Brief introduction The first recorded record of the manufacture of fire arms in Eibar and the Basque lands dates from 1482. The document mentions a batch of two lombards manufactured in Eibar by order of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. As an anecdote it remains to say that the transfer of these cannons from Eibar […]
Woodpigeons hunting in the heart of the Basque Country, on the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains Every fall, whenever the wind blows from the north or east, the sky of Etxalar witnesses the passing of thousands of pigeons. More than 600 years ago, a shepherd got into the habit of throwing stones at them. Seeing […]
The weather in the Basque Country and Northern Spain is different than the rest of Spain. The typical weather a tourists thinks of when they travel to Spain is dry and sunny, and it is true, but not in the north. On the Cantabrian coast the weather is cooler and rainy due to the Atlantic […]
Hello everyone! I want to tell you about Ernest Hemingway. Surely many of you have read some of his masterpieces, such as “The sun also rises”, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” or “The Old Man and the Sea”. But did you know that Hemingway had a very special relationship with Spain? Yes, friends, this genius […]
Today I want to talk to you about the San Fermin festival, one of the most popular and fun celebrations in the world. Do you know what they consist of and why they are held? Well, keep reading, I’m going to tell you all about it. The festivities of San Fermin are held every year […]
As we have said many times, la rioja is not only wine, it also has great attractions such as its rich heritage and nature. This time we did a very nice tour around the area of Haro and Briñas. We were able to taste some of the best wines in the area and eat a […]
Sold for 1600€ to Rekondo restaurant in San Sebastian This first specimen (lehenbiziko in Basque language) was caught in the Bidasoa river by a local fisherman and was bought as is tradition by the Rekondo restaurant in San Sebastian. The specimen weighed 4.4 kg and was caught by spoon at the Endarlatsa dam. The Atlantic […]
Pottok or Pottoka Pottoka is a breed from the Basque Country. It is a slender and strong animal. Very well adapted to the environment of Euskal Herria and at the same time reinforced and molded as a result of this special environment. Inhabiting our mountains and valleys since the Paleolithic Era (40,000 B.C.). The beautiful […]
Traditional Basque sheep’s milk cheese There are 3 types of Basque cheeses on both sides of the Pyrenees that are made from raw sheep’s milk. On the Spanish Basque side we have the Idiazabal and Roncal cheeses. In both cases these cheeses obtain their milk from the Latxa sheep, a species of sheep from the […]
San Sebastian is known worldwide for its gastronomy and its beaches but it is also important to highlight its cultural and artistic offer. In this case we want to focus on the artistic offer of the region of San Sebastian. In the city are scattered different works of Basque artists such as Eduardo Chillida, Jorge […]
Fly fishing in the Basque Country It was a mid-July day in the Basque mountains. The summer has been very rainy this year 2021 so the river was flowing beautifully with plenty of water. This day I was guiding my guest and friend Bill from California. In a shallow area of fast flowing, oxygenated water […]
I always say that in La Rioja there are more things than wineries and wine. It is a land with an impressive historical and natural heritage. In this case our client wanted to make a recording playing her instrument. For this she needed a special place with good acoustics and that was unique for its […]
In this tour besides enjoying the beauty of the French Basque coast we will also enjoy its gastronomy. We will focus on the gastronomy offered by the traditional French markets. In these markets you can find from the typical cheeses of the region to fresh oysters brought from the neighboring bay of Arcachon. Truffles, fish […]
Top tours San Sebastian 2022 In this video we can see some of the most special and unique places in the Basque Country. Some scenes have been shot in San Sebastian, also Bayonne in the French Basque Country, La Rioja and more.
This is a recipe that first appeared in the recipe book of “La Nicolasa” in the 1920s. La Nicolasa was a cheff who had a restaurant in San Sebastian named after her. At home this book edited in the 1920’s is like a bible. It is a bit broken and out of its time but […]
Elkano from Getaria is the most universal Basque sailor This is the story of the Spanish expedition that in 1519 left Seville for the Spice Islands in the Moluccas. The difficulty of the voyage is that they would reach their destination sailing westward, since Portugal controlled navigation in Africa and the Indian Ocean. It was […]
Pheasant with grapes is a simple recipe to cook this bird that can sometimes be a little dry. With this recipe it is very juicy. The key is to marinate it for 3 days in an airtight bag used to preserve food. The first thing to do is to clean the pheasant, remove the guts […]
“Percebe” in Spanish and “lamperna” in basque Goose barnacles in the Basque Country is one of those strange things that are eaten in northern Spain. It is a seafood that grows on the most exposed rocks of the North Atlantic Ocean from Portugal and northern Spain to the coasts of France and the United Kingdom. […]
Sometimes the weather in San Sebastian can be very adverse. The city is located in front of the Atlantic Ocean, so sea storms have a strong impact on the city. It is spectacular to see the waves crashing against the walls of the city but although it is a very dangerous spectacle. Every year some […]
Iberian ham introduction In Spain when we buy a ham we don’t mess around. We buy a whole leg and put it in the kitchen. There’s nothing better than this and it’s usually done in Christmas. The ham has to be Iberian race and fed with acorns. This is the best ham in the world. […]
This recipe of roasted pigeon is from one of the best cheffs in San Sebastian, Juan Mari Arzak. If you like this kind of food don´t forget to taste it next time you come back. Ingredients for 4 people 4 pigeons, 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil, salt, and white pepper. For the Porto and liquorice […]
Wood pigeon or wild dove introduction. In these latitudes autumn is a special season for diffrent rasons. At this time the trees lose their leaves and the days become shorter. It is the time to enjoy nature, and hunting is a very popular activity in the Basque Country. The wild pigeon hunting (“paloma torcáz” or […]
Mushrooms time Autumn in the Basque Country is a time of many colors and flavors. It is the time to pick grapes in the vineyards, it is the time for hunting migratory birds such as pigeons and it is also the time to pick up mushrooms in the woods. A gastronomic combination that cannot be […]
Fishing in the heart of the Pyrenees in Spain, surrounded by mountains from 3000 to 3400m. The highest peak is Mount Aneto at 3404m. It belongs to La Maladeta massif. It is a unique and very well preserved place. This area of the Pyrenees is not exploited so it retains all its natural beauty. This […]
The “makila” is the traditional basque stick that besides its practical use, is a cultural symbol of authority and strength. For example, it is used in political appointments in the Basque Country. The head of the Basque state, the lehendakari, is sworn in and given the “makila”. Hand-made piece Beñat Alberdi from his workshop in […]
Inspirock Trip Planner https://www.inspirock.com/spain/san-sebastian-donostia/san-sebastian-trips-a8246012267 Top tours in the Basque The Basque country is a land of contrasts. To the north, mountainous landscapes facing the sea, typical of the Atlantic climate. On the other side, in the south there is a predominance of wheat fields and vineyards, more typical of the Mediterranean climate. It also has […]
Simple way to cook fresh fish in the Basque Country. It is possible to cook the fish in a charcoal barbacue or in the oven. Both ways is necessary a strong heat. Drizzle sun flower oil all over the fish. Do the same with the sea salt and if you want add a little bit […]
Xoldokogaina mountain is located in the border between France and Spain. This location can be considered like the heart of the Basque Country. It is 15 minutes from San Sebastian and 15 minutes from Biarritz. From the summit is possible to see both cities and the Pyrenees mountains. There is a fantastic view over Larrhune […]
This past season has been very successful. Our customers left very satisfied. We’ve had days of many catches. Brown and rainbow trout in a unique natural environment. We have fished in the rivers of the Basque mountains and in the Pyrenees. The fishing modalities have been fly-fishing and spinning. Not far from San Sebastian we […]
Outside the traditional route This year we have had the opportunity to show our customers unique places in La Rioja. Places located outside of the most visited routes and it makes a wine tour become something much more special. From my point of view, some places in La Rioja cannot be missed. Medieval fortresses, 10th […]
This season we had unforgettable moments with our customers. One of them and perhaps the most exciting was when sailing only half a mile from San Sebastan we spotted white dorsal fins. I wasn’t sure what I had seen so I discussed it with my colleague Enrique. He confirmed it to me. He had also […]
Peñas de Aia, the 1st mountain of the Pyrenees One of the visually spectacular elements of San Sebastián is its unique setting between the mountains and the sea. One of these mountains, Peñas de Aia, is a mere 15 kilometers from San Sebastian. It is approximately 850 meters (about half a mile) high. It is […]
