The hermitage of Santa Elena

The hermitage of Santa Elena, also known as Ama Xantalen, is located near the old part of the town of Irun, by the bank of the River Estebenea. It is an important hermitage for it has been a place of cult for many centuries. The current building was probably erected during the 14th century and has a rectangular plan, hipped roof cover and cut stone walls. The portal of the hermitage is of Isabelline style. During the 1970's, several excavations were carried out in this hermitage and an incineration necropolis of Roman morphology was found, as well as the remains of a Roman temple that existed before the 1st century. Converted into a museum, Santa Elena displays the remains found on the place -coins, utensils, ceramics..- as well as many others from different archaeological sites of the Bidasoa region that are records of the presence of a Roman period settlement known as Oiasso.