Visit a Basque farmhouse, discover the Basque essence.

Visit an active Basque farmhouse, learn the secrets of rural life in Euskadi.

The guided visits to active Basque farms aim to bring the rural life of Euskadi closer to all those who wish to do so. A simple and dynamic mechanism, that allows to know the day by day of our cattle dealers and farmers so much to the people who visit us as to the own Basques and Basques. A different and original visit, with which our guide, Maite, aims to show how beautiful and hard it is to live off the land today. An aspect of the Basque culture that deserves to be known. A simple, beautiful and authentic experience that we recommend. In addition, thanks to the impressive geographical location of the farmhouse that we recommend you to visit, Santa Klara, this experience allows us to enjoy one of the most beautiful coastal areas of the Basque Country: Geoparkea. A coastal strip, which, formed by the municipalities of Zumaia, Deba and Mutriku, tells us the history of the land through its striking geological formations. Undoubtedly, one of the most striking geoparks of the peninsula. A real luxury for the senses. Although this experience is designed for all audiences, although we recommend this activity to people of any age, we must emphasize that it is a very enriching experience for the youngest members of the family. For families. In addition to enjoying a pleasant day in the countryside, this experience is a great way to teach our children about the benefits of nature. An outdoor class that they will love. We are sure, are you up for it?

The baserris ( Basque for farmhouses) are an important part of Basque culture and history. An essential building to understand the way of being of the Basque people. In this sense, having a guide like Maite and a farmhouse like Santa Klara, helps a lot, to understand each and every one of the aspects surrounding life in rural areas.

Visit a Basque farmhouse.

The visit to Santa Klara farmhouse begins in front of the main entrance, where Maite, our hostess, introduces us to her house, the family project and the impressive views of the farmhouse. Mesmerized by all this, we start the guided tour meeting the chickens. We must point out that all the inhabitants of the farmhouse Santa Klara are totally accustomed to people, making the contact with them very rewarding for both parties, very little violent. From this area of the farmhouse we moved on to the vegetable garden. In this case, during our visit, we were fortunate to be able to contemplate how corn and tolosana bean plants coexisted in a very traditional symbiosis of our land. This is how the bean, taking advantage of the strong trunk of the corn, grows vertically without the need of canes or sticks to guide it along the way. Typical of the orchards of Euskal Herria. By the way, you have to try a good plate of beans in Euskadi, finger-licking good. From the orchard we went on to visit the cows and the milking parlor, an automated and modern space, which shows us that life in the countryside and technology are not at odds, on the contrary. After contemplating all the advances in cattle breeding, we went on to enjoy the newborn calves. How beautiful life is! We finished our visit to Santa Klara with a visit to the goats and a tasting of milk, cheese and natural cider. A golden brooch to this great experience on the coast of Euskadi. Eskerrik asko!

Importance of Basque farmhouses.

We would like to refer to the importance that Basque farmhouses have had in our society throughout history. We are sure that many of you have seen the film “Handia”, a Basque production, which won many of the critics’ awards during its release. Well, in this film, we can repeatedly see the farmhouses scattered throughout the mountains and the importance they had in society. Nowadays, in the rural areas of Euskal Herria, it is still common to use the name of a farmhouse when referring to a person. For example, Miguel Joaquin Eleicegui, the giant of Altzo, was born in the Ipintza farmhouse of this same town in Gipuzkoa, so he was known as “Ipintzako Miguel Joaquin”, that is, Miguel Joaquin of the Ipintza farmhouse. The hamlet makes the person. In our case, our baserri acquired years ago the name of Errementarienabarri, a name with which the members of our family are still mentioned. A custom that should not be forgotten.

Basque gastronomy.

Visiting an authentic working Basque farmhouse is an honor. The fact is that this way of life is currently going through a serious world crisis. A sector that, although not at its best, has raised Basque gastronomy to a very comfortable and privileged position. What would Basque gastronomy be without quality raw materials? It is here, where we must take into account the great work that our dear arrantzales and baserritarras (fishermen and farmers in Basque) have done throughout history elaborating products of km 0, local products. Now, do you want to know the secrets of farmhouse life? Get ready, because it is time for you to get to know the ins and outs of a Basque farmhouse while tasting some of the raw materials that are produced in these small temples of the culture of Euskal Herria. A clear example of this is the fresh milk that we were lucky enough to taste. Impressive.

Santa Klara Farm.

Generation after generation, the Eizaguirre family has known how to preserve the ancestral cattle and agricultural techniques of the Basque people, applying them to their farm. In this sense, both Maite and her mistress (mother in Basque), Ana María, merge their tasks in agrotourism and in the baserri practically simultaneously. These two women, charismatic and genuine, Basque of pure strain, have known how to merge their two worlds to please all the guests of Santa Klara. A farmhouse full of life. Animals and people coexist just a few meters from the incredible cliffs of Zumaia. An environmentally friendly project, which gives us dizzying views. The location of this farmhouse, on a high point, on one of the hills surrounding Zumaia, allows us to contemplate the intense blue of the sea in contrast with the striking green of the land. A small earthly paradise, which invites us to enjoy the tranquility of sleeping between green meadows and wild beaches. Apparently, in the past, this farmhouse served as a place to signal the way home to the sailors of Zumaia, and is that in this place there was originally one of the lighthouses of the coast of Gipuzkoa.

Visit a Basque farmhouse with the family.

Visiting a Basque farmhouse is one of the great plans to do in Euskadi with the family. And the fact is that the union of children and animals is a plan that never fails. So much so, that we have not hesitated to add this adventure to our article on “plans to do with children in Euskadi“. A report, by means of which we recommend some of the best plans to do in Euskadi with the family. And it is that, that children discover the noble side of nature is priceless. Getting in touch with the rural world is for them an experience they will never forget.

Agroturismo Santa Klara.

The agrotourism Santa Klara was created as a solution to the serious crisis that the agricultural and livestock sector was going through. A tool, with which to maintain the livestock activity and continue to enjoy life in the countryside. Nowadays, this tourist establishment is supported by the livestock breeding, creating a beautiful strategic alliance. A fusion that allows all the people who stay in this agritourism to enjoy life in the countryside. Thus, this agritourism and rural house located at the top of Zumaia, has become one of the most demanded among the people who look for this type of establishments. Rural tourism in its purest form. In addition, the different routes that cross the coast and interior of Zumaia, allow all the people who wish to combine the enjoyment of the beaches of Itzurun and Santiago with beautiful routes between cliffs and valleys.

Location.

The location of the Basque farmhouse that we recommend you to visit today, Santa Klara, is one of its many virtues. And it is that, located in the middle of the Basque coast, in front of the sea, between cliffs, this farmhouse of Zumaia enamors every person who visits it just by contemplating the incredible panoramic view that is obtained from its garden. Not surprisingly, the coast that rises in front of it, has been declared one of the 12 geoparks found in the peninsula and the Canary Islands. A title that only those areas of special geological richness manage to obtain. If you want to know more about the geopark of the Basque coast, the Geoparkea, we recommend you to read our article “Geoparkea, the jewel of the Basque coast“.

Price of a visit to a Basque farmhouse.

The experience “The secrets of the Basque farmhouse” has a cost of 10€ per person. Children under 12 years old are free. What do you think? In our opinion, after enjoying first hand the cheese and cider tasting, after contemplating the different spaces of the farmhouse and enjoying the personalized attention that Maite gave us, we must say that it is a very reasonable price. Very competitive. Even more, when the children, the great protagonists of this experience, do not pay until they are 12 years old. A rate with a great value for money. Or at least, that’s what we think. And you? Remember that you can leave your opinions through the comments system that you will find below these lines.

Kosta Gastronomika.

Kosta Gastronomika is the brand that represents the richness and gastronomic attractions of the Urola Kosta region of Gipuzkoa. It is not the first time that we present you some of the experiences included in this Basque brand, and if you remember, a little over a year ago, we told you about the possibility of eating a good sea bream in the emblematic restaurant Xixario, enjoy a different activity as the Great enigma of Euskera or enjoy the gastronomy in the mountains, in the Arizia cider house in Zarautz, a very attractive plan, a day that we will hardly forget. Well, this year we are back to present you several initiatives of the region, among them, the visit to a Basque farmhouse, learn how a sea bream is made Orio style or enjoy the activity “Among friends – Lagun artean” to learn about the traditional custom of pintxo pote. We recommend that you do as we did and opt for one of these experiences to complete your visit to this Basque farmhouse.

Experiences in the Basque Country.

If your intention is to know Euskadi, if you intend to continue your adventure along the coast to reach the coast of Bizkaia and the interior, we recommend that you take into account some of the experiences we have selected for you. Euskadi, a plural and historical territory, invites us to discover its most precious aspects from different points of view. Thanks to the enormous range of attractions it has, visitors have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of experiences. In this sense, we recommend you to visit our booking section, where you will find a large group of experiences and accommodations of great quality that you can book online. We hope you like them.

Igartubeiti farmhouse, lord of the Basque farmhouses.

The Igartubeiti farmhouse is a living legend, a historical building of Euskal Herria, a real jewel of our heritage. A space that perfectly complements the experience we have lived in the Santa Klara farmhouse in Zumaia. And it is that, this museum, supports its route on a Basque farmhouse of the XVI century, showing us the way of life of our ancestors in a dynamic and entertaining way. A unique, special visit. We loved it. There are no more places like this, there are no more presses where the apple is stuck in the traditional way, sounding the wood and hearing the coming and going of the apple juice. If you want more information about this other attraction of Euskadi, we recommend you to read our article:“Igartubeiti farmhouse, lord of the Basque farmhouses“. If you are in the province of Bizkaia and do not want to travel to visit an authentic Basque farmhouse, we recommend that you visit the Landetxo Goikoa farmhouse in Mungia, the oldest in Bizkaia.

Video visit to a Basque farmhouse.

As usual in all our articles, we have included a short video in which we show you our experience during the visit to this Basque farmhouse. A different visit, that we fell in love with. If you like this kind of experiences, if you are looking for destinations, restaurants or hotels in Euskal Herria, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you will find hundreds of videos that will catch your attention.

As you have been able to appreciate, the visit to an active Basque farmhouse is a very attractive way to know the rural environment in Euskadi. A guided visit, by means of which we recommend you to enjoy the small pleasures that the tranquility of living among cows, hens, pigs or goats offers us. An oasis of peace in the middle of the Basque coast. We encourage you to visit this Basque space with your family, it is a great pleasure to see the smiles on the faces of the little ones (and not so little ones). Ondo pasa!