Hotel Iriarte Jauregia

"High in the Basque mountains, surrounded by green valleys and ancient towns filled with stone houses, a 17th-century palace awaits. From the outside, it seems to have barely changed in four centuries—its stone walls weathered, its arches and wrought-iron balconies regal, its manicured gardens and terraces as inviting as when nobility meandered through them. Inside, each room has been lovingly restored, from the hardwood floors running throughout to the dark ceiling beams and the ornately carved doors. But, despite the Renaissance-era artwork and antique furnishings, the palace has been brought into the 21st century. Its style blends modern with historic using high-quality fabrics, soothing neutral tones, and elegantly understated contemporary furniture, all of which feel like they ought to have been used in the house’s original incarnation. While the bedrooms seem fit for the royalty who once lived here, the rest of the palace is equally decadent. Gipuzkoa is world-renowned for its cuisine, and the in-house Bailara restaurant more than lives up to expectations with its own take on molecular gastronomy. The wingback chair- and fireplace-outfitted lounge is as perfect a spot to sip the region’s signature cider as the breezy garden terrace that overlooks the dramatic valley below. If you were a 17th-century noble, you’d have built this palace, too."

Iriarte Jauregia, Bidania, northern Spain - Explore & Book

"The landscapes of the Basque Country come as a surprise - you could almost be in an Alpine valley here. Big hills soar, lush fields sparkle, thick forests roam across the land. The terrace at this lovely hotel is the best seat in the small town of Bidania, a 3-mile sweep across the valley. Old boys make hay in the fields below, cows graze, tractors rumble and eagles soar in the sky. There is deep peace here for those who seek it.As for the hotel, it’s a 300-year-old mansion, strategically positioned on the side of the hill so the original owner could watch his men at work in the valley below. A beautiful renovation has kept all the lovely old bits while adding contemporary flair. You climb the hill from town, nip across the greenest lawn, then step into a vast hall. To the left is a smart bar and an attractive sitting room; to the right is a superb restaurant with doors onto a dining terrace. Upstairs, 19 super-comfy rooms come with excellent beds, fancy bathrooms and a warm, uncluttered style. If you are looking for good food and stylish interiors in blissful country, you’ll find it here. Highs A perfect retreat for romance and R&RWalking in the surrounding countryside, then doing very little in the hotel itself Owner Iban and his staff, who go out of their way to look after youFantastic food in the restaurant: perhaps Iberian pork loin or fried cod with spinachSan Sebastián - a great little city on the beach - is just 25km away Lows You’ll need a car to get here; this is a fairly remote locationThere’s no swimming pool, but you can nip up to the beaches on the coast The weather in the mountains is unpredictable - you may get a day of rainThe restaurant's opening hours are seasonal, but there's a "Quick and easy" menu available daily, and simple restaurants in town" - Tom Bell

Iriarte Jauregia (Bidania-Goiatz, Basque Country) 18 Hotel Reviews | Tablet Hotels

"Iriarte Jauregia is located twenty-five minutes south of San Sebastián — close enough for guests to explore the vibrant city, but sufficiently removed to provide a deeply relaxing pastoral experience in the lush countryside of Gipuzkoa, a small, verdant Basque province. Housed in a fully renovated 17th-century palace, with the trappings of a modern boutique hotel carefully tucked away behind the original structure, Iriarte Jauregia feels eerily integrated with its breathtaking environment." - Tablet Hotels