Basque Country Highlights

  Txotx, the first cider pouring of the year. It marks the beginning of the cider season in Gipuzkoa  Photo by Mikel Alonso. If you're visiting the Basque Country between January and April, there's one experience you absolutely cannot miss stepping into a sagardotegi for the cider house season. T he cider-house season, or sagardotegi season, in the province of Gipuzkoa usually begins in mid‑January and starts with a loud “Txotx!”, the call the cider maker uses to invite everyone to taste the cider from each kupela (barrel). Txotx is a Basque word meaning “small stick”, referring to the wooden peg used to seal the barrel once the tasting is over. Over time, however, the word has come to refer to the very first cider pouring of the season, an event that each year is traditionally led by a well‑known public figure. Want to experience a traditional Basque cider house? [Book your table here] This year, 2026, for example, the Basque Pelota National Team has been one of the groups ...

  Maman’, the sculpture by Louise Bourgeois at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Photo:  Guggenheim Bilbao (Facebook) Maman is the spider that tiptoes in front of the Guggenheim Museum, greeting visitors as they walk along the riverside promenade. It intimidates them and attracts them at the same time. Seen from the museum’s upper windows, it’s even more striking. Watching the passersby below—who look almost like insects beside her—is unforgettable. The French‑American artist Louise Bourgeois smiles mischievously at the camera while holding her sculpture ‘Fillette’. Photo: Louise Bourgeois (Facebook) No one in Bilbao, nor almost any human, would ever have imagined a spider as a mother figure. That changed when the French‑American artist Louise Bourgeois arrived on the scene. “The spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver… Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that feed on mosquitoes. We all know ...

  Sculpture of Don Diego López de Haro, founder of Bilbao in 1300 Every city has a founder, but few have one as controversial as Bilbao's. Diego López de Haro signed the founding charter in 1300 — yet he was nicknamed 'The Intruder' by his own people. Here are 10 facts that reveal the real story behind the man 1. Don Diego López de Haro —the fifth of his lineage— was nicknamed “The Intruder” by the people of Bilbao at the time. After the murder of his brother, the Lord of Bizkaia, he claimed the lordship for himself and had to confront his niece, María Díaz de Haro, better known among the people as “María the Good.” Don Diego argued that there was no precedent for the lordship passing to a woman, and the title was eventually granted to him on the condition that, upon his death, his niece would become the new Lady of Bizkaia —which is exactly what happened. 2. He founded the town of Bilbao on June 15, 1300. Before that, it was a small settlement of sailors and fishermen, a...

1. A visit to the Monument to the Battle of Vitoria, in the heart of the city at Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. This iconic landmark commemorates one of the decisive battles of the Peninsular War, in which the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon's troops in 1813. Monument to the Battle of Vitoria at Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Photo by @teicoplanina on Instagram 2. The Murals Route — street art that decorates the facades of buildings across the city, turning Vitoria-Gasteiz into The Painted City . Each mural hides a secret or a legend. One of the most striking, titled "Al Hilo del Viento" ("On the Thread of the Wind"), is located in Plaza de la Burullería, at the foot of Santa María Cathedral, depicting colourful fabrics and cloths as a tribute to the medieval markets once held in the square. On the Thread of the Wind". Mural at Plaza de la Burullería, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Photo by María Victoria Guerrero  3. The Arquillos Promenade — a covered...

  The Ribera Market in Bilbao — Photo: Mercado de la Ribera on Facebook The Ribera Market in Bilbao sits like a ship run aground on the right bank of the Nervión River, next to the Church of San Antón, in what used to be the old Main Square or Plaza Vieja. Besides being one of the best places to shop for fresh produce, it is a must‑visit for travelers and tourists who want to discover the largest covered market in Europe —Guinness record included. It’s easy to get there. The market stands at the end of each of the Seven Streets of Bilbao’s Old Town. And if you’re not nearby, the best option is to take the tram, which drops you off right at the building’s doorstep. The old Ribera Market. Friends of the Ribera Market in Facebook The Ribera Market is also part of Bilbao’s history, taking us back to a past of street vendors who set up their stalls in an apparently chaotic way, in contrast with the modern and functional present of today’s city, where architectural values are given great...

  La Gilda, a Movie‑Worthy Pintxo An olive, a few pickled peppers or piparrak, an anchovy, a toothpick, and a generous drizzle of olive oil that blends with the vinegar from the pickles. That’s how simple and minimalist a gilda is — the quintessential pintxo of the Basque Country. It’s also ‘green, salty, and a little spicy,’ just like the character played by Rita Hayworth in the 1946 film from which it takes its name. Rita Hayworth as Gilda in the iconic glove‑striptease scene Film historians say that the premiere of Gilda caused a real scandal, and that the Catholic Church considered the film ‘gravely dangerous,’ especially because of the scene in which the protagonist removes a glove. And amid all the controversy, even people who never set foot in a cinema went to see it. The impact on the public imagination was so strong that, after watching the film, many men swore up and down that they had witnessed a full nude scene. Gilda pintxo served in a txikito glass They say the first...

Sculpture of Don Diego López de Haro, founder of Bilbao in 1300 1. Don Diego López de Haro — the fifth of his lineage — was nicknamed “The Intruder” by the people of Bilbao at the time. After the assassination of his brother, the Lord of Biscay, he claimed the lordship for himself and had to confront his niece, María Díaz de Haro, popularly known as “María the Good.” Don Diego argued that there was no precedent for the lordship being held by a woman, and the title was eventually granted to him on the condition that, upon his death, his niece would become the new Lady of Biscay — which is exactly what happened. 2. He founded the town of Bilbao on June 15th, 1300. Before that, it was a small settlement of sailors and fishermen, although some tower houses already existed, as well as the Church of Santiago (today the cathedral) and three streets: Somera, Artecalle and Tendería. Ten years later, after his death, María Díaz de Haro re‑founded the town through a privilege charter, using t...