The Basque Country is not a similar region in the north of Spain. Here they speak their Basque language, architecture is more reminiscent of France or Germany, and nature is similar to the Swiss Alps. This makes the Basque country a unique place that can be explored endlessly. We talk about a beach vacation, world famous museums and mountain villages of this amazing land.
How to get
The international airport is located in the capital of the region – Bilbao. From Moscow, you can fly to it with a transplant in Istanbul. The cost of tickets back and forth starts from 90,000 rubles*.
Another way is to get to Madrid or Barcelona first (from 48,000 rubles*), and from there to get to the country of Basque by bus (from 4,000 rubles*).
Swim in warm bays
Due to the fact that the Basque Country is washed not by the waters of the open Atlantic Ocean, but by Biscay Bay, in the summer the water here is sufficiently warmed up – it is quite possible to spend the whole day on the coast. For a beach vacation, it is better to choose San Sebastian: there is always transparent water and clean sand. If you don’t want to go far, go to La Khcha (it is considered the best city beach in the world), Surriola or swim by ferry to the island of Santa Clara.
Among the other popular beaches of the region, one cannot help but mention the Isuns in the village of Lekotio, Las Arenas in Gecho, Onsdarbia near Gipuska and the largest beach of the Basque Country – Saraus. Iceurun deserves special attention in Sumay: unusual layered cliffs – “Flshi”, located near the sand massif, give this place a special flavor, thanks to which he appeared in the series “Game of Thrones”.
You can stop at the Bidaia Boutique Hotel hotel (9.8 rating) – from 11,000 rubles per day*.
Learn surfing
Surfing and Kempa schools are in almost every coastal town. Most often, experienced and novice athletes choose Hetaria, San Sebastian or Saraus. Mundaka is considered one of the best European spots for surfing in winter and autumn time: in the cold season, the waves reach 5 m in height and 400 m in length.
Rest in this region is not only a chance to “catch a wave”, but also an opportunity to do this against the backdrop of magnificent local landscapes: green hills and steep rocks. The best surf are the Liidatch (this beach is located in the Urdaibai Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), the de Laga Beach in the Biosphere Reserve Urdaybai (next to Kabo de Cogono) and Arrigunaga with views on Mount Abra and Sopel.
You can stop at the Hotel Itxas Gain Getaria coastal hotel (9.2 rating) – from 11,000 rubles per day*.
Understand contemporary art
The capital of the Basque Country – the city of Bilbao – is known as the largest center for contemporary art in the north of Spain. It was here in 1997 that the famous Guggenheim Museum was opened. The building made of glass, titanium and sandstone in the style of deconstructivism is compared with a futuristic ship or an opening flower, and architect Philip Johnson called it the “greatest structure of our time.” The collection presents the works of Louise Bourgeois, Jeff Kuns, Richard Serra, Jenny Holzer, Anisha Kapura, Andy Warhol and other iconic artists and sculptors.
Visit the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. Thanks to his meeting, we can trace the development of Spanish painting through the centuries, as well as see the rich collection of avant-garde art, from the post-impressionism of the Gauguen field to pop art and expressionism by Francis Bacon.
The modern architecture of Bilbao is also interesting: for example, bizarre bridges of the city. Kampo-Vlantin, a suspended arched pedestrian bridge over the Nervion River, is considered one of the most significant works of the Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava. 12 km from the city is a grandiose building of the industrial revolution-a suspension bridge, built in the 1890s and was redesigned by the French conceptual artist Daniel Buren in 2007.
Stop at the Bilbao Center by Abba Suits (9.3 rating)-from 15,000 rubles per day*.
Find out the traditions of the Basque
To get acquainted with the life and traditions of a small people inhabiting the region, you will have to move away from the coast filled with tourists, but it is worth it. The second largest city of the Basque Country-Vitoria-Gastis-is already distinguished by identity. There are many interesting attractions, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Medieval Fortress, the Cathedral of St. Mary, the Bibat museum complex, Cas del Cordon, the New Cathedral, Eduardo Dato Street, Eskoisa-Eskivel Palace.
In total, 30 km from Vitoria is the salt of the Salinas de-Anyana valley, a complex of impressive wooden structures, along which salty water is transported to special sites, where the process of evaporation and collection of salts takes place. In this area, salt has been mined for 6,000 years, although the methods of gathering are constantly being improved.
In Eskioga-IChaso (Gipuska) there is a curious open-air museum-a peasant house. It was in this that the Basques lived in the 17th century. In addition to the layout and the wooden structure of the house, in its very center, a device for the production of home cider was preserved – perhaps a favorite drink of local residents.
Another open -air museum can be found in the town of Muskis – this is an old mill of the 16th century, in which bread in ancient furnaces is still baked.
If you are interested in the modern history of the region, be sure to go to Hernik. It is considered the cultural and historical center of the Basque nation. On April 26, 1937, the city was almost completely bastard from the face of the earth during the bombing of Italian and German aircraft. The famous picture of Pablo Picasso “Gertinika”, which is today in the Queen of Sofia in Madrid, is devoted to this event.
You can stop at Vitoria-Gastis in the apartahotel líber vitoria (9.1 rating)-from 8,000 rubles per day*.
Try a magnificent kitchen
Like any South European Primorsky region, the Basque Country is famous for excellent cuisine. The main principle of Basque dishes: “The easier it is – the better.” Locals are used to believe that in any dish the natural taste and smell of products should be felt, so the cooks here are added to their dishes mainly only salt, olive oil and parsley.
Here's what you should definitely taste:
- Pinkstos is a Basque version of tapas, that is, snacks for wine or sidra. They are mainly prepared from seafood: scallops, shrimp, sea urchins, fish;
- Idiasabal – cheese from sheep’s milk;
- Kuhada – a dessert made of sheep’s milk, which is served with honey or sugar;
- Goshua – a sweet dessert of pudding, dough, cream and caramel;
- Basco pastel – a sand dough pie with cream filling (most often from almonds and cherries);
- Dunnecks – meat stew with vegetables and pepper Chorisero;
- Pisto – a Basque analogue of Ratatuya from eggplant, zucchini, onions and tomatoes, which is served with fried eggs and bread;
- Angulas – eel fried with chili pepper and garlic;
- Cararaklas – sea snails;
- Marmitaco – a stew in a pot of tuna, potatoes, onions, sweet pepper and tomatoes;
- Bakalao in the Pil-Pil sauce-cod in its own juice. The name received the name because of the characteristic sounds that are obtained when extinguishing the fish over low heat.
- Chuleton is a beef steak with blood, which is served on red -hot coals.
Arrange an unforgettable hiking
The Basque Country is a paradise for lovers of hiking. A segment of the famous pilgrimage path of St. James passes through the region. The Bay of the Bay and the nature of Northern Spain are the main components of the coastal path, which leads to the church of Santiago de Complicel through the country of the Basque, Cantabria, Asturia and Galicia. The starting point is the city of Irun, then the route goes through San Sebastian, Saraus, Debu, Germnik, Lumo, Leszhama, Bilbao and Portagalite.
Routes in the Gorbea natural park are considered one of the most picturesque foot routes throughout Spain. As in many similar parks, there are several paths for every taste. The most popular is the name Ubide-Gorbea-Ibide and stretched 32 km. Rare representatives of the flora, and sometimes fauna, are found on the way, because wild cats and deer settled in the park.
Particularly hardy and prepared tracking lovers can try to go through the Pyrenees on foot. For example, the popular GR-11 pedestrian trail, it is also Ruta Transpireenaica by Cape Higuer, passes through the Pyrenees through the ancient principalities, and now the Spanish provinces of Navarre and Aragon, and ends in the Catalan cape-co-co-co-co-coordinates. A month will go to its complete passage, but the most picturesque locations on the Basque side can be viewed in ten days.
There are also many options for a short one -day trip. For example, to a tiny island with a chapel of San Juan de Gastelugache. It is connected to the land with a bizarre ancient man-made stone staircase and looks like a place from some fantasy film, so it is not surprising that he lit up in the “Game of Thrones” and in the “Dragon House”. To reach the island, you will have to overcome 241 steps.
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication.
