Castle of San Telmo, Hondarribia

What is the Castle of San Telmo in Hondarribia?

The Castle of San Telmo is a fortification perched on a hill above the Bay of Txingudi, right at the entrance to Hondarribia in the Basque Country. Before any castle stood here, the same spot held first a watchtower and, later, a small hermitage dedicated to Saint Elmo (San Telmo), patron saint of sailors — the source of the name that stuck once the fortress was built.

When was the castle built?

The fortification in its recognisable form dates to 1598, during the reign of King Philip II. The project was ordered by Juan Velázquez, captain general of Gipuzkoa, who was tasked with securing this stretch of coastline. The new stronghold's main purpose was to control access to the bay and deter the pirate raids that regularly threatened shipping and local residents at the time.

Why was it rebuilt in the 18th century?

Over the following decades the fortress fell into disrepair and lost its defensive role. It was rebuilt in the mid-18th century on the orders of King Ferdinand VI, with engineer Felipe Cramer overseeing the works. The main driver behind the reconstruction was practical: gunpowder stored inside Hondarribia's town walls needed to be moved somewhere safer, away from the built-up centre, to reduce the risk of a catastrophic explosion. Once rebuilt, the tower held roughly 1,500 barrels of gunpowder spread across three floors, and the site resumed its original military function.

What role did the castle play in 19th-century conflicts?

San Telmo sat on the front line of several conflicts fought along this stretch of the Spanish-French border. In 1794, during the War of the Convention against revolutionary France, French troops captured the fort and destroyed part of its walls and structures. Decades later, during the First Carlist War, the castle sided with the Carlist forces; in 1837 it was taken by troops under General Baldomero Espartero, commanding the Cristino army loyal to Queen Isabella II.

What happens at the castle today?

Between 1964 and 1980 the building was converted into a private residence, a process that altered relatively little of its original structure. As a result, the castle has retained much of its historic character, even though it now serves a residential rather than a military purpose.

Where exactly is the Castle of San Telmo?

The castle stands on a rise overlooking the Bay of Txingudi and the mouth of the Bidasoa River, right next to the old town of Hondarribia — a picturesque, fortified border town in the province of Gipuzkoa, in Spain's Basque Country.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the castle's name come from? From a hermitage dedicated to San Telmo, patron saint of sailors, that stood on the site before the fortress was built.

Who built the castle, and why? It was raised in 1598 on the orders of Juan Velázquez to control entry to the bay and protect the area from pirate attacks.

Did the castle see any fighting? Yes — it was captured by French troops in 1794, and again in 1837 by forces under General Espartero during the First Carlist War.

Can visitors go inside the castle today? Since a 1960s–1980s conversion, the building has functioned as a private residence, which limits access to the interior — but it can still be admired from the outside while exploring Hondarribia.