San Sebastian: Day Trips

Biarritz (France)

Nestled just on the other side of the Pyrenees mountain range, Biarritz is a large town and one of the principal resorts on the Côte Basque, and probably the most famous part of the Pays Basque. Biarritz came to fame in the mid 19th Century, when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) fell in love with this part of the Basque country and built a Palace on the beach at Biarritz (which is now the world class Hotel du Palais) and a center with natural springs at Eugenie les Bains in the Landes. Eugenie invited foreign royalty to stay with their entourages and courtiers, queen Victoria of Britain, who came regularly over a period of 30 years, and sundry Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, German, and Russian nobility. The Russians built their own magnificent Orthodox Church next to the Palace. The principle architecture in Biarritz was not typically Basque, but rather a blend of 19th century city residences, large and expansive, made of local stone bricks. If you bought one of these houses now, you would probably find titles such as the Prince, Duke, Baron, Marquee etc. on the title deeds.

Biarritz has a lot more than beautiful buildings to offer today. It's a vibrant & cosmopolitan town with magnificent beaches, golf courses, and numerous sporting facilities, not forgetting the surf. Surfing started in France here in Biarritz and surfers come from all over the world to ride the waves. The Biarritz Surf Festival brings together surfers from Hawaii, California and Australia every year to celebrate the birth of surfing in Biarritz.

Sports and Leisure Options in Biarritz:

Boat hire, canoe and rafting, casino, discos, scuba diving schools, fishing, go carts, golf, 4x4 hire, ice skating, deep sea fishing, sea kayaking, surfing, tennis clubs, water skiing, and wind surfing.

Bilbao

Bilbao, founded in the early 14th century, is the industrial and financial capital of the Basque country. The must see attraction for anyone visiting this city is the amazing new Guggenheim Museum which has been hailed as a masterpiece of 20th century architecture and houses many great works of modern art. The Old Quarter area of Bilbao is filled with Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassic, and Modernist buildings and it is considered the main center of nightlife. In the center of the Old Quarter is the Cathedral of Santiago, a Gothic cathedral built in the 14th century. Bilbao is definitely a worthwhile day trip if all you come to see is the Guggenheim but once there, you will discover that this city has unique shopping, food, and ambiance to offer as well.

Guernica

This small northern Basque city was the bombing sight that Hitler and his Nazi Condor Legion bombarded with over 29,000kg of explosives killing around 2,000 innocent civilians in 1937. Thirty percent of the city was destroyed in 3 hours of bombing. This tragedy was immortalized in Picasso's painting of "Guernica" a twisted horse and Bull representing the anguish and atrocities of war. For someone wanting a rewarding day trip and to learn more about the History and repercussions of this sad event will find a chronicle of the bombing at the Gernika Museoa, sculptures, and parks are dedicated to the remembrance of the event.

Pamplona

During the week of July 6th the San Fermines festival explodes with drinkersand festivalgoers partying around the clock. Participents run with the bulls down narrow side streets swiping at them with a rolled up newspaper or they watch the artistic display of torero from the stands of the Bullring. At any rate the idea is to eat, drink, be merry, and celebrate. No need to find accommodations during this time festivalgoers simply pass-out on the grass in the local parks.

If one is not interested in the mayhem that San Fermines brings, Pamplona can be a relaxing day trip that includes a fine cathedral -the Catedral de Santa Maria- surrounded by exquisite neighborhood houses with elegant facades. The surrounding countryside is soft, green, and cool, accented by lofty Sierras and vineyards.

The city Santander was made famous by King Alfonso XIII in the early 1900s. He constructed his summerhouse on a beautiful peninsula that juts out into the bay giving wanderers an excellent panoramic of the city. Today this area is half amusement park, playground, and zoo. Oddly the small zoo consists of a Polar Bear, Sea Lyons, and Penguins. If you happen to time it right you can watch the Sea Lyons feed. Otherwise the main attraction for any visitor is the beautiful beaches. Other worthwhile sights include the Sardinero neighborhood and the city center that is known for good nightlife.

Vitoria-Gasteiz

The third provincial capital of the Basque region, and also the regionalcapital, is Vitoria. It is famous for being the site of a British victory during the Peninsula War, an event commemorated in various places in the city. Vitoria is remarkable for having two cathedrals; one was completed in the 15th century, whilst the other, on which work commenced in 1907, has yet to be finished. Although Vitoria is a charming city it is a little short on sites of interest. Churches and Cathedrals are primarily what you will find along with palatial houses and excellent museums. Special events during the summer are the Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca during August 4th through the 9th and a Jazz festival in July.

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