Valle de Baztan

Biarritz, on France's Basque coast, blends seaside resort tradition with surf culture. In the 19th century, largely due to Empress Eugénie, the town became a meeting place for European nobility. Today, villas, the Grande Plage, and the *Rocher de la Vierge* define the cityscape. Besides renowned surf spots, there's the *Musée de la Mer*, an oceanarium dedicated to the Atlantic. From the Phare de Biarritz, you look out over the coast to the Pyrenees. Spring and autumn are quieter than mid-summer. You'll find Basque specialties in the market hall Les Halles.

Navarra in northern Spain is a region of contrasts, extending from the Pyrenees to the semi-desert of Bardenas Reales. It has a long history as an independent kingdom, a vibrant culture, and is located along a central section of the Camino de Santiago. Here you will find medieval towns, green valleys, and the internationally renowned Sanfermines in Pamplona.

Navarra's capital is internationally renowned for the Sanfermines and its July bull runs. Year-round, the old town, historical fortifications, and vibrant food scene are well worth a visit.

San Sebastián (Basque Donostia) is a coastal city in the Basque Country on La Concha Bay. Worth the trip for the city beach La Concha between Monte Urgull and Miramar Palace, the Pintxo bars of the Old Town, and a cuisine earning the city the reputation for more Michelin stars per square meter than any other.

On the coast near Zumaia, the Flysch Route exposes geological layers that document many millions of years of Earth's history. The steeply uplifted rock layers shape an impressive cliff coast, which belongs to the UNESCO Geopark of the Basque Coast.