The Aramaio Valley in Alava, Basque Country, Spain

Some of the best villages in the Basque Country to experience peace and quiet up close.

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One of the reasons for the popularity of the villages of the Basque Country is their wonderful location, be it the coastal villages or the charming inland towns. Villas that are far away from the noise of the city, the traffic jams and the worries of everyday life in the metropolis. Perhaps, if you are visiting the Basque Country in search of peace and quiet, what you need is an escape to the inland villages. Places with old quarters full of history (and stories), quiet cobbled streets that open out onto wide meadows, balconies from which colourful flowerpots hang... Would you like to visit some of these villages?

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View of Salinillas de Buradón in Álava, Basque Country

Salinillas de Buradón (Álava)

This small walled village of around 100 inhabitants is located very close to the Conchas de Haro nature reserve. Beyond its medieval walls, you can see nothing but nature, making its interior a secluded place to discover without haste and to recover from the routine. The old quarter of Salinillas de Buradón contains a large part of the town's historical heritage, with the remains of the Torre de los Sarmientos and los Ayalas, the parish church of the Inmaculada Concepción and the old Hospital de Santa Ana.
Bridge over the river Cadagua in Balmaseda in Vizcaya, Basque Country

Balmaseda (Bizkaia)

Situated in a mountainous landscape, Balmaseda is the oldest town in Bizkaia. The famous three-arched Puente Viejo bridge over the waters of the Kadagua River is one of the charming sights during a stroll across the old quarters of town. You can see the cultural legacy of Balmaseda through its beautiful palaces, the Gothic style of the Church of San Severino and other 15th century churches, such as the Church of San Juan Bautista and the Church of the Sagrado Corazón de María. The latter two are important cultural points in the town, as inside you can visit the History Museum and the Balmaseda Theatre, respectively. And on Balmaseda's best-known mountain, Kolitza, lies the San Roque Chapel, a place where you can enjoy the views of the town after a good hike.
Town of Laguardia in Álava, Basque Country

Laguardia and Labraza (Álava)

Among vast fields of vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa, a 13th-century wall encloses Laguardia, a village of no more than 1,500 inhabitants, where it seems that time has stood still since the Middle Ages (you will also find Renaissance and Baroque style buildings). One of Laguardia's greatest icons is the portico of the Church of Saint Mary, but it also offers a dreamlike natural setting for those who love nature and history. If you are a lover of nature and history, get your camera ready! You will find the archaeological site of la Hoya and the route of the dolmens during your stroll around the area.Half an hour's drive from Laguardia, you can find: Labraza. Another cosy village with a medieval air, clad by a wall that has earned it recognition as one of the best preserved walled villages in Europe. Its secluded hilltop location invites you to get away from it all and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the passages that make up its tightly packed streets.
View of Aramaio and Mount Udalaitz in the background in Álava, Basque Country.

Aramaio (Álava)

A valley of green meadows with orange tones, surrounded by high mountains from which a mist often descends, blurring the colourful landscape of the village. Aramaio is a village in Álava in the middle of a valley, located between the borders of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. There are many mountains that surround it, so if you have an adventurous soul, Aramaio is the ideal destination to lose yourself in the beauty that characterises the nature of northern Spain. Elorrio, Orduña, Antoñana, Otxandio, Labastida... The Basque Country has a wealth of villages lost among meadows, valleys and mountain ranges where you can relax in peace and quiet.