The Basque Country in Spain and France - wine, unique cuisine and distinctive identity

Departure from Sofia to Frankfurt 06:20 with Lufthansa flight. Landing at 07:50 and continuation to Bilbao at 10:50. Land in Bilbao at 13:00 and transfer to Logroño, the bustling capital of the Spanish wine region of La Rioja and an important historical crossroads on the French pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés).
Accommodation at Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja 4*.
A first walking tour follows to two of the most famous churches in the historic, Episcopal centre of Logroño: the Iglesia de Santiago el Real, one of the oldest surviving churches in the city, and the Santa María de La Redonda Co-Cathedral, preserving masterpieces by Italian and Flemish Renaissance artists. This is also our first stop on the Camino de Santiago in the Autonomous Community and Province of Rioja. We continue the walk along the main square „Plaza del Mercado“ known for its rich wine history, exclusive bars with appetizers „pinchos“ (tapas). Free time for dinner in one of the many restaurants, and bistros. Logroño is a town where tradition meets modernity with an emphasis on gastronomy, wine and as a stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Overnight.

Depart for the heart of the Rioja wine region for the so-called „Wine City“, a complex designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, which combines tradition with avant-garde design suitable for wine tourism. Visit to „Bodegas Marqués de Riscal“, a historic and innovative Spanish winery founded in 1858 in Elsiego (Rioja Alavesa) famous for producing classic Rioja wines. The winery is also famous for its architectural landmark, a building designed by Frank Gehry that houses the Marqués de Riscal Hotel and Winery, symbolizing modernity and tradition.
- Welcome to the world of Deconstructionism !
The wine estate, famous for its iconic Reserva and Gran Reserva wines and for bringing French winemaking techniques to Rioja, is becoming a benchmark for quality Spanish wine production. A visit and tasting follows.
Included lunch in the estate's summer garden restaurant with delicious lamb a la Rioja and dessert.
Depart for the heart of the province of Navarre and the main city of Pamplona, famous for the festival (in July) in honour of the city's patron saint, „Saint Fermin“. Walking tour and free time along the ancient streets of the city where the traditional „Running of the Bulls“ takes place to the arena for holding the corrida described so well in the books of the great Hemingway.
Continue to the beautiful Basque coastal town of San Sebastian (Donostia in Basque), famous for its food and beaches, serving as a popular starting point for the Camino del Norte (Northern Way), part of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) pilgrimage route leading to Santiago de Compostela.
Hotel accommodation NH Collection San Sebastian Aranzazu 4*.

Today is dedicated to the beautiful city, located on the shores of a uniquely beautiful bay and filled with picturesque streets, cultural experiences and culinary delights.
- Welcome to San Sebastian !
The walking tour of the historic centre of San Sebastian (UNESCO) starts with an experienced local guide, guaranteeing a complete immersion in the culture, history and beauty of this amazing Basque city. We begin with a visit to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (Catedral del Buen Pastor), a symbol of the city's faith and pilgrim heritage, en route to Santiago de Compostela. It is here that a network of historic pilgrimage routes converge: one along the Basque coast towards Santiago de Compostela and another running south through Leon, Burgos and back to the City of St James. We continue our walk through the charming streets of the Old Town, where we will find hidden squares, charming shops and traditional bars with local culinary flavours. An afternoon stroll along the stunningly beautiful La Concha Bay, one of Europe's iconic urban beaches, will give us a glimpse of its fascinating history and its importance to the locals. Free time and overnight.

A full-day excursion to the French part of the ancient Basque country - Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz and Bayonne. On the way to Biarritz, we will make our first stop in the French part of the Basque lands in the port town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Although it has only 15,000 inhabitants, it became famous for an extraordinary event: it was here on 9 June 1660 that the French King Louis XIV was married to the Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain. A visit to the unique neo-Gothic church of Saint John the Baptist where the solemn ceremony of the marriage took place follows.
The church is part of the atmosphere and cultural heritage of the Basque Country, and it is here that some pilgrims begin their journey before joining the French Camino.
Departure for Biarritz and Bayonne. The two cities share a common history, forming a single urban area with an intertwined Basque heritage but distinct identities: Bayonne is the historic capital, a river port known for its medieval centre and its status as a „City of Art and History“, while Biarritz has evolved from a fishing village into a glamorous seaside resort known for its surfing adventures and Belle Époque architecture. Both cities thrive thanks to their Atlantic coast location and shared Basque culture.
The walking tour in glamorous Biarritz will start with the Rock of the Virgin (Rocher de la Vierge) an impressive rock composition connected to the coast by a metal footbridge, on which a statue of the Virgin Mary is consecrated, commemorating the miraculous return of the whalers during a storm in the 19th century and offering exceptional panoramic views of the Bay of Biscay.
We continue the walk along the promenade of the resort with the emblematic buildings of the Casino Biarritz and the Hotel du Palais. The charming streets of the old town will lead us to the gastronomic heart of the city - the Halls of Biarritz and the street „Les Halles“ with its many bistros and restaurants for seafood and Basque specialties.
Transfer to the nearby town of Bayonne, where Basque, Gascon and maritime cultures intersect. The town is famous for its historical heritage, river port and gastronomy (ham, chocolate, chilli peppers). Walk around the citadel of Bayonne, designed by the famous military engineer Marquis Vauban, and visit the Cathedral of Bayonne with its cloister, an important stop on the way to Camino de Santiago. Return to San Sebastian. Free time and overnight.

Depart for the Basque coast between San Sebastian and Bilbao, characterised by dramatic green rocky slopes with rugged rock formations and charming fishing villages.
Stop in the coastal town of Zumaia for a photo break and a walk to the Church of San Telmo (patron saint of sailors) a hermitage located high on the cliffs overlooking Itzurun Beach. Memorable is the panoramic view of the Basque coast, the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. It is here that sailors and pilgrims offer their prayers for safe sailing and a successful completion of the Camino de Santiago.
Depart for the town of Guernica (Gernika-Lumo), a legendary place for the Basque Autonomous Community, in Spain, and historic seat of the Basque Provincial Assembly (their Parliament). It is here in this town (17 thousand inhabitants) that the Basque rulers took their oaths - under the Gernikako Arbola tree. The place became world famous after the bombing in 1937 by the German „Legion Condor“ during the Spanish Civil War. Pablo Picasso's famous painting Guernica was inspired by this event, turning the town into a symbol of war and peace. Although the original painting is housed in the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, a ceramic reproduction of this most famous of Picasso's paintings has been placed in one of the city's squares. Today, the building continues to function as an institution for the Basque General Council, restored in 1979, and is a key symbol of Basque identity, history and self-government. Depart for Bilbao and check in at NH Collection Villa de Bilbao 4*.

Departure for the Atlantic part of the Bordeaux region and the Gulf of Arcachon (70 km). Walk along the promenade of the charming resort town and the central square of Arcachon, which combines in its architecture not only French but also many Basque elements. Free time for lunch with the local speciality, the „Oysters of the Bay of Arcachon“. Departure (10 km) for the largest natural dune in Europe, the Dune du Pilat. The climb to the top of the dune will be rewarded with a wonderful panorama of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Arcachon and the forests of Gascony. Return to Bordeaux in the late afternoon.

Lunch transfer to airport for Luffhanza flight to Frankfurt and on to Sofia.
Landing in Sofia. End of the program.