Basque Country Hotels Spain

Basque Country The Basque Country is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous community situated in northern Spain. The Basque Country shares its border with Cantabria and the Burgos province to the west, the northern border is with the coast of the Bay of Biscay, to the east are France and Navarre, and La Rioja(across the Ebro River) in the south. The terrain of the Basque County is divided into three distinct areas by two parallel ranges of Basque Mountains. The first area is the Atlantic Basin of many valleys with short rivers flowing from the mountains to the Bay of Biscay. The coast is rough with high cliffs and small inlets.

The Middle Section of the Basque Country is sandwiched between two mountain ranges and comprises the high plateau Llanada Alavesa, where the capital of the region Gastiez is situated. The third area of the Basque Country, from the southern mountains to the Ebro is the Ebro Valley, where some of the Rioja wine is produced. The main cities are the cultural centre of Bilbao, and San Sebastian and are both served by airports – and Bilbao as a port by a direct ferry route.

Tours and visits to the Basque Region most likely will include the famous and spectacular Guggenheim Museo in Bilbao, the Contemporary Art Museum in Gastiez (and its fascinating Old Quarter) , and for those with archeological interest, the archeological excavations at Zarautz of Santa Maria la Real and at the Museum in Irun. Zarautz and Irun are on the coast and have excellent beaches, and the former is renowned for the surfing. There are also some interesting things to see (and consume!) on the Wine Route in the La Rioja Region –the Alava town of Elciego has a wine cellar designed by Frank Gerby –the designer of the Guggenheim Museum – and there are other with innovative architecture to see as well as good wine to sample.