# Basauri > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Basauri > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Basauri.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basauri > Source revision: 1354315740 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Municipality in Basque Country, Spain Basauri Municipality Flag Coat of arms Basauri Location of Basauri within the Basque Country Show map of the Basque Country Basauri Location of Basauri within Spain Show map of Spain Coordinates: 43°14′12″N 02°53′24″W / 43.23667°N 2.89000°W / 43.23667; -2.89000 Country Spain Autonomous community Basque Country Province Biscay Comarca Greater Bilbao Founded 1510 Government • Type Mayor-Council • Alcalde Asier Iragorri (PNV) Area • Municipality 7.01 km2 (2.71 sq mi) Population (2025-01-01)[1] • Municipality 40,274 • Density 5,750/km2 (14,900/sq mi) • Metro 910,578 Demonym Basauritarra Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 48970 Dialing code +34 94 Official language(s) Basque, Spanish Website Official website **Basauri** is a major municipality of [Biscay](/source/Biscay), in the [Basque Country](/source/Basque_Country_(autonomous_community)), an [Autonomous Community](/source/Autonomous_Community) in northern [Spain](/source/Spain). The town is a part of the [Greater Bilbao](/source/Greater_Bilbao) [conurbation](/source/Conurbation), being only a few kilometers south of [Bilbao](/source/Bilbao). It is an industrial town with monuments such as the tower house of Ariz. It is home to the province's only prison, located where the [Nervión](/source/Nervi%C3%B3n) and [Ibaizabal](/source/Ibaizabal) rivers meet. The municipality had a population of 40,589 in 2019. ## Geography Basauri is located in the metropolitan region of [Greater Bilbao](/source/Greater_Bilbao), on both sides of the river [Nervión](/source/Nervi%C3%B3n) and the lower valley of the Nervión and the [Ibaizabal](/source/Ibaizabal). Basauri is located at the confluence of the two, the longest rivers in Biscay, forming a small river plain (on the border with [Etxebarri](/source/Etxebarri)) on which a series of meanders have been built, now mostly occupied by industrial facilities. Basauri is also the point at which roads coming from [Orduña-Urduña](/source/Ordu%C3%B1a-Urdu%C3%B1a) and [Durango](/source/Durango%2C_Biscay) meet, following the course of the two rivers. The neighborhood of Bidebieta ('two roads' in [Basque](/source/Basque_language)) takes its name from this meeting. From the river area where the municipality originated, the land rises gradually, culminating in the [Malmasín](/source/Malmas%C3%ADn) mountain (361 m), on the border with [Arrigorriaga](/source/Arrigorriaga). ### Bordering towns Basauri is bordered on the north by [Bilbao](/source/Bilbao), [Etxebarri](/source/Etxebarri) and [Galdakao](/source/Galdakao), on the south and west by [Arrigorriaga](/source/Arrigorriaga) and on the east by Galdakao and [Zaratamo](/source/Zaratamo). Places adjacent to Basauri Bilbao Etxebarri Galdakao Arrigorriaga Basauri Zaratamo Arrigorriaga Arrigorriaga Zaratamo ### Neighbourhoods Neighbourhoods Abaroa Ariz Arizgoiti (capital) Atxikorre Atxukarro Artunduaga Azbarren Basozelai Benta (Arizgain) Bidebieta Bizkotzalde (Beaskoetxealde) Errekalde Finaga (Pinaga) Ibarguen Ibarre Kalero (Kareaga) Matadero (Gaztañabaltza) Luzarre Pozokoetxe San Miguel (Elexalde) Sarratu Soloarte Solobarria Ugarte Uribarri Urbi Uriarte Zabalandi Districts Ariz Arizgoiti Basozelai Bentagoiko Berriotxoa-Soloarte Careaga (Kareaga) El Calero (Kareaga goikoa) Estación (Bidebieta) Hernán Cortés Matadero (Gaztañabaltza) Pozokoetxe San Miguel (Elexalde) San Pedro (Arizgoiti) Urbi Virgen de Begoña Correct form «Basauri-Name of district» ### Climate Basauri has a warm and humid [oceanic climate](/source/Oceanic_climate). Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year with no particular rainy season. Temperatures are moderate throughout the year, with small thermal fluctuations. Climate data for Basauri Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.2 (55.8) 14.5 (58.1) 15.9 (60.6) 16.8 (62.2) 20.1 (68.2) 22.6 (72.7) 25.2 (77.4) 25.5 (77.9) 24.4 (75.9) 20.8 (69.4) 16.4 (61.5) 14.0 (57.2) 19.1 (66.4) Daily mean °C (°F) 9.0 (48.2) 9.8 (49.6) 10.8 (51.4) 11.9 (53.4) 15.1 (59.2) 17.6 (63.7) 20.0 (68.0) 20.3 (68.5) 18.8 (65.8) 15.8 (60.4) 12.0 (53.6) 10.0 (50.0) 14.3 (57.7) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.7 (40.5) 5.1 (41.2) 5.7 (42.3) 7.1 (44.8) 10.1 (50.2) 12.6 (54.7) 14.8 (58.6) 15.2 (59.4) 13.2 (55.8) 10.8 (51.4) 7.6 (45.7) 6.0 (42.8) 9.4 (48.9) Average precipitation mm (inches) 126 (5.0) 97 (3.8) 94 (3.7) 124 (4.9) 90 (3.5) 64 (2.5) 62 (2.4) 82 (3.2) 74 (2.9) 121 (4.8) 141 (5.6) 116 (4.6) 1,195 (47.0) Average precipitation days 13 11 11 13 12 8 7 8 9 11 12 12 128 Mean monthly sunshine hours 86 97 128 128 160 173 188 179 157 123 93 78 1,584 Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología,[2] Aena[3] ## Demographics Several elements influenced the strong growth experienced by Basauri in the 20th century. Being a communications hub was a very important factor. Its proximity to the mines of Ollargan, Morro and Miravilla, and those of the Basauri-Galdakao Group, caused an increase in the municipality's population. The conversion of the mills into a baking industry also contributed to this increase. However, the element that most contributed to the population development was the installation in 1892 of the first major factory, "La Basconia", an iron and steelworks. Basauri from Bolueta The rapid growth that the municipality underwent made its population multiply by 24.6 between 1900 and 1975. The largest population increases started in the 1950s with the installation of new industries, creating a population growth of 97% between 1950 and 1960. This continued in the next decade with an increase of 80%. Year 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2001 2003 2007 2009 2012 Population 1,989 3,456 5,194 9,444 10,405 11,626 22,991 41,558 55,648 50,940 47,376 46,669 45,346 43,250 42,657 41,971 In 1984 a slow but progressive population decline began, although it had already been in decline since 1979, when the peak population of 55,648 inhabitants was reached, due to the [industrial crisis](/source/1973_Oil_Crisis). According to Spain's [National Statistics Institute](/source/National_Statistics_Institute_(Spain)), the population of Basauri was 41,971 in 2012. ## History Basauri became independent from [Arrigorriaga](/source/Arrigorriaga) around 1510. 1510 is the official date, although there is no document to verify that any meetings were held between the mayors of the two towns in that year. Basauri was not represented at the General Assembly of [Guernica](/source/Guernica) until 1858. Thereafter, it remained the largest population center and municipality in the district of San Miguel de Basauri until 1902, when the transfer of the town hall to Arizgoiti was approved. This was an area with a growing population, equidistant from the two furthest apart points of the municipality, Finaga and San Miguel. Basauri was up to the end of the 19th century a predominantly rural town, until the arrival of the *Basconia* factory and with it the industrialization of the town, which went in 50 years from a few thousand inhabitants to 55,000 in 1978. Thousands of families from all regions of Spain provided Basauri with new people and buildings, radically changing its image and urban landscape. ## Toponymy The name *Basauri* comes from [Basque](/source/Basque_language) and means 'town in the forest.' It comprises two elements, *Basa* (from *basoa*), meaning 'forest' and *uri* (a Biscay variant of *hiri*), meaning 'city'. The town of Bajauri in the [County of Treviño](/source/County_of_Trevi%C3%B1o) derives its name from the same roots. Toponyms in Basauri include Ariz, Arizgoiti, Arizgain and Arizbarren (Azbarren) Basozelai, Etxerre, Sarratu, Urbi, Bizkotxalde (Beaskoetxealde) Pozokoetxe, Pagobieta, Iruaretxeta, Artundoaga, Abaroa, Gaztañabaltza, Uriarte, Errekalde, Lapatza, Arteaga, Arteagagoitia, Uribarri, Kalero, Bidebieta, Soloarte, Ugarte, Kantarazarra, Iturrigorri, Elexalde. Bidebieta appears as Dos Caminos (Two Roads) at the train station, resulting in a popular misconception that this was the original name of the town. The district now called Kalero was originally known as Calero. Although some authors believe this to be a Castilian translation of Kareaga, its name refers to the fact that a holding of limestone for the manufacture of lime was located in this area; such places are called 'Calero' in Spanish. There are two areas or neighborhoods called Kareaga: Kareaga Goikoa and Kareaga Behekoa and now called 'El Calero', since both areas had lime plants. ## Festivities The festival of Faustus the Labourer (San Fausto) on 13 October celebrates the patron saint of the municipality. Basauri's festivities Festival Location Date St Isidore Benta May 15 St Martin of Finaga Finaga May 21 St John Pozokoetxe, Basozelai June 24 - Kalero first weekend of September St Michael San Miguel September 29 St Faustus the Labourer (patron saint) Basauri October 13 Virtually every major neighborhood in Basauri celebrates its own festivities each year, but the most popular festivals in the town are those held in honor of St Faustus the Labourer. Symbols of the festival include a local character, the [Escarabillera](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Escarabillera&action=edit&redlink=1) [[es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escarabillera)], and [zurracapote](/source/Zurracapote), the typical drink, which is prepared by the fifteen crews belonging to the cultural association Herriko Taldeak, served to participants in a jug. Zurracapote is a drink similar to sangria, made with red wine, lemon, cinnamon, liquor, sugar and condiments. The Escarabillera is a character based on the women and men who, in Basauri (as in many other municipalities) went, in times of great need at the beginning of the 20th century, to the tracks where the steam trains ran or to the dumps of the foundry companies (La Basconia) in search of coal that had not been entirely burnt (called escarabilla). This coal was used for cooking in old cast iron cookers. Similarly, coal was used as asphalt on many of the streets and lanes of Basauri in the early 20th century. The escarabillera walks from the start of the festival until the end, when it is released into the air attached to balloons with a message written in several languages, with the hope that someone will recover it. Although in many cases it does not return, on one occasion it reached [Prague](/source/Prague), where one of the crews travelled in order to retrieve it. ## Economy Until the industrial transformation of the late 19th century, Basauri was a purely agricultural area where corn was grown and pasture for cattle and sheep were harvested, and there were some flour mills. Faced with the massive development of industry and housing, the agricultural sector has gradually receded to near extinction. From the end of the 19th century, its location near Bilbao, its industrial area, and its role as a crossroads in the middle and upper valley of the Nervión and Ibaizábal resulted in the arrival of both industry and large numbers of migrant workers, making Basauri a mostly industrial town. Maintaining the industrial population, the services sector has grown significantly in recent years. The active population of Basauri is 20,265 people, of whom 21.3% were unemployed in 2013. ## Communications Basauri is 1.24 miles (2 km) from [Bilbao](/source/Bilbao). This proximity has given the town a good communications system. The provincial capital can be reached via the A-8, the Bilbao-[Orduña](/source/Ordu%C3%B1a-Urdu%C3%B1a) road in the south and the Bilbao-[Galdakao](/source/Galdakao) (N-634) road in the north. The railway lines of [Renfe](/source/Renfe) and [Euskotren Trena](/source/Euskotren_Trena) cross the town and make several stops in Basauri. The underground ([Bilbao Metro](/source/Bilbao_Metro)) also has two stops: one in the neighborhood of Ariz (inaugurated on February 28, 2011) and one in the neighborhood of Arizgoiti (November 11, 2011), called Basauri. Ariz and Basauri are the two last stations on [Line 2](/source/Line_2_(Bilbao_Metro)) of the Bilbao Metro. There is also a free shuttle bus connecting the Basauri underground station with the neighborhood of San Miguel de Basauri. The modification of the San Miguel shuttle bus to provide more services to Basauri is being considered. ## Culture - Since 2005, the International Festival of Animated Film Basauri-Bizkaia (Animabasauri-Animasbasque) has been held annually. Antzokia Social theatre is the venue of the main project, together with other projection centers scattered around the region. - In 2008 the 23rd National Congress of Vexillology was held in Basauri, organized by the council and the [Spanish Society of Vexillology](/source/Spanish_Society_of_Vexillology). - The [La Sexta](/source/La_Sexta) series *Qué vida más triste* ('What a Sad Life') is set in Basauri. ## Administration and politics Asier Iragorri Basaguren of the [Basque Nationalist Party](/source/Basque_Nationalist_Party) has been the mayor of Basauri since 2019. The [2023 Spanish local elections](/source/2023_Spanish_local_elections) produced the following results in the municipality: City of Basauri Party Votes Seats Basque Nationalist Party 6,958 9 Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left 4,046 5 EH Bildu-Bildu 3,474 4 Elkarrekin Podemos (EP)-Ezker Anitza-Basauri Bai 1,443 2 People's Party of the Basque Country 1,347 1 ## Notable people - [Jon Arretxe](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jon_Arretxe&action=edit&redlink=1), writer - [Erlantz Gamboa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erlantz_Gamboa&action=edit&redlink=1) [[es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlantz_Gamboa)], writer, LH Confidential winner - [Javi Conde](https://web.archive.org/web/20080504175437/http://www.javiconde.com/), athlete, [Paralympic](/source/Paralympic_games) medallist - [Concha Espinosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Concha_Espinosa&action=edit&redlink=1), FETE trade unionist - [Joxean Fernández](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joxean_Fern%C3%A1ndez&action=edit&redlink=1), *Matxin*, Saunier Duval cycling team director - [Joseba Garmendia](/source/Joseba_Garmendia), [footballer](/source/Association_football) - [Agustín Ibarrola](/source/Agust%C3%ADn_Ibarrola), [painter](/source/Painting) and [sculptor](/source/Sculptor) - [Naroa Intxausti Bolunburu](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naroa_Intxausti_Bolunburu&action=edit&redlink=1), [soprano](/source/Soprano) - [Rubén Ontiveros](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rub%C3%A9n_Ontiveros&action=edit&redlink=1), [Borja Pérez](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Borja_P%C3%A9rez_(actor)&action=edit&redlink=1), [Joseba Caballero](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseba_Caballero&action=edit&redlink=1) (*[Qué vida más triste](/source/Qu%C3%A9_vida_m%C3%A1s_triste)* TV Show) - [Agustín 'Piru' Gaínza](/source/Agust%C3%ADn_Ga%C3%ADnza), footballer and [trainer](/source/Personal_trainer) - Juan Solís Godoy, [Taekwondo](/source/Taekwondo) athlete and [Olympic Games](/source/Olympic_Games) medallist - [Óscar Vales Varela](/source/Oscar_Vales), footballer - [Marta López](/source/Marta_L%C3%B3pez_(gymnast)), gymnast - [Francisco Javier Yeste Navarro](/source/Francisco_Javier_Yeste_Navarro), footballer - [Juanan Morales](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juanan_Morales&action=edit&redlink=1), [basketball](/source/Basketball) player - [Jesús Lizaso](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jes%C3%BAs_Lizaso&action=edit&redlink=1), [sculptor](/source/Sculptor) - [Itziar Ituño](/source/Itziar_Itu%C3%B1o), actor - [Sergio Vez](/source/Sergio_Vez), curling player ## References ### Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** National Statistics Institute (13 December 2025). ["Municipal Register of Spain of 2025"](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/index.htm?padre=525). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Valores Climatológicos Normales. Bilbao/Aeropuerto"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090629154458/http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=pva). [AEMET](/source/AEMET). Archived from [the original](http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=pva) on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Monthly Weather Averages for Bilbao Airport"](http://www.www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?cid=1132569966037&pagename=subHome&Language=EN_GB&SMO=3&SiteName=BIO&c=Page&MO=6&mov=L). [Aena](/source/Aena). Retrieved 2010-10-20.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Basauri](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Basauri). - [Basauri in Google Maps](http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&hl=es&q=Basauri&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=43.234042,-2.886186&spn=0.042585,0.107803&t=k&om=1) - [City Council's Webpage](http://www.basauri.net) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120718001554/http://www.basauri.net/) 2012-07-18 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in Basque / Spanish) Basauri on social media: - Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Basauriko-Udala](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Basauriko-Udala) - Twitter [https://twitter.com/BasaurikoUdala](https://twitter.com/BasaurikoUdala) - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/UdalaBasauri](https://www.youtube.com/user/UdalaBasauri) [43°14′N 2°53′W / 43.233°N 2.883°W / 43.233; -2.883](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Basauri¶ms=43_14_N_2_53_W_region:ES_type:city) v t e Municipalities in Biscay 100,000+ Bilbao Barakaldo 50,000+ Getxo Portugalete 10,000+ Amorebieta-Etxano Arrigorriaga Basauri Bermeo Durango Erandio Ermua Galdakao Gernika-Lumo Leioa Mungia Santurtzi Sestao Sopela Valle de Trápaga-Trapagaran 5,000+ Abanto y Ciérbana-Abanto Zierbena Abadiño Balmaseda Berango Elorrio Etxebarri Gorliz Güeñes Lekeitio Muskiz Ondarroa Ortuella Zalla under 5,000 Ajangiz Alonsotegi Amoroto Arakaldo Arantzazu Artzentales Areatza Arrankudiaga Arratzu Arrieta Artea Atxondo Aulesti Bakio Barrika Bedia Berriatua Berriz Busturia Derio Dima Ea Elantxobe Ereño Errigoiti Etxebarria Forua Fruiz Galdames Gamiz-Fika Garai Gatika Gautegiz Arteaga Gizaburuaga Gordexola Ibarrangelu Igorre Ispaster Iurreta Izurtza Karrantza Kortezubi Lanestosa Larrabetzu Laukiz Lemoa Lemoiz Lezama Loiu Mallabia Mañaria Markina-Xemein Maruri-Jatabe Mendata Mendexa Meñaka Morga Mundaka Munitibar-Arbatzegi-Gerrikaitz Murueta Muxika Nabarniz Orduña-Urduña Orozko Otxandio Plentzia Sondika Sopuerta Sukarrieta Trucios-Turtzioz Ubide Ugao-Miraballes Urduliz Zaldibar Zamudio Zaratamo Zeanuri Zeberio Zierbena Ziortza-Bolibar Authority control databases International VIAF GND National Spain Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Basauri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basauri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basauri?action=history)). 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