Amongst all the regions and communities in Spain, the Basque Country has something unique unmatched elsewhere. It rapidly captures your heart and creates unforgettable memories within those who dare to explore it, guided by curiosity and respect.
To me, after living and wandering around Spain for a year and a half, this is one of the best Slow Travel destinations I have been to since I started to travel the world. Its features and extraordinary location make it an unmissable place to explore if you ever plan to visit Spain.
Are you still wondering why you should visit it? Then, let me guide you through why I enjoyed the Spanish-basque country more than anywhere else in Spain.
How did I end up visiting the Spanish Basque Country?
A desire for something new
During a humid day in early spring, I was chatting with a friend of mine about the three-week holiday we had in common in June. As it had been a while since we hadn’t seen each other, we decided it would be the perfect time to travel together.
However, we didn’t know where to go. The only sure thing was that we wanted to travel slowly, had a car, some camping gear, and a strong desire to explore new places and surf.
He and I are what we could call some adventurers. We enjoy contact with nature, are good with a slight amount of comfort, and both are under budget. After an entire evening debating where our El Dorado would be, we agreed on one destination, which would be one of the best choices we have ever made: we were going to the Spanish Basque Country.
The reputation of the Spanish Basque Country
Overall, this choice was the result of several factors. We had heard a lot about this land in Spain, him spending a weekend there and me, who had never stepped on this yet unknown territory.
But, its reputation had charmed us enough to give it a shot. We have heard and read about luxurious nature, unique political systems, and many surf spots. We had already created an entire image of what our trip could look like. However, we were far from expecting what we would truly witness once traveling. The surprises we’ve seen, the people we have met, and the experiences we had the chance to live highly exceeded my expectations, even those from my wildest dreams.
Planning a whole trip
Two months-ish later, we are packing our camping gear and backpacks, trying to make everything fit into the trunk of my car. There is even enough space inside the car to put our boards, a slight relief from preparation. After a last-minute check, we are ready to embark on this unique Spanish-Basque country itinerary to create some of the best memories we still have together.
The goal is to slowly reach the Southwest point of France and cross the border to the Spanish Basque country. Once there, we have a few spots where we would like to go, but the mindset is to let things flow, guided by curiosity and spontaneity. Therefore, four days later, after having enjoyed the French side of the Basque country, we finally reached the starting point of our most wanted destination.
My First Impression of the Spanish Basque Country
We arrived in the Spanish Basque country by the Col des Veaux, a mountain pass sitting astride between France and Spain, and at that point, I was already amazed. I mean, there was no better point and first impression Mother Nature could give me about our destination.
Luxurious vegetation was spreading around us, ranging from huge tree ferns to other varieties of vegetation. The sun was shining above our heads, although we could see the mist away, which would come at us in a few hours.
On our way, we had stopped at a random house with a sign on its walls saying “Cheese to sell”, and had stopped there to buy a kilo of locally made goat cheese from an adorable lady. Finally, upon arrival, slightly before reaching the high and invisible border, we had to slalom between wild horses roaming freely in this part of the Pyrenees.
My first impression of the Spanish Basque Country was definitely out of this world, in a positive way. As a Slow Traveller, I had the impression that, somehow, everything I cared about was gathered at this exact moment. The best part? It was only the beginning of many surprises and adventures.
What makes the Spanish Basque Country stand out from the rest of Spain?
During the next three weeks, we wandered all along the coast, venturing from time to time more inland to immerse deeper in local culture and escape the crowds. Each day brought something different, new places, people, food, or landscapes, with the same common point: we enjoyed every second.
He and I had traveled quite a lot in Spain, even living for my part in Valencia for 7 months. Nevertheless, what we felt during this journey was above everything we had lived in this country. Here are a few reasons to give you a glimpse behind the why, trying to transmit the best I can about what makes the Spanish Basque Country stand out from the rest of Spain.
Its Nature
The climate and weather in this part of Spain, ranging from Irun to the West of Bilbao and the North of Logrono, is unique. There is this unexpected balance between enough humidity, rain, and sun to make it enjoyable almost all year while ensuring green landscapes everywhere.
Nature is luxurious and abundant, with a wide diversity of landscapes all around. Green stretches expand everywhere, either used by farmers or untamed areas to wander. You can hike in the Basque mountains up to 1550 meters above sea level and witness the Ocean from the top of a few summits.
Then, if you go down, you will face one of the wild coasts. These last ones offer a breathtaking painting of sharp cliffs facing the tumultuous waves in an eternal fight, trying to break the other’s will.
Finally, how not to mention the numerous beaches, some sandy and others rocky. We chased them, looking for places with good waves, and oftentimes, we were rewarded by unforgettable views and environment. Simply put, I had the impression of exploring a place where nature was still wild, pushed by a desire to do it responsibly.
Its people
How not to talk about the Basques people? They are the soul and essence of the place itself for many reasons. If you are traveling slowly and curious as we did, I can only promise good surprises and meetings with locals. Overall, they are eager to share their culture and story with whoever is willing to listen to them.
From the interactions I had, I could feel how proud the Basques are when it comes to their culture and knowledge. They speak an old language only they know about, preserving it from disappearing.
Welcoming, they share their joie de vivre by emphasizing the return to simple things: friends, family, nature, and conviviality. Plus, meeting and getting to know Basque inhabitants is the chance to dive deeper into the renowned local festive spirit. For a Basque, many good reasons exist as an excuse to party.
This land is famous for its festivals, such as Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the San Sebastián Day. By participating in these festivities, you will have a firsthand experience of their lively community spirit and deep-rooted traditions.
Its History
The Spanish Basque Country has a bloody and interesting history. Its people, proud of their differences and heritage, had their government and president until Franco’s reign. This last one fought them until his death, perceiving a potential threat to their abilities to differentiate themselves from the rest of Spain. He made laws for the Basque teaching to be punished, whether it was the language, traditions, or display.
Fortunately, and despite this pressure, the Euskera, the Basque language, had survived throughout the years thanks to the courage and determination of its people. Nowadays, it is blossoming again by being taught in many schools along with several other Basque traditions. The Euskal Herria (Basque Country) is rising from one of its hardest periods, showing the resilience and love its inhabitants have for their identity and history.
Its Food
Playing a big part in their culture is their love for food. First of all, they serve big portions, and I loved it. What shocked me was the relationship they seemed to have with the land and sea. It is hard to explain, but I had the impression that most products, almost everywhere, were of good quality, organic, and fresh, besides being locally sourced.
The taste of everything was amazing, and they have a wide range of local specialties such as sparkling cider, Txuleton, or pintxos available in different forms (olive, cheese, anchovy, and sweet pepper skewered on a tiny stick) and sometimes used to design the famous Spanish tapas. There are many more to try, but I will leave the surprise to you.
Some of my best memories from this trip
I have many memories from this adventure in the Spanish Basque Country, and it is hard to select a few ones to give you a visual overview of what could await you once there. However, I liked the challenge and thus went diving into my pictures stock to select what I believed would help you to understand why I like this part of Spain more than any others.
Guernica
Located inland, Guernica is famous for Picasso’s painting standing as a powerful political statement in reaction to the Nazi’s bombing of the city during the Spanish civil war in 1937. However, what amazed me was different.
Right after I arrived, a group in front of a church spiked my curiosity. I approached them and directly got invited to share a beverage and toast with them. Two old ladies took me under their wings and led me into town, where a local festivity was happening. There, I had the opportunity to exchange with locals, be part of a traditional parade, and witness how the ancient tradition of a local lemonade was resurrected thanks to locals’ efforts.
This day stays in my memory as the one when I could immerse myself in local culture as a temporary neighbor.
Mutriku
After a proper surfing session in Deba, we decided to explore the nearby town of Mutriku. We wandered in the harbor, understanding its crucial role in the city’s past, present, and future while exploring the surroundings. A proper fishermen’s vibe was emanating from this place.
Therefore, we decided to eat a meal out of the sea for lunch. But, it was absolutely out of the question to get something else than a locally sourced product freshly fished. In our quest, we asked two gentlemen who indicated a local restaurant to us, the best in town according to their claim.
We headed to one called Piperren Txokoa, and it was an absolute banger! Easily one of the best fish I have ever tried. Later on, we let our steps be guided by the wind and ended up on a wild beach, which gave us the impression of being ants amongst giants made of rocks. The icing on the cake?
When going up a different way, we arrived at a local bar overhanging the Ocean where a band was playing orchestral and joyful music. We sat there and enjoyed the next hour, a perfect slow travel day.
Should you give a shot to the Basque Country in Spain?
When this journey came to an end, I realized that after having visited many places and lived in some of them, I had enjoyed the Spanish Basque country more than anywhere else in Spain. The diversity this land offers to every traveler, its food, people, landscapes, and history make a fascinating mix I couldn’t wait to dive into again.
It is definitely an area I advise any slow traveller to visit. You will have a travel experience like never before and create unforgettable memories regardless of your center of interest.
I am grateful for this overall trip I had the chance to undertake and hope I will inspire others about this territory where traditions and stories are well-kept but warmly shown to those guided by curiosity and respect.
Wander with purpose – Connect with heart.
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Ulysse, the voice behind this article, runs SlowSightSoul where he shares his adventures into a world of thoughtful and slow exploration.
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