Astelena fronton
Encyclopedia
The Astelena fronton, nicknamed Cathedral of Basque Hand-pelota is a fronton, located in Eibar
, Guipúzcoa province, Basque Country
, Spain.
Astelena is a short 41 meter-long fronton were hand-pelota and pala modalities are played. the field has a wide of 11 m, and the wall a height of 9m.
It was inaugurated in 1904 and it was renovated in several occasions, the last one between 2006 and 2007, for accomplish the actual needs.
The finals of 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
(1946, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1966, 1973 and 1999), and the Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship
final of 1992 were played at the Astelena.
On October of the same year, Francisco Irusta a local inhabitant presented a project for cover the open-air fronton , the proposition was signed and approved by José Gurruchaga, the municipal architect.
Due to be the only public closed space in Eibar, most important events of the town were celebrated there, from boxing matches
, Dances, Cockfight
s, festival
s and in cases dinners in honor of a specific person.
In 1906 it was purchased by C. Aguirre, F. Bascaran, I. Irusta, M. Echeverría, M. Gómez, I. Vildósola, A. Eguiguren and B. Gárate.
The fronton suffered several damages during the Civil War
used as barracks and dinning place until 1940 when it was established the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
. On November 20, 1955 the 50th anniversary of the fronton was celebrated despite the day and year weren't the same.
On December 28, 1969 the fronton was closed for renovations. during the renovation the door gate 9, that gave direct access to the field and the window of the left wall were replaced.
The renovation was in charge of Cosme de Uriarte, who did not modify the outside look of the building, but the access of the spectators by a new door. The re-inauguration was made on October 8, 1972, in a game played between Retegi I and Tapia. Luciano Gastañagatorre and Alberto Vidarte were the facility owners. The renoved fronton had a maximum of 1300 spectators.
On December 28, 1997 the fronton was closed again due to renovations, after two years of being owned by Asegarce
.
In 1998 Aspe
purchased the facilities, that were reopened with a game between Goñi I and Elkoro.
In 2004 was published a commemorative anniversary book. On March 1, 2005, the fronton was again closed due to a disagreement among the owners (60% the Gaztañatorre family , from Bilbao and 40% the Vidarte family from Eibar).
On 2006, was purchased for 3.000.000€ by the Eibar municipality
and again closed for major renovations during 2006-2007, the fronton was finally reopened on May 20, 2007.
Éibar
Eibar is a city and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain. The city was chartered by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1346...
, Guipúzcoa province, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain.
Astelena is a short 41 meter-long fronton were hand-pelota and pala modalities are played. the field has a wide of 11 m, and the wall a height of 9m.
It was inaugurated in 1904 and it was renovated in several occasions, the last one between 2006 and 2007, for accomplish the actual needs.
The finals of 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
The 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship is the most important tournament competition of Hand-pelota category of Basque pelota. It was created in 1940, when the new Basque Pelota Spanish Federation, to have a champion of the category. In its beginnings, the championship was disputed every two...
(1946, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1966, 1973 and 1999), and the Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship
Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship
The Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship is an individual championship of Basque pelota, often known as the cage due to the fronton dimensions.Cuatro y Medio, means Fourth and a half, meaning that every ball that rebound far from that mark is considered pasa , making it a game of presition more than...
final of 1992 were played at the Astelena.
History
During the patronal festivity of Eibar, San Juan's day of 1904, the fronton was inaugurated in a game to 22 points between the local players Tacolo and Cantabria.On October of the same year, Francisco Irusta a local inhabitant presented a project for cover the open-air fronton , the proposition was signed and approved by José Gurruchaga, the municipal architect.
Due to be the only public closed space in Eibar, most important events of the town were celebrated there, from boxing matches
Box
Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles for permanent use as storage, or for temporary use often for transporting contents. The word derives from the Greek πύξος , "box, boxwood"....
, Dances, Cockfight
Cockfight
A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters , held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and in most of Europe. It is still legal in several U.S. territories....
s, festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
s and in cases dinners in honor of a specific person.
In 1906 it was purchased by C. Aguirre, F. Bascaran, I. Irusta, M. Echeverría, M. Gómez, I. Vildósola, A. Eguiguren and B. Gárate.
The fronton suffered several damages during the Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
used as barracks and dinning place until 1940 when it was established the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
The 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship is the most important tournament competition of Hand-pelota category of Basque pelota. It was created in 1940, when the new Basque Pelota Spanish Federation, to have a champion of the category. In its beginnings, the championship was disputed every two...
. On November 20, 1955 the 50th anniversary of the fronton was celebrated despite the day and year weren't the same.
On December 28, 1969 the fronton was closed for renovations. during the renovation the door gate 9, that gave direct access to the field and the window of the left wall were replaced.
The renovation was in charge of Cosme de Uriarte, who did not modify the outside look of the building, but the access of the spectators by a new door. The re-inauguration was made on October 8, 1972, in a game played between Retegi I and Tapia. Luciano Gastañagatorre and Alberto Vidarte were the facility owners. The renoved fronton had a maximum of 1300 spectators.
On December 28, 1997 the fronton was closed again due to renovations, after two years of being owned by Asegarce
Asegarce
Asegarce is an Basque event production and deportive license company, mainly devoted to Basque pelota. Through the Bainet company, it has also made audiovisual productions.-History:...
.
In 1998 Aspe
ASPE (Basque pelota)
ASPE Jugadores de Pelota S.L. is a deportive management company dedicated to promove Basque pelota.- History :The company was established in 1998, taking place ever since in the Cuatro y Medio, Doubles-pelota and hand-pelota categories....
purchased the facilities, that were reopened with a game between Goñi I and Elkoro.
In 2004 was published a commemorative anniversary book. On March 1, 2005, the fronton was again closed due to a disagreement among the owners (60% the Gaztañatorre family , from Bilbao and 40% the Vidarte family from Eibar).
On 2006, was purchased for 3.000.000€ by the Eibar municipality
Éibar
Eibar is a city and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain. The city was chartered by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1346...
and again closed for major renovations during 2006-2007, the fronton was finally reopened on May 20, 2007.
Etymology
The fronton was named in a publicity move, Astelena which means Monday in Euskara, due that Mondays, for being the first day after the weekend, workers were inefficient and used to attend pelota games instead of working full time.1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Atano III | Akarregi | 22-16 |
| 1950 | Gallastegui | Akarregi | 22-15 |
| 1954 | Soroa II | Barberito I | 22-04 |
| 1955 | Arriaran II | Soroa II | 22-13 |
| 1956 | Arriaran II | Garcia Ariño I | 22-13 |
| 1960 | Azkarate | Ogueta | 22-19 |
| 1966 | Atano X | Azkarate | 22-13 |
| 1973 | Retegi I | Tapia I | 22-20 |
| 1999 | Eugi | Elkoro | 22-11 |
Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship
| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Eugi | Errasti | 22-12 |