Information about Zarautz
Zarauz, officially known in Basque as Zarautz, is a coastal town in the province of Guipuzcoa that stands out for its long sandy beaches and is on the Northern Way. In fact, the beach of Zarautz is the longest in the Basque Country and one of the longest in the Bay of Biscay, something that has earned the town the nickname of “Queen of Beaches”.
A little history
Zarautz acquired the rank of town at the beginning of the 13th century, under the mandate of Ferdinand III of Castile. It is said that most probably, here was built the nao Victoria, the first ship to circumnavigate the world under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano.
This city of great fishing tradition, was the place chosen by some monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II to spend the summer. That is why, along the promenade we can find a sector of houses built by the high bourgeoisie in the nineteenth century and the Palace of Narros.
What to see and do in Zarautz
Portu House
It is the current seat of the town hall of Zarautz. It was built in the 18th century under the precepts of baroque civil architecture, although it also has several elements with a classical flavour.
Narros Palace
This 16th century palace is located on the beach promenade opposite the church of Santa María la Real. On multiple occasions, this palace was the summer residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
Hermitage of San Pedro Elcano
It is a temple built in the 14th century, in a transitional style between Romanesque and Gothic. It is supposedly the first parish church in Zarautz.
Museum of Art and History of Zarautz
It is the perfect place to learn about the history, art and culture of this territory, from ancient times to the present day.
