Did you know...?
... that the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz was marked by Victor Hugo, the French poet and novelist one of the best preserved Medieval quarters of Europe.
Victor Hugo, the famous French writer of "Les Miserables" make a note on his famous work of 1831, "Notre Dame de Paris" (known in English as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame") about the city of Vitoria.
Here is what he said:
"(...) C´était en effet, quand, après avoir tâtonné longtemps dans la ténébreuse spirale qui perce perpendiculairement l´épaisse muraille des clochers, on débouchait enfin brusquement sur l´une des deux hautes plates-fornes, inondées de jour et d´air, c'était un beau tableau que celui qui se déroulait à la fois de toutes parts sous vos yeux; un spectacle "sui generis", dont peuvent aisément se faire une idée ceux de nos lecteurs qui ont eu le bonheur de voir une ville gothique entière, complète, homogène, comme il en reste encore quelques-unes, Nuremberg en Bavière, Vittoria en Espagne; ou même de plus petits échantillons, pourvu qu´ils soient bien conservés, Vitré en Bretagne, Nordhausen en Prusse (...)"
Which can be translated as:
"(...) It was indeed, when, after long groping in the dark spiral which perpendicularly pierces the thick wall of the belfries, we finally debouched suddenly on one of the two high platforms, flooded with light and air, it was a beautiful picture than that which took place at the same time everywhere in your eyes, a spectacle "sui generis", which can easily get an idea of our readers who have had the good fortune to see a entire full uniform Gothic city, as there are still some: Nuremberg in Bavaria, Vitoria in Spain, or even smaller specimens, provided they are well preserved, Vitre in Brittany, Nordhausen in Prussia (...)"
Unfortunately Nuremberg suffered huge damages during the 2nd World War. Thankfully, Vitoria-Gasteiz has preserved in very good conditions the medieval buildings and walls.
Are you ready to discover this off-the-beaten-track Medieval town near Bilbao?
I am ready to help you. Send me an email if you need more details or want to make a personalized tour in the Basque Country: tours@aitordelgado.com
or get more information in: Vitoria Private Tour by a local guide
In 2020 we launched a new website, where you can expand this information about me and/or the proposals we can give for your stay in the Basque Country or Vitoria-Gasteiz
... that the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz was marked by Victor Hugo, the French poet and novelist one of the best preserved Medieval quarters of Europe.
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| Medieval Walls in the city centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque province of Alava |
Here is what he said:
"(...) C´était en effet, quand, après avoir tâtonné longtemps dans la ténébreuse spirale qui perce perpendiculairement l´épaisse muraille des clochers, on débouchait enfin brusquement sur l´une des deux hautes plates-fornes, inondées de jour et d´air, c'était un beau tableau que celui qui se déroulait à la fois de toutes parts sous vos yeux; un spectacle "sui generis", dont peuvent aisément se faire une idée ceux de nos lecteurs qui ont eu le bonheur de voir une ville gothique entière, complète, homogène, comme il en reste encore quelques-unes, Nuremberg en Bavière, Vittoria en Espagne; ou même de plus petits échantillons, pourvu qu´ils soient bien conservés, Vitré en Bretagne, Nordhausen en Prusse (...)"
Which can be translated as:
"(...) It was indeed, when, after long groping in the dark spiral which perpendicularly pierces the thick wall of the belfries, we finally debouched suddenly on one of the two high platforms, flooded with light and air, it was a beautiful picture than that which took place at the same time everywhere in your eyes, a spectacle "sui generis", which can easily get an idea of our readers who have had the good fortune to see a entire full uniform Gothic city, as there are still some: Nuremberg in Bavaria, Vitoria in Spain, or even smaller specimens, provided they are well preserved, Vitre in Brittany, Nordhausen in Prussia (...)"
Unfortunately Nuremberg suffered huge damages during the 2nd World War. Thankfully, Vitoria-Gasteiz has preserved in very good conditions the medieval buildings and walls.
Are you ready to discover this off-the-beaten-track Medieval town near Bilbao?
I am ready to help you. Send me an email if you need more details or want to make a personalized tour in the Basque Country: tours@aitordelgado.com
or get more information in: Vitoria Private Tour by a local guide
In 2020 we launched a new website, where you can expand this information about me and/or the proposals we can give for your stay in the Basque Country or Vitoria-Gasteiz
