Spain

Famous for the sun, sea, beaches and tapas. But surely as popular for it's culture, history and beautiful countryside...

An unique destination, due to its rich history and cultural heritage, diverse landscape and varied gastronomy. Here you will find green, hilly country side with pastures and small fishing harbours to the mountains with permanent snow, like the Sierra Nevada or the Pyrenees. From the steep rocky coast to the busy beaches of the Costa's, from the worldly towns to the small middle ages villages inland.

The diversity and the contrasts which characterize Spain can also been seen in the culture. The country is strewn with interesting cultural sights, each with it's own influences: Celtic, Iberian, Greek-Roman, Moors.

The Spanish people enjoy a lively culture, with it's many folk festivals and in the music and dance (think of the 'Flamenco' in Andalusia or the somewhat gentler Sardana in Cataluña), each region with it's own festivals and customs. On top of which Spain has excellent cuisine: olives & olive oil, tapas, fish and shell fish paella, wine, sherry and above all a many sided local gastronomy.

Basque Country

The Basque Country borders with the Cantabrian and Burgos provinces to the west, the Bay of Biscay to the north, France and Navarre to the east and La Rioja (the Ebro River) to the south. The territory has three distinct areas, that are defined by the two parallel ranges of the Basque Mountains. The main range of mountains forms the water divide of the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins. The highest point of the range is in the Aitzkorri massif (1551 m). The three areas are:

The Atlantic Basin

Formed by many valleys with short rivers that flow from the mountains to the Bay of Biscay, like the Nervión, Urola or Oria. The coast is rough, with high cliffs and small inlets. The main features of the coast are the Bilbao Abra Bay and the Estuary of Bilbao, the Urdaibai estuary and the Bidasoa-Txingudi Bay that forms the border with France.

The Middle

Between the two mountain ranges, the area is occupied mainly by a high plateau called Llanada Alavesa (Álava plains) where the capital Gasteiz is located. The rivers flow in southern direction from the mountains to the Ebro river. Main rivers are Zadorra and Bayas river.

The Ebro Valley

From the southern mountains to the Ebro, is the so called Rioja Alavesa, that shares the Mediterranean characteristics of other Ebro Valley zones, here is produced part of the Rioja wine.

The Basque mountains form the water divide and mark also the distinct climatic areas of the Basque Country: The northern valleys, in Biscay and Gipuzkoa and also the valley of Ayala in Álava, are part of the Green Spain, where oceanic climate is predominant, with its wet weather all year round and moderate temperatures. Precipitation average is about 1200 mm.

Basque cuisine is an important part of Basque culture. According to the Michelin guide, the third best restaurant in the world is located in San Sebastian. The most popular dishes there are the seafood, fish (for example Marmitako) and the "Pintxos", bar fingerfood. Basque food is one of the reasons for tourism to the Basque Country, especially the "pintxos". A frequent way to socialize is "ir de pintxos" or txikiteo, Basque version of pub crawl.