February 04, 2012
VITORIA-GASTEIZ INFO

Some History

Few places have two names like Vitoria-Gasteiz. The name “Nueva Victoria” was given to the city by King Sancho VI of Navarre, who founded Vitoria in 1181. At that time it was a walled defensive outpost belonging to the kingdom of Navarre. The name “Gasteiz” comes from a hamlet that used to stand on the hill around which our city is built.

Historically, Victoria has always enjoyed a strategic position because it is situated on the shortest route between the tablelands of Castile and Northern Europe. Throughout its history, the city has always been known as an important trading centre. Historians record that there were three markets held every week in the 13th century and after 1399, there were two annual fairs attended by numerous visitors.

Another important historical feature of the city is its individual privileges, which declared all its inhabitants to be equal, without distinction between nobles and the masses.

Did you know that...?

Vitoria-Gasteiz was the first city in the Spanish state to adopt Agenda 21, a tool that sets the standards to make progress in the sustainable development of countries and regions.

The UNO selected the Green Ring of Vitoria-Gasteiz among the 100 best projects in the world at the Third International Competition of Good Practices.

The city has 42 sq m of green space per person, which makes it the European city with the most consolidated green areas.

It has one of the highest number of federated sportsmen and women. At this time, 75,000 inhabitants have a municipal sports card, a very significant figure if we take into consideration that there are some more than 220,000 people in the city.

Museums

You will find many museums in the city. Moreover, they are all housed in buildings which in themselves are well worth a visit.

Artium. Basque Centre-Museum of Contemporary Art.
Arms Museum.
BIBAT. Fournier Playing Card Museum and Archaeology Museum.
Museum of Sacred Art .
Fine Arts Museum.
Natural History Museum.
Lanterns Museum.
Open-air museums.
Montehermoso Cultural Center.

For more information, please visit: http://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/we027/http/index_en.shtml

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