CASTLES IRUN

Castillo del Inglés occupies an intriguing place in Irun's industrial and geographical heritage at the border between Guipuzkoa and Navarre within the Aiako-Harria Natural Park. Despite its evocative name, the structure is not a medieval castle but rather the remains of buildings erected by the British mining company The Bidasoa Railway and Mines Limited in the 19th century. The name derives from an English engineer who directed mining operations in the area, leaving behind the ruins of his residence perched on an elevated forest position. Today, the site remains accessible via short hiking trails through surrounding forests, offering panoramic views while serving as a curious reminder of international industrial ventures in the Pyrenean foothills.

Erlaitzeko Tower is a historic fortification located at Lapurrituri in the high part of Erlaitz, Irun, Spain. In recent years, the site has hosted an information center serving as a reference point for the area's green tourism, particularly popular during summer months. Accessible via hiking trails that pass through the summit to reach incomplete fortress structures and a temporary camping area, the tower provides insights into the region's defensive heritage. The information center operates seasonally from Easter through late September, with weekend hours, making it a destination for families and hikers exploring the natural park near the city.

Pagogaña Fort is a Second Carlist War fortification in Irun, Guipúzcoa, featuring a distinctive cross-shaped plan with an octagonal tower at its center and four wings of loopholed structures. Originally equipped with a double circuit of walls and exterior moat, the fort included a tunnel exceeding 400 meters in length that served as an escape route for soldiers during critical situations. Now in progressive ruins but accessible to visitors with appropriate precautions, the fort was acquired by the municipality of Irun in 1977 and has been developed as a recreational space offering views of the surrounding landscape.

Fuerte de Erlaitz is an unfinished fortification located near the 497-meter summit in Irun, Spain, representing a failed military construction project initiated in 1891. Designed to accommodate 300 soldiers, it was part of the Campo Atrincherado de Oiartzun (Oiartzun Entrenched Camp) defensive system of which only three of seven planned forts were completed. Granite excavations visible on the mountainside mark the early halt of construction, while remnants from the Spanish Civil War—including a machine gun bunker from the post-war P line—can still be observed at the site. Today the incomplete fort remains accessible as part of hiking routes through the area.