Motako Gaztelua

The Motako Gaztelua, or Mota Castle, sits at the peak of Monte Urgull, distinguished by the massive stone walls and the colossal statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that overlooks the bay. It served as the primary defensive fortress for San Sebastián for centuries, enduring numerous sieges throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During the disastrous fire of eighteen thirteen, British and Portuguese troops took shelter within these walls while the town below burned to the ground.