Posts Tagged ‘Basque country’
Surrounded by rolling hills and the flowing Nive in Bidarray, France
We were in this pretty little town in France’s Pays basque region on a cheese-buying mission. We were staying in the coastal town of Guethary and travelling to the picturesque medieval town of Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port, an important stop on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, when we stopped off in tiny Bidarray. A friend who…
Read MoreTurn-of-the-century elegance in San Sebastian, Spain
During our holiday in France’s Pays basque, we also enjoyed crossing into Spain’s Pais vasco. I’ve already written about the regions’s Bilbao and its Guggenheim Museum. We also had an enjoyable tome visiting beautiful San Sebastian – or Donastia, in the Basque language. This elegant city is close to the French border, and was the…
Read MoreA day in elegant Bayonne, France
We loved our family holiday in France’s Pays Basque region – on France’s southwestern Atlantic coast. While there, we explored many interesting Basque cities and towns – and Bayonne was a great place to wander for a day during our travels. Bayonne, slightly north and inland from Biarritz , is worth a visit when you’re…
Read MoreModern medieval pilgrims at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
Sadly, I wasn’t in this picturesque, medieval French town on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, but I loved observing all those lucky fellow travelers who were. I was in postcard-perfect Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on a family holiday to France’s Pays Basque, and I couldn’t miss out on visiting this pretty town along the pilgrimage to Galicia’s…
Read MoreA splendid coastal resort fit for a (Sun) King: Saint-Jean- de-Luz
When we spent a summer holiday in the French Basque town of Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz was the nearest large market town. It also happened to be an architectural gem, situated on a beautiful bay. I’ve already written about the stunning coastal path we took to walk here, the same coastal path that led us 25 km…
Read MoreEnjoying the ‘Sardine Festival’ in Guethary, France
I’ve already written about Guéthary, the Pays basque coastal town where my family and I vacationed last year. One of the last evenings staying in Guéthary, we stumbled onto a sardine festival being held on a panoramic point along the sea, so we decided to join in. We had a great time sitting on picnic…
Read MoreAfter your museum visit – exploring Bilbao, Spain
Last week I wrote about visiting the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. You can see my post here. But after your museum visit is over, you’ll want to make time to stroll down the river and enjoy Bilbao’s old town. Although Bilbao’s medieval old town and its architecture dates back to the XIVth century,…
Read MoreBilbao’s fabulous Guggenheim, Spain
It’s been years I’ve been “meaning to” get to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. A holiday in France’s Basque region provided me with the opportunity to journey across the border into Spain’s Basque country to visit this modern art museum that celebrated its 20th birthday last year. This striking modern architecture was created by…
Read MoreColorful Basque homes & sweet chili peppers in Espelette, France
This adorable Pays basque town not far from the coastline of Biarritz, is beautiful for its typical Basque homes. These etxe homes are white with colored half-timbering. The most common colrors for the half-timbering appear to be red and green, and the town of Espelette is filled with fine examples. This picturesque town is best known…
Read MoreBasque gravestones in southern France
As someone who loves history, I’ve always been drawn to old cemeteries when I visit places. I grew up outside of Boston, and always enjoyed visiting pilgrim cemeteries when I was a kid. In Europe, many of the church cemeteries are quite picturesque and interesting – and this was also true of the little towns…
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