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Destinations in the Basque Country
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Destinations in the Basque Country
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More information on the Net:
► Euskadi ► Bizkaia ► Lasonet (bilder) ► Oarsoaldea Turismo (Guipúzcoa) ► Bidasoa Activa (Guipúzcoa) ► Bajo Deba Turismo (Guipúzcoa) ► Tolosaldea (Guipúzcoa) ► Goierri (Guipúzcoa) ► Urola Turismo (Guipúzcoa) ► Lea-Artibai Turismo (del av Bizkaia) ► Etnographic Museum of Artziniega (Álava) ► Pyrenees Guide: Basque Country
Restaurants:
► Bergara (50 km west of San Sebastián: (very good restaurant in an old castle) |
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The Basque Country is a lovely region. Most people have heard about The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. But the most interesting town in this area is San Sebastián. And the nature in the Basque Country is just marvellous. But minutes after you have been driving through some beautiful green nature, you will come to an ugly and congested industrial town. The Basque Country has been very industrialised, which has made some of the towns pretty unattractive. Don't let ETA frighten you, they don't attack tourists. But in some smaller towns you will be reminded of the conflict by posters all over the town with the names of imprisoned ETA members. The big attractions are the green and lovely nature, the Guggenheim museum, the lovely beaches and the world gourmet city of San Sebastián.
Behind every destination name below, you'll find the name of the province in parenthesis.
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Azpeitia/Santuario de Loyola (Guipúzcoa)
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Lasonet: Azpeitia (photos) ► The Route of the Three Churches
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St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, was born in this town. The house of his birth, a church and some other buildings are today visited by many tourists. The buildings are located just outside the town of Azpeitia. When visiting Azpeitia, please include a meal at the top restaurant Kiruri Jatetxea. The waitresses are "nun like" and serve delicious food. Accommodation are to be found in the nearby town (8 km) of Cestona-Zestoa. |
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Bilbao (Vizcaya)
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Museo de bellas Artes de Bilbao
Restaurants:
►Andra Mari (one of Spain's best restaurants in the rural outskirts of Bilbao)
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When Bilbao is mentioned, most tourists think of the Guggenheim Museum. Few other modern European buildings has been that important in attracting visitors as the Guggenheim Museum. Before this museum was raised, Bilbao was considered a dull and uninteresting industrial town. Like other former major industrial cities, Bilbao has been renovated lately, but still isn't the most interesting town of Northern Spain. Please don't be fooled by the "Guggenheim effect". Stay some days in San Sebastián and make a day trip to Bilbao. San Sebastián is many times more interesting than Bilbao. Bilbao had an extreme post World War II raise in it's population. But after 1980 the population figure has decreased and today 350 000 live here. |
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Hondarribia - Fuenterrabía (Guipúzcoa)
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Hondarribila: A place to enjoy
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Hondarribia (15 000 inhabitants) is beautiful houses with nice balconies, blue sea, green nature all around and France close by. When staying in San Sebastián, a day trip to Hondarribia is a very good choice. Here are several good accommodation options as well. But don't choose Hondariibia instead of San Sebastián, but in addition to San Sebastián. |
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Laguardia (Álava)
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
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What an enchanting medieval town! Laguardia (1 500 inhabitants) with it's 800 years old city walls is the centre of a wine area (an extension of La Rioja). Here is a couple of good accommodation alternatives. If you drive by, please try lunch at the charming Posada Mayor de Migueloa (accommodation as well). |
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Lasonet: Oñati (photos)
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There are several monumental buildings in Oñati (10 000 inhabitants). The 500 years old university is the most famous building. There are beautiful green nature all around. In this area is the separatist movement (for The Basque Country as an independent nation) very strong. This doesn't mean that you are likely to be hit by an ETA bomb! But posters etc will remind you about the conflict.
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San Sebastián - Donostia (Guipúzcoa)
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Videos from San Sebastián: 1 2 ► Paseos Virtuales: San Sebastián ► Album de Fotos de San Sebastian ► Aquarium Donostia-San Sebastián ► La Perla ► Festival Internacional de Cine ► Jazzaldia Donostia-San Sebastián ► Guardian Unlimited: Is San Sebastián the best place to eat in Europe?
Restaurants:
► Lanziego (extremely good food, good service) (very good food, cosy, excellent service) (good food and service) ► La Perla (fantastic situated at the beach, good food, the service could be better) ► Branka ► Akelare (world class, expensive) ► Arzak (world class, expensive) (world class, expensive) (10 km south of town, very good) (13 km outside the town, one of Spain's best restaurants)
Pubs/Bars:
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San Sebastián is one of Europe's Great Destinations! While most Basque towns became industrial towns, San Sebastián has ever been a city of trade. And as many other such cities, this has meant wealth and great architecture. When strolling around in the central areas of San Sebastián, there are beautiful buildings everywhere. The oldest part of the town (Parte Vieja) consists of 200 years old houses full of delicious restaurants! And dining in San Sebastian is better than in most other cities of the world. It's really difficult to find a restaurant which don't offer superb food. The Michelin stars per square meters is beaten by Paris only! But you don't have to look for Michelin stars to dine well in San Sebastián. Please have a look at the restaurants listed to the left. You will of course find excellent restaurants in big cities like Paris, Barcelona, London etc, but they are much more expensive than the restaurants in San Sebastián. The location and the nature is another of San Sebastiáan's big assets. There are three great beaches in the middle of the town and behind the city the green hills reach the sky. The summer temperature is about 25 degrees Celsius and the evenings are mild as well. But if you want a beach holiday without any rain at all, San Sebastián won't be the right place to go. Most weeks there will some showers, but they don't tend to last for long and if you have a car, you just go some miles inland and there the sun will shine most days. The rain is what makes the nature green and lovely. The La Concha Beach with it's two hotel, Niza og Londres has a magnificent promenade. Londres is a hotel with most wealthy elderly guests. Niza is a hotel owned by an artist and has a younger clientele. Please have a look at the hotels interior to see if it's to your liking. The view from the rooms facing the sea can't be described by words only! Please read more by choosing "Accommodation" at the menu to the left. San Sebastián with it's 200 000 inhabitants do have many tourists during the summer season. In addition to all the fantastic restaurants, here are also several very good bars, pubs and outdoor cafés. We'll just mention Molly Malone and The Whisky Museum. During the day you can bath, play tennis, have a Spa, shop, rent a bike for a city tour and of course eat the most delicious food available on earth. Please browse through the menu to the left with more information about the city, restaurants, bars etc. In September there is a well known Film Festival in San Sebastián, and in July there is a Jazz festival.
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Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava)***
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►Map
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More information on the Net:
► Lasonet: Vitoria (photos) ► Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz
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Virotia-Gasteiz (the Basque towns do have two names, one in Spanish and one in Basque) is the capital of the Basque country. It's an old and pretty city with 220 000 inhabitants. There are many green parks in Vitoria. Both the old and the new town are lovely in this wealthy Basque capital. |
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