Languedoc-Roussillon
is hilltop towers and endless horizons
Welcome to Languedoc-Roussillon
Stretching from Provence to the Pyrenees, this sultry, sun-baked territory (now part of the greater Occitanie region) feels like a country in its own right. It’s been a strategic border since Roman times and is awash with historical reminders, from Roman aqueducts to hilltop Cathar castles. Today it’s best known for its vineyards, which produce a third of France's wines, and the busy beaches sprawling along its Mediterranean shore.
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Languedoc-Roussillon activities
San Sebastian and Biarritz
Follow the highway towards the east, through stunning natural landscape. You will arrive in Biarritz. The Beach of Kings. It was a magnet for famous and royalty such as Napoleon III, Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra, and still nowadays it is a very important tourist destination. You will be able to enjoy the old port, the Virgin on the Rock, the streets and the beautiful figure that forms this village on the coast. Following the rugged coastal road you will continue to Saint Jean De Luz, a lovely small village located on the French Basque coast. The house of Louis XIV and the Church of Saint Jean Baptist are the highlights, surrounded by narrow streets. Later on, you will head towards the border with France, passing through the village of Pasajes and industrial port which is very important to the region. The next stop will be Hondarribia, a village full of history that holds a medieval fortress and a lovely area that in the past was a pirate and whaler port. There will be free time for lunch and your guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants. Afterwards, transfer by boat from Hondarribia to Hendaya across the Txingudi (natural reserve) bay. Your last stop will be at San Sebastian, the most beautiful city in the Basque Country to start a panoramic tour of the city. There are magnificent views up the mountain Igeldo, plus a walking tour into the old historical quarter. After your tour you will have free time to enjoy the city at leisure. Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao.
Vitoria and the Rioja Wine Region
Follow the highway towards the south, until you arrive at Vitoria, the capital city of the Basque Country, where you will have a panoramic tour into the city. It is considered to be one of the best cities in Spain for quality of life, and is the city in Europe with the most green square meters per inhabitant. You will do a walking tour in the old part of the city where you will see such sights as the old Inn 'el Portalon' from the XV century, the Virgen Blanca square, the Machete square and the Cathedral of Santa Maria among others.After your walking tour, you will head towards the south and arrive finally into the land of Wine, to Rioja.You will stop at Laguardia, a unique medieval village that still keeps the real atmosphere of the old times, with the two churches, the walls, the house shields and the narrow medieval streets among others. You will visit in this village, a traditional underground Rioja wine cellar, carbonic maceration with open pools and do a wine tasting at the end of the visit.Afterwards, there will be free time for lunch and your guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants.Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao to arrive at approximately 6:00pm.
The Sanctuary of Loyola, Getaria, Zarauz and San Sebastian
Arrive at the core of the province, and after the industrial village of Azkoitia, you will arrive at your first stop, the Sanctuary of Loyola, hometown of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Here you will visit the Basilica and the tower house where he was born and lived. Depending on the time, you may wish to attend a ceremony.Next you follow the route towards the coast on the north, passing through Azpeitia. You will also pass through Zestoa, a famous natural spa village with healing waters that attracted the royalty of Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries.Later you will arrive to the coast at Zumaia, a beautiful village very much appreciated by Basque summer tourists. Following the coastal road you will arrive at your next stop, Getaria. A unique medieval fishing village and hometown of famous figures like captain Juan Sebastian Elcano (the first man to travel around the world by sea), and Cristobal Balenciaga, the famous designer.Then you will pass by Zarauz, a beautiful tourist spot with the largest beach in the province of Gipuzkoa. You will arrive finally to San Sebastian where you will do a panoramic tour of the city. After lunch, you will do a walking tour into the old quarter visiting the most interesting streets and locations before returning to Bilbao 6:00pm approximately.
Guggenheim Bilbao Museum Private Tour with Admission Ticket
Meet your private guide outside the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, and start your tour with a walk around the outside to admire the museum’s attention-grabbing exterior. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, the chrome building is said to be one of the most-talked-about pieces of European architecture of the late 20th century. Jeff Koons' Puppy guards the entrance, so pose for pictures by the 39-foot (12-meter) model of a dog made entirely out of flowers, and then head inside the museum itself. Only official art-expert guides are allowed to operate tours inside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, so rest assured that you'll have somebody at your side who can talk you through the meanings of the collection's many masterpieces. Showcasing modern and contemporary art by a range of international artists, the Guggenheim’s collections span from the mid-20th century to the present day. See it all as you walk around with your guide, passing through the Atrium – an exhibition in its own right – and around the collections that are spread around three levels.Learn about theatrical installations such as Joseph Beuys’s Lightning with Stag in its Glare, and see works by other hugely influential artists such as Francesco Clemente, Jenny Holzer and Richard Long. Hear tales of Basque modern art and see intriguing features like Richard Serra’s The Matter of Time.If you would like to focus on one section of the museum more than another, then simply let your guide know! The exact itinerary is flexible. After 1.5 hours, your tour finishes inside the museum and you can continue exploring independently if you wish.
Explore the Basque Coast
Afterwards you will see the neighborhood of Neguri with old mansions owned by rich industrial managers, before you head towards the interior of the province. You will be able to admire the typical local houses and farm house structures, and discover the imposing old Castle of Butron. Arrive at the coastal village of Bakio, very much liked by Basque locals as a summer holiday destination, before you follow the beautiful and wild coastal road, eventually arriving at your second stop, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This place is said to be one of the most beautiful locations along the Basque Coastline. It is a huge rock that holds on the top the old hermit of San Juan, and it is connected with a long stone-stair passage to the mainland. Please note that the access to the ermitage is not included. Next you will continue to the fishing town of Bermeo. Here you will stop to visit the narrow streets, the Juradera Church, the Ercilla Tower, the old port and the Town Hall among other sites. There will be free time for lunch and the guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants. Later you will stop at Mundaka, a beautiful site with magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Afterwards, you will arrive at the village of Gernika to visit the Casa de Juntas or old Law House and the Basque Sacred Tree. Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao to arrive at approximately 2:00pm.
Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier
Set off on your wine tour in one of the most interesting wine area of Languedoc: the Pic Saint-Loup where you will discover a stunning natural landscape bathed in the aromas of the "garrigue", the typical mediterranean vegetation. You will be picked up by your guide in a minivan (small group of 2 to 8 people) on the Esplanade de l'Europe in Montpellier at 9am or 2pm.After a 30 minute drive you will start with the visit of a first wine estate. You will learn about the history of the most ancient vineyard in France, visit the cellar and the oak barrel room and then learn about the art to taste a wine before enjoying the first wine tasting of your day. On the way to the second winery you will admire the view of the Pic Saint-Loup and learn about its medieval legends. Visit and taste the wines of the second winery to know more about the wines of the excellent wine area. The return to Montpellier is planned around 12:30pm or 5:30pm.