# Agurain/Salvatierra

> municipality in the province of Álava, Basque Country, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q398698](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q398698)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agurain/Salvatierra)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/agurain-salvatierra

## Summary

Agurain (known as Salvatierra in Spanish) is a municipality located in the province of Álava, within the Basque Country autonomous community of Spain. Founded in 1256, it serves as the administrative center of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla, a comarca in the Llanada Alavesa region. The municipality sits at coordinates 42.8492849°N, -2.3890554°W and houses notable cultural properties including the Church of Santa María and the Church of San Juan.

## Key Facts

- **Official Names:** Agurain (Basque), Salvatierra (Spanish)
- **Type:** Municipality in Spain
- **Location:** Province of Álava, Basque Country, Spain
- **Administrative Region:** Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla (comarca)
- **Country:** Spain
- **Inception Date:** 1256 CE
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 42.8492849°, Longitude -2.3890554°
- **Population:** Historical figures range from 1,393 to 5,189 across various census years
- **Official Website:** http://www.agurain.com/
- **Wikipedia Title:** Agurain/Salvatierra
- **Wikidata ID:** Not directly specified but related to Q29 (Spain)
- **Sitelink Count:** 44
- **Languages:** Spanish (official nationwide), Basque (co-official in Basque Country)
- **Currency:** Euro (adopted 1999; previously Peseta)
- **Driving Side:** Right
- **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00 (CET) / UTC+02:00 (CEST)

## FAQs

**What is Agurain/Salvatierra and where is it located?**

Agurain (Salvatierra) is a municipality in the province of Álava, which is part of the Basque Country autonomous community in northern Spain. It is situated in the Llanada Alavesa region and serves as the capital of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla, a traditional administrative division (comarca) in Álava.

**When was Agurain/Salvatierra founded?**

Agurain was founded in 1256, making it a municipality with over 750 years of history. The municipality system in Spain more broadly dates to 1842, but Agurain's establishment as a settlement predates this formal administrative categorization.

**What notable buildings or cultural sites are located in Agurain/Salvatierra?**

The municipality contains two significant cultural properties: the Church of Santa María and the Church of San Juan, both located in Salvatierra. These religious buildings represent important historical and architectural heritage within the Basque Country.

**What is the relationship between Agurain and the surrounding administrative divisions?**

Agurain is a municipality within the province of Álava, which is itself a province within the Basque Country autonomous community of Spain. It is also the administrative center of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla, a comarca (a traditional sub-provincial administrative division) in Álava. Additionally, Iturrieta is a human settlement within the municipality of Agurain/Salvatierra.

**What languages are spoken in Agurain/Salvatierra?**

As part of the Basque Country, Agurain uses both Spanish (the official nationwide language) and Basque (Euskara), which is co-official in the Basque Country autonomous community. Basque is a unique language isolate with no known direct genealogical relationship to other languages.

**What is the economic context of Agurain/Salvatierra?**

As part of the Basque Country, Agurain operates within one of Spain's most economically developed regions. The Basque Country has its own currency (the Euro, adopted in 1999) and benefits from significant industrial and technological development. The municipality's website is available at http://www.agurain.com/.

## Why It Matters

Agurain/Salvatierra represents an important historical and administrative center within the Basque Country, one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. Founded in 1256, it embodies the rich medieval heritage of the Llanada Alavesa region in Álava province. The municipality serves as a cultural and administrative hub for the surrounding comarca, housing significant religious architecture including the Churches of Santa María and San Juan.

The municipality's dual naming (Agurain in Basque, Salvatierra in Spanish) reflects the linguistic duality inherent to the Basque Country, where both Spanish and Basque hold co-official status. This bilingual character is central to the regional identity of the Basque Country, which maintains distinct cultural, linguistic, and historical traditions separate from the rest of Spain.

As part of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla, Agurain plays a role in the traditional administrative structure of Álava, one of the three provinces comprising the Basque Country. The region's economic significance is substantial, as the Basque Country is among Spain's wealthiest autonomous communities, with a strong industrial base and high GDP per capita.

## Notable For

- **Historical Foundation:** Established in 1256, making it a municipality with over seven centuries of continuous existence
- **Bilingual Identity:** Serves as a symbol of Basque-Spanish linguistic coexistence, using both Agurain (Basque) and Salvatierra (Spanish) names
- **Cultural Heritage:** Home to the Church of Santa María and Church of San Juan, recognized cultural properties in the Basque Country
- **Administrative Role:** Capital of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla comarca
- **Regional Significance:** Located in Álava, one of the three provinces of the Basque Country, an autonomous community with significant autonomy and distinct cultural identity

## Body

### Geography and Location

Agurain/Salvatierra is situated in the province of Álava (Araba in Basque), which is part of the Basque Country autonomous community in northern Spain. The municipality lies at coordinates 42.8492849°N latitude and -2.3890554°W longitude, placing it in the Llanada Alavesa (Alavan Plain), a fertile valley region in the heart of the Basque Country.

The municipality is part of the Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla, a traditional administrative division (comarca) specific to the Basque Country's organizational structure. This comarca serves as an intermediate level of administration between the municipality and the province.

### History and Administration

The municipality traces its origins to 1256, when it was established as a settlement. The formal municipal administrative system in Spain dates to 1842, but Agurain's history as an organized community predates this by nearly six centuries. Throughout its history, the municipality has maintained its importance as a regional center within Álava.

The dual naming convention—Agurain in Basque and Salvatierra in Spanish—reflects the bilingual nature of the Basque Country, where both languages hold co-official status. This linguistic duality is protected under Spain's constitution and the Basque Country's autonomy statute.

### Demographics and Population

Historical population data for Agurain/Salvatierra shows significant variation over time, with recorded figures ranging from as low as 1,393 to as high as 5,189 residents across different census periods. These fluctuations reflect broader demographic trends in rural Basque Country municipalities, including urbanization patterns, economic shifts, and migration movements.

### Cultural and Religious Heritage

The municipality contains two notable cultural properties: the Church of Santa María and the Church of San Juan. These religious buildings represent important examples of historical architecture in the region and serve as focal points for local cultural identity and heritage preservation.

The Church of Santa María and the Church of San Juan are recognized as cultural properties (bienes de interés cultural) in Spain, providing them with legal protection and recognition of their historical and artistic significance.

### Administrative Structure

As a Spanish municipality, Agurain operates within the framework of Spanish local government law. The municipality is part of the following administrative hierarchy:

- **Country:** Spain (Kingdom of Spain)
- **Autonomous Community:** Basque Country (Euskadi)
- **Province:** Álava (Araba)
- **Comarca:** Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla

Within the municipality, there exists the settlement of Iturrieta, demonstrating the internal administrative structure of the municipality.

### Linguistic Context

The Basque Country is unique in Spain for its co-official bilingual status. Spanish (Castellano) serves as the official language nationwide, while Basque (Euskara) holds co-official status within the autonomous community. Basque is one of Europe's oldest languages and is unrelated to any other known language, making it a linguistic isolate of significant interest to linguists worldwide.

In Agurain, as throughout the Basque Country, both languages are used in official contexts, signage, education, and daily life. This bilingualism is a defining characteristic of the region's identity.

### Economic Context

The Basque Country, where Agurain is located, is one of Spain's most economically developed regions. The region has a strong industrial base, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and technology. The economy operates using the Euro, which Spain adopted on January 1, 1999, replacing the peseta.

As part of the European Union, the Basque Country benefits from access to the single market and various EU structural funds. The region's GDP per capita is among the highest in Spain, reflecting its industrial heritage and economic dynamism.

### Related Entities

Agurain/Salvatierra is connected to several administrative and cultural entities:

- **Cuadrilla de Salvatierra-Arabako Lautadako kuadrilla:** The comarca (traditional administrative division) for which Agurain serves as the administrative center
- **Álava:** The province within the Basque Country where Agurain is located
- **Basque Country:** The autonomous community encompassing Álava and two other provinces (Gipuzkoa and Biscay)
- **Iturrieta:** A human settlement within the municipality of Agurain/Salvatierra
- **Church of Santa María:** A cultural property located in Salvatierra
- **Church of San Juan:** A cultural property located in Salvatierra

### External Resources

The municipality maintains an official website at http://www.agurain.com/, providing information about local services, events, and administrative matters. An image of the municipality, captured by photographer Zarateman, is available on Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license, depicting the historic character of Salvatierra.

## References

1. OpenStreetMap
2. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
6. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
7. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
8. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
9. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
10. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
14. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2003
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
23. [Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero. National Statistics Institute](http://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/index.htm?padre=525)
24. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
26. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
27. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
28. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
29. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
30. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
31. [Source](https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=3086)
32. [Source](https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=2854)
33. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
34. [Source](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=517&capsel=525)
35. GeoNames
36. Quora
37. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos