# Hondarribia

> municipality of Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q492312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q492312)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hondarribia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hondarribia

## Summary
Hondarribia is a municipality and city located in Spain, situated within the Bidasoaldea region and the Mancomunidad de Servicios de Txingudi. Founded on April 18, 1203, the town lies on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea near the French border and has a population of 16,788 as of 2025. It is officially bilingual, with both Spanish and Basque serving as predominant languages.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a municipality of Spain and a city.
- **Location:** Located in the Bidasoaldea region; part of the Mancomunidad de Servicios de Txingudi and UEMA - Udalerri Euskaldunen Mankumunitatea.
- **Coordinates:** 43.3624372° latitude, -1.7914777° longitude.
- **Area:** 28.63 square kilometers.
- **Elevation:** 16 meters above sea level.
- **Inception:** April 18, 1203.
- **Population (2025):** 16,788 (preferred value).
- **Population (2019):** 16,828 total, consisting of 8,373 males and 8,564 females.
- **Postal Code:** 20280.
- **INE Code:** 20036.
- **Official Languages:** Spanish and Basque (both listed as predominant).
- **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00 (Central European Time) and UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time).
- **Borders:** Shares borders with Pasaia, Lezo, Irun, and Hendaye.
- **Water Body:** Located in or next to the Cantabrian Sea.
- **Demonym:** hondarribiar.
- **Nickname:** bikingoak.
- **Government:** The capital is Hondarribia; the head of government office is the mayor of Hondarribia.
- **Twin Town:** Peniscola.
- **Significant Event:** Siege of Fuenterrabía.
- **Website:** http://www.hondarribia.eus.

## FAQs
**Where is Hondarribia located?**
Hondarribia is situated in the Bidasoaldea region of Spain on the continent of Europe. It lies on the Cantabrian Sea and shares borders with the municipalities of Pasaia, Lezo, Irun, and the French commune of Hendaye.

**What are the different names used for Hondarribia?**
The entity is known by several aliases including Fuenterrabia, Fuenterrabía, Fontarrabie, Fontarabie, Onddarbi, and Onyarbi. It also appears in Japanese as フエンテラビア and in Korean as 푸엔테라비아.

**What is the population trend of Hondarribia?**
The population has grown from 4,345 in 1900 to a preferred value of 16,788 in 2025. Recent data shows a population of 16,929 in 2024 and 16,887 in 2023, with a 2019 breakdown recording 8,373 males and 8,564 females.

**When was Hondarribia founded?**
Hondarribia was founded on April 18, 1203.

**What administrative organizations is Hondarribia a member of?**
The municipality is part of the Mancomunidad de Servicios de Txingudi and the UEMA - Udalerri Euskaldunen Mankumunitatea.

**What languages are spoken in Hondarribia?**
The official and predominant languages are Spanish and Basque.

## Why It Matters
Hondarribia holds strategic importance as a border town in the Basque Country, serving as a geographical and cultural bridge between Spain and France due to its proximity to Hendaye. Its long history, dating back to its founding in 1203, includes significant historical events such as the Siege of Fuenterrabía, underscoring its historical defensive relevance. As a member of the UEMU (Association of Basque-speaking Municipalities), it plays a crucial role in the preservation and promotion of the Basque language and culture within the region.

## Notable For
- Founded on April 18, 1203.
- Bears the nickname "bikingoak".
- Situated at a low elevation of 16 meters above sea level.
- Officially bilingual with Spanish and Basque designated as predominant languages.
- Site of the historical Siege of Fuenterrabía.
- Twinned with the municipality of Peniscola.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Hondarribia is a municipality and city classified as a large human settlement located in Spain on the continent of Europe. It is geographically positioned at coordinates 43.3624372° latitude and -1.7914777° longitude. The town covers a total area of 28.63 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 16 meters above sea level. It is located in the Bidasoaldea region and lies in or next to the Cantabrian Sea. Hondarribia shares its borders with the municipalities of Pasaia, Lezo, and Irun, as well as the French commune of Hendaye.

### Demographics and Population
The population of Hondarribia has experienced significant growth over the last century. In 1900, the population was recorded at 4,345. This number steadily increased through the decades, reaching 15,050 in 2001 and peaking at 17,232 in 2013. As of the most recent data from 2025, the preferred population value is 16,788. Detailed demographic data from 2019 indicates a total population of 16,828, with 8,373 males and 8,564 females. The demonym for residents is "hondarribiar," and the town holds the nickname "bikingoak."

### Administration and Governance
Administratively, Hondarribia is the capital of its own municipality. It is part of the Mancomunidad de Servicios de Txingudi and the UEMA - Udalerri Euskaldunen Mankumunitatea. The town is identified by the INE code 20036 and the postal code 20280. The head of government holds the office of the mayor of Hondarribia. Internationally, the town is twinned with Peniscola.

### History and Culture
Hondarribia has a rich historical background, with its inception recorded as April 18, 1203. The town is historically associated with the Siege of Fuenterrabía. Culturally, it is a bilingual community where both Spanish and Basque are recognized as predominant languages. The entity is known by various names across different languages and cultures, including Fuenterrabia (Spanish), Fontarrabie (French), and Onddarbi or Onyarbi (Basque variants).

### Identification and External References
Hondarribia is cataloged in numerous international databases and systems. It has a GND ID of 4086561-7, a VIAF ID of 167465451, and a GeoNames ID of 6358125. Other identifiers include a Freebase ID (/m/03xg6k), a MusicBrainz area ID (63d7a6a2-f22a-4e3b-ad68-40a04618615f), and a Library of Congress authority ID (n90678628). The town is also mapped on OpenStreetMap with node ID 27552597 and relation ID 342898. Visual representations of the municipality are available through its flag image, coat of arms image, and a locator map image. The official website can be found at http://www.hondarribia.eus.

## References

1. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Register of Local Entities
4. OpenStreetMap
5. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. MusicBrainz
9. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
10. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
14. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2003
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
23. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
24. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
26. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
27. [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)
28. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
29. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
30. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
31. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
32. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
33. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
34. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
35. [Source](https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=3053)
36. [Source](https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=2873)
37. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
38. nicknames of the inhabitants of Gipuzkoa
39. [Source](https://eu.eustat.eus/)
40. GeoNames
41. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos
42. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)