Bilbao and around

A friend and I are planning week in August, firstly heading to Biarritz and then crossing in to the Basque country. Bilbao is definitely on our list of things to do, mainly for the Guggenheim. We will try and spend two to three days in the region, so would like some ideas on what else to do with our time. Mostly interested in culture, scenery, and architecture. Thanks

modern architecture?

San Sebastian:
- auditorium by Rafael Moneo, directly on the beach, one of his best, I would say

Bilbao:
- footbridge across the river by Santiago Calatrava, about 500m upstream from Guggenheim
- metro with stations by Norman Foster and Michael Wilford, some impressions
- there's some sort of congress building(?) about 500m downstream from Guggenheim with an intresting bridge nearby, but don't know names of neither architects nor the places themselves
- the Bilbao airport is by Calatrava, too

Thanks for your help, will bear it in mind.

I went there at the end of May. It was absolutuely fantastic. Bilbao is a great city, lovely buildings. I went on a tour into the Basque Country and saw the mountains and visited 'La Guardia' which is a gorgeous little place, very Spanish.

Also the city of Vitoria is a nice place.

I hope this helps. I'll try and find out some more information (I'm from England by the way i'm just fed up that everyone hates the English).

#3: tell the inhabitants of Laguardia that their town is "very Spanish" and you'll be on serious trouble!! ;o)
(I agree its a gorgeus place indeed)

I you want to see another masterpiece of Frank O. Gerhy and taste excellent wines, visit the wineries of Marques de Riscal at El Ciego (I think you should reserve in advance, not sure, I only saw it from outside)

The Chillida Leku (near San Sebastian) is one of my favourite places in Euskadi.

As well the towns or Mundaka, Zarautz and Hondarribia.

Two good day trips:
The replica Altimira cave (Cueva de Altamira) with 12 500 BC rock paintings is surprising, very realistic, with all the paintings available for view close up, and a guided tour. There were also archeological exhibits, including the history of early man.
I enjoyed the museums in the Basque city Gernika (Guernica), mainly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Museo Euskal Herria (Museum of the Basque Nation) had an extensive exhibit (English audio tour) on Basque history, culture and social life. Here were videos of Basque folk dances and audio tapes of Basque classical music. Museo de la Paz (Peace Museum): the main exhibit was on the bombing.

sorry, but the architecture is very castilian (the guide said)

epson, I'm not Basque either, and I would probably do not diferentiate... it was tongue in check!

Anyway, I wonder what "very castillian" does mean, as in different parts of Castilla you'll find very different styles of archiecture. And the same kind of architecture you saw in Laguardia can be seen not only in Castilla but in other towns in La Rioja, Aragón, etc...

OK... this was just a little divagation. The area is plenty of nice towns!

i'm sorry i'm confused. Please don't think i'm being rude.

no, never tought you were being rude.

I just found funny that someone described anything at the Basque country as "very Spanish" and I imagined the face of any Basque nationalist hearing that!

What is called Spain is a quite new country on historical terms. And very diverse. Even each region/nation has differences... I was born and lived in different parts of Spain all my life, and I still fail to undersand what "very Spanish" could mean. I can't find a single example of somehing that could be applicable to anywhere in "the part of the Iberian peninsula that is not Portugal".

I imagine this is dificult to understand from "outside". Never mind. Do not worry about!

Good night!

I wish everybody wouldn't be so horrible and rude to me on here.

All i said was that i didn't like France. Read my post

I am half English, Half Italian.

Arrivederci Belsa

Adiós Belsa

I lived in England for a Bit and liked it very much, but everybody is being so rude about it, and calling me a troll

Agur Belsa, Ez dakit euskaraz hitz egiten.

epson, I think you totally misunderstood me. I never wanted to be rude with you. Please let me know what part of my replies offended you, because I still fail to find the causes of your overreaction. I was just expressing my thoughts about Spain!

In addition, what are you saying about France? Are you confusing this thread with another? Who is being rude with you and calling you a troll??

By the way, no idea about what are you saying to me in Euskera!