The Basque Country

The northern coast is also called green Spain. Here’s a view that confirms it from just outside the campsite. Notice the vines in the foreground.

The vines here are on steep slopes, and very neat. First assumption is that they are tended by hand, but not so- we saw this specialised tractor going up and down the terraces cutting the grass. The grapes are enveloped in diesel fumes so the wine perhaps develops a unique premium quality. Just don’t light up while you’re sipping.

The campsite is also very green, with many trees. We’re the second unit in on the right. The problem is green = rain, and we had torrents of it towards the end of our stay.

There were some lovely walks from the site, which is on the top of a headland. This is the view down to Zarautz town from one of the paths.

A sign on another path proclaims it was part of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, 400 miles away. Being only 15 miles from the French border, this could have been a main thoroughfare for this popular pilgrimage in the middle ages. In the last few years these old routes have been successfully revived as long distance walking paths.

The ancient small town of Getaria is connected to Zarautz by a 3 mile coastal walkway. We couldn’t park in Zarautz to start the walk so took the car to Getaria instead. Narrow streets with old buildings made it an interesting place to stroll around. Couple of photos next as examples.

It had a nice beach and scenic views of the coast with our campsite headland just visible on the other side of the bay.

The statue next is Juan Sebastian Elacano, born in Getaria, who became the first man to circumnavigate the Globe. Never heard of him? The expedition leader was the famous Magellan for whom Elcano was a navigator. They set out from Spain in 1519 but in 1521 Magellan was killed  by natives in the Philippines; Elcano completed the voyage, having been promoted to captain, arriving back in Spain in 1522. Some lesser crew members also completed the full trip, although most expedition members died from disease, malnutrition or violence like Magellan himself. 

We had passed through, but never stayed, in the Basque region several times previously and were pleasantly surprised by how many interesting places there were, and by the picturesque countryside and craggy coastline. But you do need the weather!