Euskadi!

Euskadi! My World Tour Through Basque Country

The Basque Country is located in northern Spain and southwestern France and is known for its green hills, the rugged Atlantic coast, and its unique culture.

Join me on my journey through the Basque Country, visiting the people, the nature, sites of art and history - and of course, discovering the unique gastronomy of this region.

My journey is not a round trip. As our base camp, we chose Camping Le Pavillon Royal in Bidart, a charming village on the Atlantic coast known for its beautiful beaches and surf culture.

From here, I take excursions to Anglet to see the restoration work on the frigate "L'Hermione", or to Bayonne for a stroll and a visit to the Musée de Pays Basque to get an impression of the region's life and culture.

I also get to see how the famous Bayonne Ham is made and discover the art of artisanal chocolate production.

Biarritz is the elegant seaside resort of the Basque Country. Once a popular destination for European royalty, it still retains a touch of glamour today. Sights include the Rocher de la Vierge, the Aquarium, the 19th-century Biarritz Lighthouse, the neo-Gothic Villa Belza, and the bell on the Plateau de l’Atalaye, which used to signal the arrival of whalers.

Another must-see is La Rhune, the 905-meter local mountain of the Basques. The border between France and Spain runs right here. You can climb the mountain on foot, but I took the historic rack railway to enjoy the panorama from the Pyrenees to the coast while watching the free-roaming Pottock horses.

In Cambo-les-Bains, I visit the Villa Arnaga, home of Edmond Rostand, author of "Cyrano de Bergerac". The house and gardens reflect his inner conflict between the longing for solitude and his penchant for luxury.

Not far from the village of Sare lie the caves of Sare. The Leza cave has been preserved in its original state from 2 million years ago. Huge rooms and traces of our ancestors' daily lives can be visited here.

Culture, many events, varied landscapes, and protected beaches make for an unforgettable time in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Old traditions are still very much alive here - and even though I didn't understand a word of Basque, the atmosphere was captivating.

The final stop on the French side is Hendaye, a town at the mouth of the Bidassoa river, which forms the border with Spain. It features a long sandy beach ideal for families and a unique 1930s Art Deco building.