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Voysey House,
Barley Mow Passage
London W4 4GF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8742 3355
USA: 1-800-988-6168
Canada: (647) 382 1644
Australia: 1300 55 95 95
New Zealand: 61-7-3377-0141
Bilbao to Bayonne - Food, Art & Architecture in the Basque Lands
- Long, lazy lunches including two in restaurants with 3 Michelin stars.
- Excellent wines of La Rioja-Alavesa.
- Architecture by Gehry, Calatrava, Moneo and varied landscapes of coast, plain and mountain.
- Three bases: Bilbao, Laguardia, Vera de Bidasoa in the Spanish Pyrenees.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Bilbao—fly at c. 4.30pm from London Heathrow to Bilbao, Calatrava’s spectacular airport—overnight Bilbao.
DAY 2
Bilbao, Laguardia—the morning is spent studying Gehry’s extraordinary titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum—lunch at the restaurant here, part of chef Berasategui’s empire—leave city and industry behind and drive south through increasingly attractive countryside to the undulating plains of the wine-growing region of La Rioja-Alavesa and the mediaeval village of Laguardia—introductory tasting in the hotel cellar—first of two nights in Laguardia.
DAY 3
Marqués de Riscal, Granja de Remelluri, Laguardia—the bodegas of Marqués de Riscal are among the most venerable in the region—visit includes tasting and the cellars of their Gehry-designed hotel (subject to confirmation)—lunch and vineyard walk at the bodegas of Nuestra Señora de Remelluri, installed in 14th-century monastic buildings in countryside—Laguardia is the most picturesque of Riojan villages, perched on a hillock within a circuit of fortified walls—walk the ramparts and see the outstanding 14th-century portal of Sta Maria de los Reyes—overnight Laguardia.
DAY 4
Laguardia, Ordizia, Lasarte, Vera de Bidasoa—the Ysios winery below Laguardia is a magnificent building by Calatrava—tasting of idiazabal in Ordizia, a mediaeval town and the cheese capital of the Basque Country—lunch at Martín Berasategui’s 3 Michelin-star restaurant in Lasarte-Oria—Vera de Bidasoa nestles in the Pyrenean foothills close to the French border—first of four nights in Vera.
DAY 5
France: Ainhoa, Espelette, Bayonne—cross into the French Pyrenees to the spick and span villages of Ainhoa and Espelette with their red and white timbered houses sporting clusters of red peppers, a local speciality—we sample ewe’s milk cheese with cherry compote—encircled by formidable Vauban ramparts and straddling the River Nive, Bayonne is a colourful town with Gothic cathedral, arcaded streets, riverside markets and famed for fish, ham and chocolate—overnight Vera.
DAY 6
San Sebastian—this is the gastronomic capital of Spain, sweeping elegantly around one of the finest beaches on the northern coast—behind the ancient fisherman’s quarter is the compact grid of the old town with a wonderfully harmonious arcaded square at the centre and traffic-free streets lined with bars—a tapas trawl is followed by lunch in a private dining club, a rare privilege (and subject to confirmation)—some free time to see the elaborate historicist architecture of the 19th-century extension and Moneo’s arts centre—overnight Vera de Bidasoa.
DAY 7
Hondarribia, San Sebastian—Hondarribia is a superbly preserved fortified town on an outcrop overlooking the sea—narrow streets, balconied palaces, 14th-century castle, Gothic church—the Eduardo Chillida sculpture museum has large scale works in the park around his country house—return to San Sebastian for lunch at the most famous restaurant in Spain, Arzak—despite its 3 Michelin stars and formidable reputation, it remains very much a family business—overnight Vera.
DAY 8
Drive to Bilbao for the flight to London, arriving Heathrow at c. 3.30pm.
DATES & PRICES
TOUR CONTAINS
TESTIMONIALS
Our lecturer was absolutely outstanding – such a wide range of knowledge – a joy to be with! Of my many MR trips – this was one of the very best.
J.F., Rutland
I particularly enjoyed the Guggenheim and Lasarte Oris.H.H., Kent
Very enjoyable. Excellent guide. Would use Martin Randall again in the future.R.S., Western Australia
The two 3 Michelin star restaurants were incredible – a lifetime’s dream.M.B., Auckland
We liked the mix of cities and small country places, and alternating food and wine tasting with the art and architecture.C. & M. S., Bristol
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