The Houses of Ea Astei: the accommodation option recommended by The Hemingway Society
The Houses of Ea Astei: the accommodation option recommended by The Hemingway Society
Ametsa, Lurra, Harria, Ganbara, Txoria, Sabai, Etxola, Garaixe, Vita, and Okana are the names of The Houses of Ea Astei. This unique accommodation option, located in the beautiful coastal municipality of Ea, came to be in the wake of the remodel of an eighteenth-century farmhouse which was divided into five tourist cottages (Ametsa, Lurra, Harria, Ganbara, and Txoria) able to sleep two to four guests, all of which have fully equipped kitchens. Each cottage is different: Ametsa has a terrace open to nature, Lurra has direct access to the garden area, Harria and Ganbara have large sitting rooms, and Txoria stands out because of its cozy living/kitchen area with a peaked ceiling. The response from guests was so positive that five other tourist cottages with different characteristics were added to the complex.
The old barn of the farmhouse, completely remodeled, was converted into the Sabai cottage, which can hold up to four people: it has a bedroom with a bathroom and an open space measuring 95 m2 in loft style which features a fireplace and is where the kitchen connects with the living room and the second bedroom.
Etxola is an independent wood cabin surrounded by a garden. It is ideal for a couple and a child, as it has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room with a kitchen and a terrace.
The most romantic of the cottages is Garaixe: a granary built in larch wood featuring a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a private terrace.
Sustainability is an important factor in this complex (it has free charging points for Tesla electric vehicles, as well as universal charging points); therefore, when building the Vita and Okana cottages –both in the same building– the most modern and environmentally friendly technology was used, resulting in a self-sufficient construction. With contemporary flair, Vita’s 180 m2 can sleep up to six guests and is equipped with three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a living room/kitchen/dining room with a fireplace and a large terrace with views of the oak and eucalyptus forests. Very similar in style but with a capacity for 4 people is Okana, which also has a private garden area.
The impeccable gardens of The Houses of Ea Astei, where rabbits and other animals roam freely, invite guests to visit the wellness area, which has a heated pool, sauna, and solarium. Right next door, in a wooden building, are the meeting room and the txoko (an events hall for groups that is equipped with a kitchen) – both of which can be rented for conferences, tasting events, meals, courses, and presentations.
In addition to the lushness of the estate itself, the natural (and cultural) wealth of the region in which it is located is also remarkable: Busturialdea-Urdaibai, with the Oma Painted Forest (the work of artist Agustín Ibarrola), the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the Santimamiñe Cave (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008), the historic municipality of Gernika, as well as the Islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (where the famous series “Game of Thrones” was recorded). The region also played a very important role in the life of Ernest Hemingway, who spent long periods there. Hemingway had a great friendship with many Basques, among which were pelotaris (players of Basque pelota), sailors, and Priest Unzain (who he called Don Black), who was his spiritual manager until the end of his days. At The Houses of Ea Astei, they organize tours to learn about the writer’s connection with this land and the places he frequented. In fact, The Hemingway Society has included The Houses of Ea Astei as one of its recommended lodging options for the “Ernest Hemingway and the Basque Country” conference which will be held from July 14 to 20 in Bilbao and San Sebastián.
The Houses of Ea Astei
Barrio Olagorta 6, Ea.
Tel.: +34 619 560 123
