Learn Spanish in Vitoria, Basque Country, Spain

Basque Country, enjoy many landscapes in one

The province of Álava: Basque Country, Spain

Álava is a land of contrasts: there are many Alavas in one.

• The Alava of the green valleys in the North and that of the vineyards in the South.
• The Alava of the calm lakes and that of the spectacular cascades.
• The Alava of the ideal city, Vitoria, and that of the tiny and remote villages. 

Most of the province is dotted with small towns and villages of rural character with few inhabitants.

Thanks to that, it has important and well conserved natural spaces: the Valderejo Natural Park to the west, the Izki Natural Park, with a golf course surrounded by mountains, the Gorbea Natural Park, the Urkiola, Aizkorri or Entzia mountain ranges or the three lakes located near the city. 

Most of Alava’s inhabitants live in Vitoria, a city surrounded by hills and lakes.

There are wonderful places for biking, horseback riding or practising all sorts of water sports. One may also play golf on one of the three courses.

The Rioja region is located about 30 Km from Vitoria. It is famous for its vineyards and fortified villages such as Laguardia, where one can visit wine cellars and taste excellent wines.

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The region: the Basque Country

If one had to define the Basque Country, one could say that the whole world is present in this small country. One can discover a surprising biodiversity within a 100-kilometre radius. 

The North is dominated by the ocean and the mountains, covered in wonderful green, while the South has a more Mediterranean landscape, with its vineyards speckling the ever-ochre horizon with green.

Big cities, small villages and isolated farmhouses live in perfect harmony. The industrial centres with their intense activity, do not destroy the natural spaces, thereby preserving some of the most delicate ecosystems. 

Beyond the dazzling natural environment, the romantic towns or the rich artistic heritage, the Basque country is defined by its people, above all.  We are a friendly people with a strong character, who proudly preserve our ancient culture and show the same enthusiasm for life and liberty.

The location of Vitoria and all the possibilities the city offers can be seen more clearly on the Basque Country map.

Just click on the Basque Country map to enlarge.

Map of the Basque Country

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The surrounding cities: Bilbao, San Sebastián, Pamplona, Burgos...

• The biggest city is Bilbao, with a medieval origin but a strong and modern industrial and commercial tradition. Ever since the city embarked on its ambitious urban reform, it has become famous all over the world, with Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, the most modern subway system in Europe designed by Norman Foster, the Euskalduna Congress Hall...

• San Sebastian has its most extraordinary natural landscape, right in the middle of the city: the mountains meet the sea to form the beautiful bay of La Concha.
  
  Beyond the sun and beach, the city offers various possibilities: museums, concerts, sports, popular festivities and cultural events of international renown –the Jazz Festival in July, “The Semana Grande” in August, the International Film Festival in September… The lively atmosphere on the streets of the Old Town should not be forgotten on this list. Here one can savour the wonderful Basque cuisine: from the exquisite “pintxos” (tapas) to the menus of the prestigious restaurants featuring the Basque “nouvelle cuisine”. 
  
  
• Just an hour or an hour and a half’s drive from Vitoria you can visit the world-famous festivities of San Fermin in Pamplona in July, the impressive cathedral in Burgos, the alternative festivals in Logroño and the wonderful Sardinero beach in Santander.