Cider houses in the Basque country
A trip to the Basque country is a great opportunity to sample cider in one of its many cider houses. With their warm, friendly atmosphere, cider houses in the Basque country feature large wooden tables with benches and barrels around them, where the scent of Txuleta perfumes the air. The menu features a unique meal: cod omelette, prime rib with French fries and ewe’s milk cheese with quince/nuts, all accompanied by Basque cider. You’ll be immersed in the atmosphere of a typical Basque cider house when you visit one of the many establishments in the south-west of France from your Pays Basque campsite.
Experience txotx in a Basque cider house
When you enter a cider house in the Basque country, all you have to do is call out “txotx”, pronounced “tchotch”, and the owner will come and serve you. For your information, this term refers to the small piece of wood that blocks the tap on the barrel from which the cider spurts out, also known as Sagarno. You have to go straight to the barrels to taste this famous beverage for which the region is famous. Don’t miss the chance to try this practice during your stay in the Basque country, as it’s as much a part of its culture as pelota and espadrille.
List of cider houses in the Basque Country
Cider houses in the Basque country boast an authentic decor. In addition to cider, they also offer the opportunity to discover Basque gastronomy during a culinary stay in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. To help you choose the right address, we’ve listed the best cider houses in the Basque country.
The center of Bayonne is home to two cider houses on either bank of the River Nive: on Rue des Cordeliers, you’ll find the Ttipia cider house, and on Quai Amiral, Chez Txotx. In Ascain, Chez Txopinondo is renowned for its generosity and authenticity. On the other hand, Urrugne’s Chez Txopinondo offers bottled cider, so there’s no need to shout “txotx”. This establishment also has a restaurant where you can enjoy a typical cider house menu. The Aldakurria de Lasse cider house in Saint-Jean-de-Port serves txotx for lunch and dinner.
Basque cider houses on the Spanish side
Over the border, on the Spanish side, renowned cider makers in the Basque country include Sagarzazu in Fontarrabie, opposite Hendaye, and Ola Sagardotegia at the foot of the Three Crowns massif in Irun. Near the charming, picturesque town of San Sebastian, there are more than twenty cider houses to choose from, all around the town of Astigarraga. Astigarraga is the capital of traditional Basque cider-making. Then there’s the Mina cider house, a must-see place open in the evening, where txotx is enjoyed standing up. This means that the cider is not served at large wooden tables, as consumers remain standing to drink their glass of cider. Finally, one of the most important cider houses in the Basque country is Bereziartua Sagardotegia.
