HOTEL & TRAVEL
INFORMATION
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Race Director Roger Townsend visits Hondarribia and discovers an historic gem blending with yachting needs
WHEN being told that this year’s destination for The Biscay Challenge is Hondarribia, most people’s reaction is “Where?”
But those visiting this medieval gem for the first time are in for a lovely surprise, for it has been able to blend a modern yachting and social facility with a truly historic town and neighbouring nature reserves.
With a history dating back to its foundation by a 6th century Visigoth king, Hondarribia’s position as a military base high above the estuary of the River Bidasoa led to many sieges over the centuries and the construction of fortified solid walls around the Old Town, which are still preserved and listed as an Historic Monument.
Outside the walled town and beside the sea lies the Barrio de la Marina, which offers Hondarribia’s most popular attraction. Its streets, especially Calle San Pedro, are full of colourfully painted houses, restaurants and bars, as our photographs portray. This area, approximately a flat 10 minute walk from EKP’s marina, is probably where most of our competitors will end up in the evenings. The Jauregui Hotel, which has been selected as the focal Race Tapas Bar, is situated between the yacht marina and the Barrio. The race management team will be staying at this hotel and special rates have been negotiated for our competitors also. For those interested, please use the website link and quote “Biscay Challenge”. A selection of other hotels is listed below, but the race team have not inspected any of these.
The static population of Hondarribia is about 14,000, but in summer this can swell to 40,000, as it is a well established holiday resort. Its wide sandy beach is immediately bordering on the EKP marina and is wonderful for families.
For those who finish the Biscay Challenge early and are interested in nature, the Hondarribia environs boasts one of the best examples of marsh wetlands in the region and many walks along the Jaizkibel Paths, leading out from our marina. Brochures giving more information will be in the Race Pack to competitors.
One of the best ways of approaching Basque culture is through the cuisine and Hondarribia is the perfect shop window for discovering the most representative local recipes. Fish caught along the coast, such as hake, tuna and spider crab, feature large on menus, supplemented by excellent meat and vegetables from the region. A good local wine is a chacoli from Guetaria/GuetariakoTxakolina and of course the famous Rioja vineyards are close by.
Right across the river is the French holiday town of Hendaye, which has great beaches as well as a large marina, which we will use as an overflow mooring facility, if our entry numbers exceed 30-ish. A regular ferry launch runs between Hendaye marina and the Barrio de la Marina.
A taxi ride away is the elegant city of San Sebastian, situated around a bay between two hills. The La Concha beach and a buoyant cultural life make this city one of the most attractive on the Cantabrian coast. For those intending to “cruise” back to the UK, there are many little marinas positioned up the Aquitaine coast, with which EKP has friendly relationships. A leaflet detailing contact information for these will be issued with our Race Pack.
