trommom

We are considering a trip to the Pryenees this Sept and need some advice. We have traveled to Spain 2 times before. We have about 2weeks and need to end up in Sevilla as that is where our daughter lives. But we'd like to see Southern France, Pyrenees and some of Northern Spain. We've been to Barcelona so don't need to go there. Can anyone suggest a good driving itinerary?

Michael

In the French Pyrenees, consider the Cirque de Gavarnie and the col du Tourmalet as destinations. St Bertrand de Commnges and Foix are other possibilities. Lourdes has a medieval castle which contains a regional museum. Taull in Spain is worth a visit for its Romanesque frescoes.

kimhe

On the Spanish sides of the Pyrenees, you could start in Torla at the foot of the spectacular Monte Perdido in the Ordesa National park: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...ca_Aragon.html

After Torla, go through Jaca, up through wonderful little Isaba down in the valley, and up to the ski resort Arette-la-Pierre-St-Martin and then towards Jean-Jean Pied de Port, and then down to San Sebastián. From Isaba this is a very scenic route. Have driven here in and out of - and occasionally above - the clouds with rainfall and sun shifting around almost every corner. My most spectacular drive ever.

Stay some days in Belle Epoque San Sebastian, the culinary Capital of Spain if not all of Europe, some of the finest city beaches on the continent and a local culture that people take great pride in. http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/en/

Two major and very different festivals in San Sebastian in September, the week long Euskal Jaiak - celebrating Basque sports, music, dance, poetry, food and wine - at the beginning of the month, and then the prestigious international film festival towards the end of the month.
Euskal Jaiak: http://www.lacunza.com/events/euskal-jaiak.php
The film festival: http://www.sansebastianfestival.com/in/

Lots of excellent small villages along the rugged coastline towards big and vibrant Bilbao with, among many other things, the out of this world Guggenheim museum. About the Basque coast: http://tourism.euskadi.net/basque-coast/

Getaria, just west of San Sebastian, is one of many options to stop for a lunch on your way to Bilbao: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...taria-tourism/

Bilbao, a couple of hours driving from San Sebastian, if you go by the coastal road: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...ilbao-tourism/

On this route, you can also stop in Gernika/Guernika (the 1937 bombings, Picasso's painting and the historical capital of the Basques): http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...rnikalumo.html
The Peace museum: http://www.museodelapaz.org/en/index_en.php

When you evantually come to Sevilla, you arrive in the midst of the largest and most prestigious flamenco festival in the world, the Bienal de Flamenco. The finest flamenco artists on stages all around town every night from Sept 12 to Oct 5 this year. A night at the Bienal could easily be a highlight of your trip. http://www.labienal.com/en/

Towards the end of September, among many fabulous artists, I would especially mention the most sucessfull female flamenco singer on the current scene Estrella Morente and groundbreaking baile/dance genious Rocio Molina, both in the majestic Maestranza theater on Sept 25, 26 and 29. respectively:
Estrella Morente in her Madrid debut some ten years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUJA52_oDn8
Totally unpredictable Rocio Molina a couple of months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97w_mvV7C9U

MKT

Kimhe
Thank you so much for your input! We were originally trying to spend more time on the French side, but I think we will do the Spanish side. And then we will spend some time in San Sebastian and possibly Bilbao. How reasonable would it be to hit La Rioja area as well? We probably have about 10 full days as we need to end up in Sevilla as that is where our daughter lives and we need to drop her off and spend a couple of days there (We have been there several times before so we don't need a lot of time there).

I'm trying to figure out where the best place for us to fly in to start the trip -- it seems that Barcelona is the easiest yet it isn't that convenient if we want to start out in Torla. Does anyone know of any easy, reasonable flights into a closer city?

Robert2533

The closest international airport to Torla is Barcelona. You can take the train to Lleida or Zaragoza and pick up a car there to start your journey.

You can drop down to the Rioja once you reach the Navarran Pyrenees. Logroño is about 1 hour south of Pamplona. From there you can head north to Bilbao for your flight to Sevilla.

trommom

I'm thinking of staying in Torla for a few nice to use as a base for exploring the Pyranees. We are then thinking of going to San Sebastián for several days. Is it reasonable to use it as a base as wells to explore the area outside of San Sebastián, possibly heading north a bit? Can we see Bilbao without staying there? Could be make it a day trip from San Sebastián? I don't want to be changing hotels too often. Torla, San Sebastián and La Rioja? Will that allow us to hit the major points of interest?

kimhe

trommom,
San Sebastian is an excellent base for exploring the Basque Country in general, both the inland and the coast. Bilbao is 70 minutes away with bus and very doable as a day trip. I would go before lunch and stay as long as possible, Bilbao is a brilliant city and a stark contrast to Belle Epoque San Sebastian: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...ilbao-tourism/

Click on the cities/small towns/villages around San Sebastian to get an idea of possible day-trips. I recommend Tolosa, Oñati, Getaria, Guernica and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe:
http://www.euskoguide.com/places-basque-country/

trommom

Another question: would Jaca be okay as a base for activities in the Pyranees?
How many days would you recommend in the Pyranees?
Would 3-4 days be good? How about the drive from Barcelona to Jaca or Torla? Is that a good day drive? Or should we stop somewhere overnight? What about Girona?
I was thinking of the following itinerary:
9/8 arrive in BCN
9/9 drive to Pyranees (stop somewhere? Girona?)
9/10 Pyranees
9/11. Pyranees
9/12. Pyranees
913. Pyranees
9/14. Drive to San Sebastián
9/15. San Sebastián
9/16 San Sebastián
9/17 San Sebastián
9/18 San Sebastián
9/19. Drive to La Rioja
9/20. La Rioja
9/21 La Rioja Drive to BCN
9/22. Fly home from BCN

kimhe

Both Torla and Jaca is a fine 3 hours day drive from Barcelona. Torla is a small village at the foot of spectacular Monte Perdido in the Ordesa National Park, while Jaca is a "normal" small town of some 13.000 with less impressive scenery but a nice old town.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...ca_Aragon.html

If you are planning to do some hiking etc, I would use three-four days in the Pyrenees. Take a look at the old SPA town Panticosa, Isaba, St. Jean-Pied-de-Port for a start.

sandralist

St. Jean.Pied-de-Port is really very touristy. I don't know about the other towns.

Driving in the Pyrenees can be challenging and therefore tiring, and also it is slow going when it comes to covering miles . So it really depends on what kind of "activities" you are planning to do from a "base" in the Pyrenees. Are you looking for a base location for a variety of hikes every day, or are you looking for a base for visiting interesting towns and sights with the car?

kimhe

Agree that Saint Jean Pied de Port is touristy - mainly because it's a very normal starting point for the famous Camino de Santiago - but the town and the surroundings are also very beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aolQ71IN2c

And it's on a nice route down towards San Sebastian where you can even say hello to the witches at Zugarramurdi:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zugarramurdi
http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/trials_basque.html

Trailer to the 2013 Spanish horror-comedy Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi/The Witches at Zugarramurdi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hQ1CyUjQvg

Here the witches in the movie have an excellent Sabbat (Akelarre in Basque) to the song and tones of the deeply beloved Basque singer-songwriter Mikel Laboa (1934-2008) and the brilliant San Sebastian city choir Orfeón Donostiarra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05THbZV7K58

And Akelarre/Witches' sabbat is also the name of one of the three 3 Michelin star restaurants in San Sebastian. Had the lunch of a lifetime here some months ago. Spectacular views of the sea and the rugged coast, so try to reserve a window table if you go and beware...: http://gastronomyblog.com/2010/06/04...san-sebastian/

MKT

We are looking to do some light hiking and possibly some kayaking as well as just drive around and see the area. Where would you recommend for a good base town?

sandralist

I might have picked the foothills of the French side for what you describe, although maybe there are some great bases for what you want on the Spanish side. But you might want to be more in the lower elevations, however, with some easy access for a scenic driving loop and hiking among the peaks for just one day or two, rather than staying all the time in the more remote dizzying heights of the Pyrenees and their cliff-hanger roads, and driving out and back from some remote town for activities other than vigorous hikes. (The only water I saw in the Pyrenees was waterfalls and rushing rivers and thermal spas -- so I don't know where to suggest you go kayaking.)

Right now you have perhaps as much as 5 nights in the Pyrenees and 5 nights in San Sebastian. I might nick at least one night off of each and give it to Rioja country.

http://youngadventuress.com/2013/03/...oja-spain.html

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1.../p2p-79014372/

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20...la-rioja-spain

MKT

Where would you suggest that we visit and stay in the Pyrenees?

Michael

If the Hautes Pyrénées (in the center) Argelès-Gazost might be a good base. Still in the valley but the high mountains are within easy reach by car.

kimhe

KayakCampo has got a base in spectacular Torla: http://www.kayakcampo.com/en/our_facilities.html

Torla is also excellent for all kinds of walks/hiking:
https://www.google.no/search?q=Torla...=1920&bih=1083

MKT

I've made a slight change to our itinerary a cut one day from the Pyrenees and added it to La Rioja. I have several days in San Sebastian but that is so we can take a few day trips. I'd like to drive up into So.France one day, Bilbao another day, etc.

The drive that Kimhe suggested from Torla to San Sebastian sounds nice and the Ordesa National Park sounds like it is something to see and has a good day long fairly easy hike to waterfalls, etc. We just want to hike around a little and see the beautiful sights of the Pyrenees. Perhaps we shouldn't stay in Torla since we aren't avid hikers? We could drive to Ordesa for the day. Would Jaca or another place be a better place to base ourselves?
How dangerous is the driving??

sandralist

I'm not sure. If you are serious about wanting to do some kayaking you should google for that specifically. But I also think that if you are not thinking of using a base for several oomphy all day hikes then Michael's suggestion strikes me as good for scenic drives, nice walks and town visits or maybe Kimhe has a good idea for the Spanish side for similar stuff.

sandralist

Sorry! We were all posting at the same time.

Driving is not dangerous but it is demanding on the mountain roads, and you need to be flexible about your plans because the weather is very changeable. But since you are spending several days in the area, that shouldn't be a problem.

Michael

To whet your appetite:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...n/photostream/

Scroll down the screen for information about each picture. They are all geo-tagged.