The places where pelota is played have evolved over the centuries. The pilota-soros were grassy meadows (not always horizontal) where direct games were played. These can be found both in villages and in isolated Basque farms. They are the predecessor of the long frontons.
The plazas libres (free squares) are used for direct modalities in villages; these were initially patches of earth but were later paved. Then came the frontons, which meant that indirect games could enter the world of pelota. All indirect modalities can be played in long frontons (54 metres in length) and in short frontons (30 and 36 metres in length).
Euskal Pilota games in towns were played against the wall of a building (murrua) of sufficient height and width; it was usual for this building to be the church (eliza-frontoia). Later on, if the town was wealthy enough, a few walls were built exclusively to practice this game; and this is the way fronton courts came to be.
The arkupes or atrios (arches), either belonging to municipal councils or to churches, are covered spaces that have been home to handball games or direct modalities such as pasaka for many years. Nowadays, they continue to be dumb witnesses of great matches.
Pilota-soro
Ezterenzubi, Nafarroa Beherea (Akitania)
Pilota-soro
Ezterenzubi, Nafarroa Beherea (Akitania)
Frontoia
Ahüsky, Xiberoa (Akitania)
Ahüsky, Xiberoa (Akitania)
Etxe-frontoia
"Frontoi txikia", Zarautz, Gipuzkoa.
Etxe-frontoia
Banka, Lapurdi (Akitania).
"Emazue gazteak ardura pilotan, zeren den ederrena joko guztietan" is written in the frontis (hit the pilota hard young players, as it is the most beautiful among all games).
Frontoi-eliza
Azkarate, Nafarroa.
Plaza irekiko frontoia
Azkaine, Lapurdi (Akitania)
Plaza irekiko frontoia
Donibane Garazi, Nafarroa Beherea (Akitania)
Ezker paretadun frontoi irekia
Zorrotza, Bilbo (Bizkaia)
Ezker paretadun frontoi labur itxia (30 m.)
Larreta, Mungia (Bizkaia)
Ezker paretadun frontoi labur itxia (36 m.)
Labrit, Iruña (Nafarroa)
Ezker paretadun frontoi labur itxia (36 m.; 38)
Miribilla, Bilbo (Bizkaia)
Ezker paretadun frontoi labur itxia (36 m.; 41)
Astelena, Eibar (Gipuzkoa)
Ezker paretadun frontoi labur itxia (36 m.; 38,5)
Ogeta, Gasteiz (Araba)
Ezker paretadun frontoi luze itxia, Jai alai (54 m.)
Galarreta Jai-Alai, Hernani (Gipuzkoa)
Ezker paretadun frontoi luze itxia, Jai alai (54 m.; 58)
Gernika Jai-Alai, Gernika (Bizkaia)
Trinketa
Los Astronomos, Gasteiz (Araba)
Trinketa
Elizondo (Nafarroa)
