Northern Spain, coast to Coast (A2)

From the Spanish Basque Country to Barcelona by camper through the most beautiful wine regions of Spain!

La Rioja

If we choose to send the camper inland, then an hour away from Bilbao is the most famous wine region in Spain: The Rioja. Internationally, Rioja is often synonymous with Spanish wine, and for good reason. Some of the best Spanish wines come from this region. But not only the wine is exceptional in this region, but there are also many interesting places to discover with the camper. There are literally hundreds of bodegas (wineries) in the region including the traditional ones but also some very modern ones with avant-garde designs such as:

• La Bodega Ysios® designed by Santiago Calatrava (white bridge in Bilbao) in Villabuena de Alava. Route Haro-Logrono.
• La Bodega Marqués de Riscal by Frank Gehry (Guggenheim Bilbao) in Elciego. Route Haro-Logroño.

Haro

In Haro we find the famous Bodegas Muga y Ramon Bilbao. Ramón Bilbao has been named the best bodega in Spain by the IWSC. Bodega Muga is one of the most interesting Bodegas to visit in the Rioja. Here you can still witness the ancient tradition of making wine barrels. Founded in 1924 by Ramón Bilbao, today Ramon Bilbao is an example of combining innovation with the pure Riojan traditions. There are opportunities to visit the winery and taste wine. We recommend admiring these bodegas from the outside or to drink a glass of wine, but the smaller bodegas generally give a better and cheaper picture of the production of wine. The Bodegas are generally rural and often have large parking spaces, so it is usually no problem to park your motorhome.

Laguardia

Laguardia is a small walled town on a hill in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa. Centuries ago, it was a strategic military position for which a tunnel network was dug under the houses. When Laguardia (¨the guard¨) lost its strategic value, the villagers started to use the tunnels for the production and storage of wine in the same tunnels because of the ideal conditions for wine. Today, some of these tunnels are still used by various bodegas. It is as if you go back to a time when no technological progress had yet taken place, and everything was still made by hand. Park the camper at the bottom of the hill, you can walk into the town in 5 minutes.

Logroño

Pintxos in la Calle Laurel!! This city is in the top 3 of best cities for “tapear”. In the street “Laurel” you will find one tapas bar after another, each with their own specialties. Keep in mind that the Spaniards know this too so preferably do not go on weekends. There are a few excellent camper pitches just outside the centre to spend the night. Also, just outside the city is Bodegas Marques de Murrieta (outside the town of Logroño). The bodega traces its history to the mid-19th century when Luciano de Murrieta started producing wine. To visit these bodegas, we recommend booking in advance via: http://www.marquesdemurrieta.com/web/en/visit-us/marques-de-murrieta/#reserva

Bardenas Reales

One of the few deserts in Europe but without a doubt the most imposing with unique geological formations and beautiful landscapes. You can explore the area by car, on foot or by bicycle. You reach it on a dirt road so drive carefully and adjust the speed of the motorhome.

Aragon

Saragoza

The capital of Aragon and the fifth largest city in Spain is located on the longest river in Spain, the Ebro. Its geographical location has turned Zaragoza into the logistics centre of Spain. Celts, Romans, Moors and Christians have all brought impressive architectural styles and architecture during their rule: mighty monumental buildings, a historic centre, remains of a Roman temple and a Moorish Mosque. This mixture of religions, culture and architecture makes Zaragoza a very special city. The highlight is the enormous cathedral: Nuestra Señora del Pilar, an imposing, impressive cathedral, built in the 17th century and one of the first Marian churches of Christianity. The many towers can be admired from afar. Located on, probably, the largest square in Europe, and with beautiful paintings by, among others, the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Furthermore, the cathedral La Seo and the Moorish palace Alfajarin are highly recommended. It is advisable to stay with the camper at the city campsite or in one of the surrounding places with a good bus-train connection to the centre of Zaragoza.

Catalonia

El Penedes

After the busy city and a short drive with the camper we arrive in Catalonia. The Penedès wine region is located southwest of the city of Barcelona. The Romans were the first to discover this region for viticulture and the area is world famous for its wine and Cava, the Catalan champagne. It’s great to drive through the hilly landscape and visit the modernist buildings that house the wineries.
TIP : ArtCava at Masia Can Batlle is a new concept compared to the bigger commercial bodegas where you can visit a winery, get to know the owners and of course taste cava. ArtCava has its own camper stop where you can spend the night between the vines with a beautiful view of Montserrat.

Sitges

Would you like to reminisce about your camper trip by the sea? Then the seaside resort of Sitges is a great option. It is a very popular coastal town in the Garraf region, 37 km from Barcelona. Sitges is one of the most important epicentres for the gay scene in the world after San Francisco (USA) for some time now. In the early twentieth century, Sitges turned into one of the most important seaside resorts for the Catalan upper-class, which is reflected in the beautiful summer houses on the kilometre-long boulevard. The main attractions are the beach, the Maricel museum, the town hall and the Sant Bartomeu y Santa Tecla church, but above all the nightlife. Carnival, a rally of classic cars and the International Film Festival of Cataluña also take place here every year. Although often tolerated, motorhomes are not allowed to park in the centre of Sitges or on the promenade. There are campsites and a motorhome area just outside the centre of Sitges.