Search results
Biscay is bordered by the community of Cantabria and the province of Burgos (in the Castile and León community) to the west, the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa to the east, and Álava to the south, and by the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) to the north.
- Overview
- Day one: Beaches & biosphere exploration
- Day two: Religious history & forest art
- Go further: Basque Mythology
- Top five local specialities
- Top three viewpoints
Visitors to northeastern Spain rarely make it to this little-explored Basque region curled around Bilbao, where sandy coves, rock hermitages and mythology-soaked hills beckon adventurous souls.
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Anchored by the city of Bilbao, the Basque province of Biscay in northern Spain encompasses some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and one of Spain’s most distinctive cultures. Forest-covered mountains hide alpine cabins and religious sanctuaries where Christianity rubs shoulders with pagan Basque mythology, while the coastline is peppered with coves, caves and islands. The region is also spared the blistering heat of southern Spain and there’s just enough rain to keep the countryside a glittering emerald green. And those who prefer not to fly can reach Biscay easily via the twice-weekly ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao.
Food is another highlight. The Cantabrian Coast delivers a rich bounty of seafood — eels, cod and anchovies are particularly celebrated — that’s put to magnificent use in the region’s many acclaimed restaurants. Basque people are fiercely independent and proud of their cultural heritage — which is evident in local kitchens. Join the locals in a txikiteo (bar-hopping, while munching on pintxos and quaffing Basque white wine), and you’ll be welcomed as an old friend.
Morning
Where the suburbs of Bilbao meet the Bay of Biscay, marvel at the mighty Vizcaya Bridge, the world’s first transporter bridge. The towering span of latticed metal was built in 1893 to transport iron across the River Nervión. Pick up an audio guide at the ground-level information centre to learn about the region’s rich iron-mining heritage, then ascend in a lift for views of the medieval towns of Getxo and Portugalete.
Continue north east to the surfers’ beach at Sopela, pausing to admire rock formations known as flysch, which line the sand. Tectonic activity has caused the rock layers to splay outward, concertina-like. Take a refreshing dip before a seafood lunch at beachside El Peñón restaurant.
Afternoon
After lunch, drive 45 minutes east to the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, an estuary region where land meets sea in a shifting mandala of sandbanks, oak forests and salt marshes. Tour operator Hegaluze runs boat trips from the pretty medieval harbour town of Bermeo to sea coves and the remains of a Franciscan hermitage on the island of Ízaro. Today, you’ll find only cormorants and gulls pecking among the ruins. Another route leads from the craggy Cape of Matxitxako to the islet of Gaztelugatxe, its coast riddled with rock arches. Disembark to ascend a winding stairway to a terracotta-roofed chapel. The coastline is also a good place for beaked, sperm and pilot whale sightings between April and October.
Evening
Morning
Begin your exploration of Biscay’s forested interior with a visit to Bosque de Oma, where artist Agustín Ibarolla has created a forest art installation by painting tree trunks with colourful plants, animals and geometric patterns. The work reflects humanity’s relationship with nature — something you can also marvel at in the nearby Santimamiñe Caves, its walls adorned with paintings of bison, deer, horses and bears dating back 14,000 years.
From here, drive east for half an hour to the Hermitage of San Miguel de Arretxinaga, where a chapel has been built around three huge boulders. The church lies on the famous Camino del Norte pilgrimage route. Walk a stretch of it before lunch.
Afternoon
Head back to the coast and the pretty town of Lekeitio for a Basque feast at Egaña. The restaurant specialises in traditional food. Dishes vary according to the availability of ingredients, but might include baby squid in its own ink or mamia, a curdled sheep’s curd dessert.After lunch, take a walk along Lekeitio’s waterfront, lined with colourful 19th-century buildings, and then pop in to the Basílica de la Asunción de Santa María, whose golden Flemish-gothic altarpiece, depicting the life of Jesus in gilded panels, is one of the most impressive sights in Biscay. Afterwards, make for the local beach to swim, sunbathe or rent kayaks or standup paddleboards from UR Lekeitio.
Evening
Symbols and carvings
Within the Atxondo Valley, you’ll notice a symbol resembling a propeller adorning the front of many of the houses. Known as the lauburu, this is the most famous symbol of Basque culture, said to predate the arrival of Christianity. It’s one of many ancient esoteric symbols on show throughout the region. At the Necropolis of Argiñeta and Chapel of San Ádrian, just outside the walled medieval town of Elorrio, pagan carvings still sit side by side with Christian inscriptions and symbols. The former has a sacred grove of trees enclosing a remarkable collection of sarcophagi, dating to the seventh century, while the latter houses pagan astral carvings beneath a crucifix.
Atxondo Valley
Christianity came to the Basque Country as early as the seventh century, but the old gods never really left. That’s just as well, because they make up a vivid cast of characters who add colour and life to the region’s already vibrant natural and cultural landscapes. Mari, the goddess of the Basques, is said to dwell in a cave near the summit of Anboto, a mighty limestone peak that looms over the Atxondo Valley. This is a popular place with mountain bikers and hikers, dotted with alpine cottages and celebrated restaurants in villages such as Arrazola. As you explore the trails, cast your eyes to the top of the mountain, where Mari and her consort, Sugaar, are said to summon storms and preside over witches’ sabbaths.
Izenaduba Basoa
The story of Olentzero, the regional equivalent of Santa Claus, is a vivid example of Basque Christian-pagan fusion. Olentzero is depicted as a mythical giant in the garb of an old peasant man, who comes down from the mountains bearing presents each Christmas Eve. In the town of Mungia, a beautifully preserved 16th-century farmhouse called Izenaduba Basoa is said to be the home of Olentzero. It’s been turned into a kind of theme park for Basque mythology, with costumed characters and interactive displays telling the story of many of the region’s most famous characters, from Mari and Olentzero to Basajaun, a hairy wild man of the woods, and Tartalo, a one-eyed giant.
1. Idiazabal
The milk of the long-haired Latxa and Carranzana sheep, which graze the Biscay hillsides, is used to produce this hard cheese with a smoky, nutty flavour. It’s often served with quince jelly — a delicious way to round off any Basque feast.
2. Percebes
They don’t look very appetising — rather like a dog’s foot, in fact — but pull open the scaly exterior of these goose-neck barnacles and you’ll find delicious, salty flesh within; a pure taste of the ocean to rival the best oysters. They’re dangerous to harvest, and as such are a prized delicacy.
3. Kalimotxo
Red wine and cola may not sound like the most obvious combination, but that’s exactly what stars in this surprisingly refreshing drink. It was invented, so the story goes, in the Old Port of Algorta, close to Sopela, when festival organisers worried they were going to run out of wine.
1. Mirador de las Tres Cruces
Urkiola Natural Park has some of Biscay’s most impressive alpine hiking trails. For the best viewpoint, walk the forest path from the Sanctuary of Urkiola to the Mirador de las Tres Cruces, where three huge crosses frame mighty mountain views.
2. Balcony of Biscay
The Balcón de Bizkaia viewpoint is in the foothills of Mount Oiz on the outskirts of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Just off the BI-3231, it’s easily reached by car and promises an abundance of hilly, forested countryside where, legend has it, witches gather after nightfall.
3. Ermita de San Pedro de Atxarre
The lookout point from the summit of Mount Atxarre, near the town of Ibarrangelu, is enough to inspire religious fervour in even the sternest non-believer. The climb to the 15th-century hermitage of San Pedro is steep in places, but commands majestic views over oak woodlands.
We arrive in Bilbao which is the capital of the province of Biscay and one of the largest cities in the Basque Country with 350,000 inhabitants (1 million in the mainland). It is a place rich in colors and flavors, with an attractive cultural and night life !
Mar 22, 2021 · The Basque Country is one of Europe’s oldest and strongest cultures. It encompasses the region located in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay at the western end of the Pyrenees mountain range, straddling the frontier between southern France and Spain.
Discover the province of Biscay through 8 charming towns. The best selection for enjoying the authentic flavour of the Basque Country.
Biscay is a province in the north of the Basque Country on the Spanish side. It is a surprising region, both innovative and authentic. Its capital, Bilbao, is in his image. A renovated, modern and ...
People also ask
Where is the Basque province of Biscay?
Where is the Basque Country located?
Where is Biscay located?
How many provinces are in the Basque Country?
Introduction to the Province of Biscay Biscay, (also known as Viscaya or Bizkaia), is a province on the Cantabrian north coast of Spain. It is part of the Basque, or Pais Vasco, region and has always been a place of strategic and commercial importance because of its harbour at Bilbao at the mouth of he River Nervion.
