Since the nineteenth century, Biarritz has been considered a spa town. Its pleasant climate and wild beaches have traditionally attracted the crème de la crème of European society, who found peace and wellbeing in this city of the French Basque Country. Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo were the main drivers of the popularity of Biarritz, as they built a summer residence here that hosted large celebrations attended by important members of the aristocracy and royalty. Some time later, that palace became one of the most important luxury hotels in the world: Hôtel du Palais. Recently renovated ..read more

Sea. Blue sea, intense sea, endless sea. That is the commanding view that guests staying at the Akelaŕe Ocean Suite have. Located on the slopes of Mount Igueldo in San Sebastián, the Akelaŕe Hotel, a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux Association, presents this extraordinary suite in which each and every room faces the vast blue sea. Featuring neutral tones and natural materials –like wood and slate– and refined decoration, the Akelaŕe Ocean Suite has a large central space comprised of the living area and the bedroom. Equipped with top-of-the-line furnishings, a king-sized bed, a ..read more

With offices in San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Valencia, as well as a division in Madrid, Homes by SSH is a Basque company specializing in the construction and interior design of homes and commercial premises in Spain and France and which has experienced notable growth in recent years thanks to their commitment to home automation. Their adaptability –as well as the fact that they carry out the work from start to finish with their own team– has positioned Homes by SSH as an attractive option both for clients who need to renovate a small apartment and for those who seek to divide a home, not to ment ..read more

Mexican essayist Valeria Luiselli said that “it’s never clear what turns a space into a home, and a life-project into a life.” It is truly difficult to outline what people feel in each space with objective rules or systems, but the truth is that there are homes that simply feel cozier than others. They know a lot about that at San Sebastián Housing, a pioneering Basque company specializing in the short-term rental of premium real estate on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea. Their maxim is to completely avoid what Luiselli described in “Papeles falsos” (“False Papers”): “At best, the books I rea ..read more

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, better known by her stage name Mata Hari, had a very effervescent life: she married a captain in the Dutch East Indies army (thanks to a personals ad in the newspaper announcing that the captain was looking for a wife); she lived on the Island of Java; she survived a poisoning attempt by her domestic help; on her return to Europe she posed as a Javanese princess; as she had some knowledge of sacred Indian dances, in Paris she worked in a circus, in performance halls, and at private parties as an exotic dancer; she was a lover of rich and powerful people; she posed ..read more

On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Eduardo Chillida, BASQUE LUXURY is interviewing Luis Chillida, son of the sculptor and president of the Eduardo Chillida and Pilar Belzunce Foundation, the entity in charge of the study and dissemination of the work, thought, and figure of the most universal Basque artist.    In 2024 it will be 100 years since the birth of Eduardo Chillida. What events have been planned to commemorate this important date? January 10, 2024 is the hundredth anniversary of our father’s birth, and we at the foundation are promoting that moment’s commemorat ..read more

Barnes is a prestigious international real estate company based in Paris which offers luxury real estate services around the world. As a leader in the luxury real estate market and ambassador of the French art of living, Barnes has a presence at more than 75 exceptional destinations – from the main international cities to the most wonderful resorts. Specializing in the sale of high-end properties (such as luxury apartments, houses, villas, castles, mansions, hotels, and buildings in the best locations in the city), Barnes has a wide network of collaborators in Spain with offices in the most im ..read more

Museo Würth La Rioja opened to the public on September 7, 2007 at the main logistics facility of the company Würth España S.A., located in Agoncillo, La Rioja. Since then, the museum has implemented the Würth Group’s international philosophy of art and culture as a social component, focused on promoting access to culture with special attention to the plastic arts. The museum has a total exhibition area of 3,100 m2 and a sculpture garden measuring 11,280 m2 where works from the Würth Collection are displayed. This is one of the most important private collections of contemporary art in Europe. T ..read more

For almost 1,000 years, Arínzano has cultivated the mystery of time and nature. Located in Aberín, Navarre, in a valley like no other (this affirmation is evidenced by the area’s microclimates), stone, earth, and water give rise to an exceptional terroir that favors the singular expression of great wine varieties. The estate has been successively owned by monks, lords, and wine-growing families, but it has always had ties with wine. Today, in the center of this valley cut by the Ega River and the Cierzo winds, Arínzano reveals wines that preserve the strength and grace of time and the land. Ar ..read more

BASQUE LUXURY MAGAZINE is allowing me to leave my mark on these pages, and I cannot pass up the chance to tell you about a beautiful relationship. The Echaurren Relais & Chateaux Hotel celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2023 – our house was founded in 1898 by the great uncle and great aunt of one of our parents, Pedro and Andrea. The two created this business without even being aware of what their journey would be like. Echaurren’s story is one of effort; an epic tale of hard work to overcome the tremendous difficulties that the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have brought. But ..read more