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Park · San Sebastián, Basque Country
Monte Urgull
Wooded hill between the Parte Vieja and the sea, with trails, cannon batteries, the Castillo de la Mota at the top and the statue of the Sagrado Corazão overlooking the city.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Monte Urgull
Monte Urgull rises beside the Parte Vieja, between the port and Zurriola beach, at about 120 metres high. For centuries it was the city's fortress, with walls, cannon batteries and the Castillo de la Mota at the top, of medieval origin and reinforced between the 16th and 18th centuries.
When the city ceased to be a military square at the end of the 19th century, the hill became a park. Today it has tree-shaded paths, viewpoints over La Concha bay and the open sea, remains of the defence batteries and the Cemitério dos Ingleses, where British soldiers who died in the siege of 1813 and in the Carlist wars are buried.
At the top, the Castillo de la Mota houses a small exhibition on the city's history, the Casa de la Historia. Above the castle stands the statue of the Sagrado Corazón, from 1950, 12 metres high, visible from the whole bay.
The path that skirts the hill by the sea, the Paseo Nuevo, links the port to the mouth of the Urumea and is taken by waves on stormy days.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is softer and the trails are quieter. Check the castle's opening hours.
How to get there
You climb on foot from the Parte Vieja via Plaza de Zuloaga or the port, or via the Paseo Nuevo. There is no transport to the top.
Tip
Ascend on the port side and descend via the Paseo Nuevo, circling the hill by the sea. Bring water and trainers: the trails have climbs and steps.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Monte Urgull
What's on top of Monte Urgull?
The Castillo de la Mota, with a small exhibition about the city, and the Sacred Heart statue.
How long does it take to climb Urgull?
About 20 to 30 minutes on foot from the Parte Vieja, via shaded trails.
What is the English Cemetery?
A small cemetery on the slopes of Urgull with graves of British soldiers killed in the 1813 siege and in the Carlist Wars.