.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
0.8 (33.4) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 157 (6.2) |
135 (5.3) |
124 (4.9) |
156 (6.1) |
120 (4.7) |
95 (3.7) |
85 (3.3) |
117 (4.6) |
132 (5.2) |
167 (6.6) |
188 (7.4) |
174 (6.9) |
1,649 (64.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 138 |
| Average snowy days | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 72 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 75 | 74 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 88 | 108 | 141 | 159 | 182 | 188 | 198 | 197 | 170 | 134 | 96 | 81 | 1,750 |
| Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología | |||||||||||||
Famous People from Irun
Many notable people have come from Irun, including:
- Manuel Anatol (1903–1990) – A professional football player who became a French citizen.
- Ramón Iribarren (1900–1967) – An engineer known for his work in coastal engineering.
- Tirso de Olazábal y Lardizábal (1842–1921) – A politician from the Carlist movement.
- Juan Olazábal Ramery (1860–1937) – Another Carlist politician.
- Luis Mariano – A famous singer.
- Amaia Montero – A well-known singer.
- Fermin Muguruza – A singer.
- Alberto Górriz – A footballer.
- Alberto López Fernández – A footballer.
- Iñaki Descarga – A footballer.
- Javier Garrido – A footballer.
- Javier Irureta – A footballer.
- Javier Yubero – A footballer.
- Luis Regueiro – A footballer.
- Patricio Arabolaza – A footballer.
- Oier Olazábal – A footballer.
- Sergio Francisco – A footballer.
- Juan Manuel Gárate – A cyclist.
- Basilio Sánchez Beguiristáin – A mayor of Pichilemu, Chile.
- Kortatu – A punk rock band.
- Menchu Gal – A painter.
- Jon Sistiaga – A reporter.
- Leontxo García – A chess player and commentator for the El País newspaper.
- Mari Jose Urruzola – An educator, feminist, and writer.
Images for kids
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Junkaleko Andre Maria church, Irun
See also
In Spanish: Irún para niños
