Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas
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| Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas | ||
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 Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas
Location in Basque Country
Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  País Vasco |
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| Province | Gipuzkoa | |
| Eskualdea | Debabarrena | |
| Founded | 15 October 1343 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.22 km2 (5.49 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 111 m (364 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 3,894 | |
| • Density | 273.84/km2 (709.2/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Placentino, -na; Soraluzetarra | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
20590
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| Official language(s) | Basque and Spanish | |
Soraluze, also known as Placencia de las Armas, is a small town in the Basque Country, Spain. It is located in the province of Gipuzkoa. This town has a long history linked to making weapons.
The town was founded in 1343. It was first called Placencia. Later, in the 15th century, "de las Armas" was added to its name. This addition referred to its main industry: making weapons. The Royal Guns Factory in this town made weapons until the mid-20th century.
The town's coat of arms shows a castle with three towers. Small white flags with the cross of Burgundy fly from the castle. Two lions and various weapons surround the shield. A crown with 9 points sits at the top.
Contents
A Town of Weapons
How Placencia Got Its Name
King Alfonso XI of Castile founded the town in 1343. He named it "Placencia." This name is found in other old towns like Plasencia in Spain. It comes from the Latin phrase ut Placeat, which means "for pleasure" or "to please." This phrase was often used when a king named a new town. For example, the motto of Plasencia in Extremadura means "to please God and men."
The Old Name: Soraluze
Before the town was founded, the area was known as Soraluze. In the Basque language, Soro means "field" or "garden." Luze means "long." So, Soraluze likely means "long field" or "long orchard." This name fits well because the town is in a narrow valley along the Deba river. When the town's representatives attended the first meeting of Gipuzkoa in 1397, they used the name Placencia Soraluce.
Why "De las Armas"?
In the 16th century, the government greatly increased weapon production in Placencia. Because of this, people started calling the town Placencia de las Armas. This name stuck because the arms industry was the main part of the town's economy for centuries. Even today, the town keeps this name, showing its important history in weapon making.
Town Names and Languages
In Basque, people use different informal names for the town. These include Plaentzia, Plazentzia, Plaentxi, and Plaentxia. The older, historical Basque name is Soraluze. In 2005, both Soraluze and Plaentzia were accepted as official Basque names.
Since 1988, the town's official name has been Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas. This name combines the Basque name, Soraluze, and the Spanish name, Placencia de las Armas.
If you are from Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas, you might be called placentino or placentina in Spanish. In Basque, you would be called soraluzetarra or plaentxiarra.
Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas City Council
The City Council is a group of people who help run the town. They make decisions about local services and the community. The Mayor is the leader of the City Council.
Here are the people on the Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas City Council (2023-2027):
Mayor
- Unai Larreategi (EH Bildu)
Councillors
- Maite Quintanilla Lete (EH Bildu)
- Ana Maiztegi Gorostidi (EH Bildu)
- Iker Uzin Larrañaga (EH Bildu)
- Ione Alberdi (EH Bildu)
- Ainara Osoro (EH Bildu)
- Iker Aldazabal (PNV)
- Verónica Galarraga (PNV)
- Ramón Gallastegi (PNV)
- Patricia Borinaga (PSE-EE)
- Iñaki Rubio (PSE-EE)
See also
In Spanish: Placencia de las Armas para niños
