Doneztebe / Santesteban

Where the waters of the Ezkurra and Ezpelura rivers meet, the landscape of Doneztebe/Santesteban emerges as a centre of convergence at Malerreka. In this area, the stonework of the tower houses and palaces preserves the memory of merchants and returning colonists who shaped the character of the town with their nobility. Here, time passes between the Gothic legacy and the daily life that fills its squares, maintaining the tradition of the laxoa as a constant practice that links the stone to the community.

Doneztebe/Santesteban general information

This town stands out as the largest settlement in the Malerreka Valley, offering the widest range of services. It enjoys a privileged geographical location, bordered to the north by Sunbilla, to the south by Donamaria and Oitz, to the east by Bertizarana, and to the west by Elgorriaga.

The town’s layout preserves medieval features where fortified houses blend with the local Gothic architecture, reflecting a history of exchange that has always looked outwards from its roots in red stone. Far from being mere decoration, the layout of Calle Mercaderes demonstrates the prosperity of a town that has developed its territory with an open and respectful attitude towards its heritage.

What to see in Doneztebe/Santesteban?

The town’s architecture allows one to observe the evolution from medieval defences to the residential use of the noble estates.

Church of San Pedro: The first section of ashlar masonry in this church still features embrasures and cannons, indicating a defensive past linked to the tower of the castle of the Lords of Lerín. Inside, it houses Baroque-style altarpieces by nd an organ that remains an integral part of the liturgy and the life of the town.

The Old Town and Mercaderes Street: The architectural timeline unfolds in the 15th-century tower house on Mercaderes Street, a testament to the civil Gothic style. On Intzakardi Street, the character shifts to the 18th-century mansion, a record of the stately prosperity of the era.

Intzakardi Park: Set amongst monumental plane trees, this space preserves the history of the Napoleonic Wars. The Bidasoa Greenway runs through here, connecting the local landscape with the network of trails at Baztan-Bidasoa.

Bear-Zana Square: Built in 1855, this is where laxoa, the oldest form of Basque pelota, is preserved. The square is not presented as an attraction, but as the ground where this sporting tradition continues to assert its daily relevance.

Uraren Bidea: The course of the River Ezkurra marks this route linking Doneztebe/Santesteban with Elgorriaga, Ituren and Zubieta, offering views of the natural surroundings that define the riverine character of Malerreka.