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SPONSORED BY:

ORGANISED BY:

Experience HistoryProgramme of Bicentenary events

BATTLE OF VITORIA

Bicentennial of the1813-2013

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Exhibitions

Concerts and shows

Courses, congresses and conferences

Guided tours

Children’s activities

Further activities

BATTLE OF VITORIA

Bicentennial of the1813-2013

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BICENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIA

In 2013 Vitoria-Gasteiz and Álava celebrate a major histori-cal event that unfolded in its territory. In 1813, the city was the scene of a battle that played a decisive role in European history.

Now, 200 years later, the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council and the Provincial Council of Álava work in collaboration with other local institutions, associations and groups to comme-morate the important historical event.

An open, participative programme of activities will be held in the city throughout the year, focusing on several aspects:

KNOWLEDGE: To promote the dissemination of infor-mation on the events, places and figures who played a role in that period of Vitoria-Gasteiz’s history. The information targets different audiences and their spe-cific interests.

HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE: To enhan-ce the value of the sites where the events took place by documenting them and making their heritage value known.

EVENTS: Music, theatre, local cuisine and art events held in early summer to celebrate the Bicentennial. All the activities focus on a central theme: Experience His-tory at first hand.

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What happened on 21 june 1813?

That is when a battle took place on the outskirts of Vitoria between the French troops that were escorting Joseph I in his flight to France and a coalition of British, Spanish and Portuguese troops under the command of the Duke of We-llington and General Álava.

The Allied victory accelerated the final withdrawal of French troops from Spain and forced Napoleon to accept the reinstatement of Fernando VII, thus ending five years of French occupation.

The war can only be properly understood in the context of the Napoleonic Wars, when Napoleon Bonaparte set out to configure a new map of Europe. The victory achieved in Vitoria rallied the allies: Austria, which until then had hesitated to join the new coalition against Napoleon, re-entered the war. This, combined with defeat in Russia, brought about the fall of Napoleon.

The city saved

After the battle, General Álava, in command of a British cavalry unit, took his native city, Vitoria, thus preventing it from being plundered by the warring factions. In gratitude, the city acknowledged his exploit by giving him a sword.

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Commemoration activities

THE BATTLE OF VITORIA

THE ARMOURY MUSEUM. June 2013Renovation of the rooms dedicated to the Battle of Inde-pendence and the Battle of Vitoria.The purpose of the exhibition is to facilitate a better unders-tanding of the historic event, improve the presentation and enhance the value of the pieces exhibited.

MONUMENT TO THE BATTLE OF VITORIA HISTORY AND VICISSITUDES

THE ARMOURY MUSEUM. June 2013The history of the erection of the monument to the Battle of Vitoria, a process that commenced in 1813. The exhibition will show the photographs and documents related to the monument, with special mention of Gabriel Borrás, the ar-tist who designed it.

NAPOLEONIC PLAYING CARDS

THE ARMOURY MUSEUM. June 2013A temporary exhibition of Napoleonic playing cards on the subject of the War of Independence and its period, lent by the Fournier Museum.

EXHIBITIONS

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The exhibition includes a Royal Decree in which Joseph I grants permission to make, circulate and sell playing cards.

1813 THE DECISIVE BATTLE. The city freed

CAJA VITAL KUTXA FOUNDATION 21 June - 30th October 2013The exhibit uses videos and a broad range of historical ma-terial to explain the national and international relevance of the historical events that took place in 1813.

A MUSICAL CHRONICLE OF HISTORYFINE ARTS MUSEUM. 1 June. 12:00MONTEHERMOSO CULTURE CENTRE. 15 June. 19:00Violín: Nato Mgeladze; Piano: Medea Kuralhivili; Tenor: Felipe Ibarrán

Collaborates: Musicians without Borders

GAUR, 1813

TEATRO PRINCIPAL ANTZOKIA 14 June. 20:30 A dance that re-enacts the period to commemorate the anniversary of the occupied town, its allies and the cele-bration of its liberation.

Organised by: Arabako Dantzarien Biltzarra

CONCERTS and SHOWS

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CONCERT BY THE BASQUE SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRAVIRGEN BLANCA SQUARE.14 June. 22:00 “The Battle of Vitoria, opus 91” by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

CONCERT BY THE BIG BANDS AND MUSIC CONSERVATORY COMBOSVIRGEN BLANCA SQUARE. 21 June. 13:00 Guridi Big-Band Director: Iñigo IbaibarriagaGuridi Txiki Big-Band Director: Josetxo Silguero

MUSIC SCHOOL CONCERTSARCA SQUARE. 21 June19:00 The Marching Band leaves the Academia de Folklore and the Luis Aramburu.19:30 Udaberria Music School.20:30 Luis Aramburu Municipal Music School.

CONCERT BY THE MUNICIPAL MUSIC BANDVIRGEN BLANCA SQUARE. 21 June. 22:30Municipal Music Band, Samaniego Chorus, Trumpet stu-dents and teachers from the Conservatory and Municipal Music School. Director: Iker Olázabal. They will play pie-ces from Beethoven, Ennio Morricone and Manuel Iradier. Collaborates: Musicians without Borders.

BERTSO - TRAMAVIRGEN BLANCA SQUARE. 22 June. 13:00 Andoni Egaña, Sebastián Lizaso and Oihane PereaRe-enactment of the period in which the Battle of Vitoria took place. Each bertsolari represents a historical figure and together they stage a dramatized imbroglio.

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THE CITY SAVEDVIRGEN BLANCA SQUARE. 22 June. 22:00 Original idea and overall coordination: Iván Pascual, José Ramón Díez Unzueta, Miguel Ascenzo.

Stage Direction: Javier Larreina

Alava production: Karra Elejalde, Txema Blasco, Carmen San Esteban and Ramón Monje are among the lead actors.

Dramatized re-enactment of the events that took place in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz on 12 June 1813 when the allied troops gained a victory over the imperial troops.

RE-ENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIA21, 22 and 23 June400 people, dressed and armed in period dress, take part in the re-enactment of the events that took place on the 21st of June 1813 in Vitoria and the surrounding area.

21 JuneSetting up of a camp by the troops in Puebla de Arganzón.

22 June18:00 The troops camped in Puebla de Arganzón march towards Vitoria-Gasteiz.19:30 Re-enactment of the battle in the fields of Armentia.

23 June12:30 Re-enactment of General Álava’s entry into the city. From the train station to the Virgen Blanca Square.

Collaboration by: La Puebla de Arganzón Town Council, Asociación Napoleónica Española, Asociación Urgull and Asociación Histórica VITORIA 2013

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VITORIA AND THE 19TH CENTURY THE CITY ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIA

CENTRO CÍVICO IPARRALDE. 16 April to 4 June Tuesday and Thursday, from 19:30 to 21:00

Culture course centred on a reflection and historical analy-sis of a convulsive and decisive century for Vitoria-Gasteiz.

THE BATTLE OF VITORIA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

CASA DE CULTURA. 18-20 June 2013 International History Congress University Institute of Social History.

CONGRESS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR

PALACIO DE VILLA SUSO. 30 OctoberOrganised by: Fundación de Estudios Jurídicos y SocialesParticipation by: Red Cross, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Manos Unidas.

PIECE OF THE MONTH

THE ARMOURY MUSEUM. 11:30A programme of conferences to learn more about highly significant pieces in the Armoury Museum:

25 May “Napoleonic Fans in the Armoury Museum in Álava”. Restoration services.15 June “General Álava: Portraits of a Personage” Gonzalo Serrats.

COURSES, CONGRESSES and CONFERENCES

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CONFERENCES ORGANISED BY HISTORY ASSOCIATION VITORIA 2013:

THE FIGURE OF GENERAL ALAVA. A NEW APPROACH

CASA DE CULTURA. 21 May. 19:30 Speaker: Gonzalo Serrats.

EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE DAYS OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIA SALÓN ACTOS DENDARABA. 22 May. 19:30 Speaker: Susana Arechaga.

THE BATTLE OF VITORIA, 1813. THE GREAT ALLIED VICTORY

CASA DE CULTURA. 24 May. 17:00 Speaker: Andrés Fernando de Fuentes.

THE OCCUPATION OF VITORIA BY NAPOLEON’S TROOPS

CASA DE CULTURA. 28 May. 19:30 Speaker: Gorka Martínez.

FRENCHMEN, BRIGANDS AND THE PEOPLE OF ALAVA WITH ALL THEIR SACRAMENTS

SALON DE ACTOS DENDARABA. 29 May. 19:30Speaker: Javier Vega.

PRESENTACION DEL LIBRO “2013”

PALACIO DE VILLASUSO. 4 June. 19:30A Lengthy Poem on War and the Battle of Vitoria. Speaker: Natxo Vesga.

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EVERDAY LIFETOURIST OFFICE 8 and 22 June. 12:00The tours are centred on the everyday life of the citizens of Vitoria and the historical events that marked their lives.

REPORTERS FOR PEACE. Family TourTOURIST OFFICE 23 June. 11:00Planned as a new way for the attendees to approach to a historical event.

BICENTENNARY OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIATOURIST OFFICE 1 and 15 June. 12:00A tour that takes you back to 1813, where you will learn about the places where the leading figures of the two wa-rring factions lived and what happened during the Battle.

TOUR OF THE BATTLEFIELDFROM EUROPA CONGRESS HALL 15 and 22 June. 10:00Visit based on the latest book about the battle written by Emilio Larreina, where you will learn about where the troops were stationed, their strategies and how the battle unfolded.*Saturdays and Sundays between 20 May and 30 June the Aso-ciación Histórica VITORIA 2013, organised Tours of the Battlefield. Information and reserves: 945 157 914

GUIDED TOURS

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SANTA MARIA 1813. BEYOND THE RIFLES AND THE BAYONNETSFUNDACIÓN CATEDRAL SANTA MARÍA Daily: 12:45 and 17:30Theme tour showing how the Cathedral was at the time of the war. An itinerary planned by Ismael García, PhD in History from the University of the Basque Country who coo-perated in the restoration work.

THE CITY AFTER THE BATTLE. A Re-enacted TourTHE OLD QUARTER Starts: 15 June. Saturdays. 20:30Ten years after the battle, the main cha-racters give a first-hand account of the historic event.

VITORIA AND THE ILLUSTRATIONTHE OLD QUARTER Starts: 6 July. Saturdays: 18:00 and Sundays 12:00Re-enactment of the turn of the 18th century and first quarter of the 19th century, seen through the eyes of lea-ding Vitoria citizens who embodied the Illustration’s ideas. A tour of the palaces and buildings of the period.

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SUMMER CAMPSTHE ARMOURY MUSEUM Dates: 2-5, 9-12 and 16-19 July Opening hours: 11:00-13:00. Ages: 6-11 yearsThe Armoury Museum is the starting point for investigating who took part in the Battle of Vitoria and what the city was like in 1808-1813.

FUNDACIÓN CATEDRAL SANTA MARÍA Dates: 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19 JulyThe summer camps devote one day each to a topic related to the Cathedral.

WORKSHOPSTHE ARMOURY MUSEUM Dates: 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 June. Opening hours: 11:00 TO 13:00. Age: 5-11 yearsTour-workshop around Vitoria-Gasteiz to discover the city’s history and battle sites.

TASTING MENUSCELEDONES DE ORO SQUARE. 22, 23 and 24 June Three tasting menus with period recipes:22 June. 19:30 “Battle Fare” Tasting Menu23 June 13:00 “General Álava’s Treats” Tasting Menu24 June 13:00 “The Victoria-Gasteiz” Tasting Menu

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

FURTHER ACTIVITIES

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Collaboration by: Federación de Sociedades Gastronómicas BOILUR and Slow Food Araba-Álava

WALKING ITINERARIES Walks around the battle sites on the Llanada Alavesa plains.5 May: Polígono Los Llanos - Esquivel - Zumelzu26 May: Víllodas - Alto de Júndiz16 June: Hueto Arriba - Gamarra MayorOrganised by: Hiker Manuel Iradier

BATTLE OF VITORIA BICENTENNARY FUN RUN24 June. 10:00-12:00 Children: Olaguibel Street 2 - Virgen Blanca Square (1,2 km)Adults: Mendizorrotza - Virgen Blanca Square (6,2 km)Organised by: Asociación Cultural LolekCollaboration by: Federación Alavesa de Atletismo (FFA)

BICENTENNARY OPEN OF THE BATTLE OF VITORIA WITH PERIOD FIREARMS23 June 10:00 Venue: “Las Colinas” Olympic Shooting Range in Álava Categories: Cominazo, Pennsylvania and Miquelete. If positions are not occupied during the competi-tion, other arms may be used to compete.Organised by: Club Arcabuceros de Álava

RE-ENACTMENT OF HISTORIC BATTLES THE ARMOURY MUSEUM Re-enactment of historic battles on topographical models that represent the geographic area in which the battles took place and the armies that fought them. 4-5 May: Game on the battle of “La Albuera”21-22 June: Game on “The Battle of Vitoria” October: Naval game on the battle “Cape San Vicente”

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A weekend to experience history

21, 22, 23 June

21 June

13:00 Concert by the Big Band and Music Con- servatory Combos. Virgen Blanca Square19:00 Marching Band Concert (Luis Aramburu School and Folklore Academy). City centre19.30 Concert by the Udaberria School Arca square20:30 Concert by the Luis Aramburu Music School. Arca square 22:00 Concert by the Municipal Music Band, the Conservatory of Music and the Munici- pal Music School. Virgen Blanca Square

22 June 10:00 Guided tour of the scenes of the Battle Departure: Europa Congress Hall11:00 Family Workshop Fine Arts Museum12:00 “Everyday Life” guided theme tour Departure from the Tourist Office12:30 Re-enactment of the troops’ movements and the battle at the bridge La Puebla de Arganzón

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13:00 Bertso-Trama Performance. Virgen Blanca Square19:30 Re-enactment of the Battle. Campas de Armentia19:30 “Battle Food” Tasting Menus Celedones de Oro Square20:00 Performances by the Álava Choirs Federation City centre22:00 “The City Saved” show. Virgen Blanca Square

23 June

10:00 Bicentenary Open of the Battle of Vitoria with period firearms. Shooting Range in Álava11:00 Reporters for peace. Family Tour Departure from the Tourist Office12:30 Re-enactment of General Álava and his allies’ victorious entry into the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz From the train station to the Virgen Blanca Square13:00 “General Alava´s Treats” Tasting Menu Celedones de Oro Square

24 June

10:00 Battle of Vitoria-Gasteiz Bicentennary Fun run13:00 “The Victoria-Gasteiz” Tasting Menu Celedones de Oro Square

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Published by: Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council Provincial Council of Álava

Design and layout: Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council

Photography and engraving: Álava Armoury Museum

Printed by: Provincial Council of Álava

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ORGANISED BY Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council Provincial Council of Álava

SPONSORED BY The Basque Government’s Department of Education and Culture

COLLABORATORSAcademia de Folklore, Arabako Dantzarien Biltzarra, Asociación Cultural Lolek, Asociación Histórica VITORIA 2013, Asociación de Miniaturistas de Álava, Asociación Nacional Napoleónica, Ayuntamiento La Puebla de Ar-ganzón, Banda Municipal de Música, Casa de Cultura Ignacio Aldecoa, Centros Socio-Culturales de Mayores, Conservatorio de Música Jesús Guridi, Club Arcabuceros de Álava, Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño, Escuela de Música Luis Aramburu, Escuela de Música Udaberría, Excursionista Manuel Iradier, Federación de Coros Ala-vesa, Federación de Sociedades Gastronómicas BOILUR, Fundación Catedral Santa María, Fundación de Estudios Jurídicos y Sociales, Gidatour Elkartea, Instituto Univer-sitario de Historia Social Valentín de Foronda, Músicos sin Fronteras, Obra Social Caja Vital Kutxa, Orquesta Sin-fónica de Euskadi, Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País, Slow Food Araba- Álava, Sociedad Landázuri.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.alava.netwww.vitoria-gasteiz.org

* Programme subject to last minute changes.

BATTLE OF VITORIA

Bicentennial of the

ORGANISED BY: SPONSORED BY: