Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Spain / Gautegiz Arteaga / Hotel Castillo de Arteaga
Hotel Castillo de Arteaga
Gautegiz Arteaga, Bizkaia, Spain · Independent · Core Luxury
Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie de Montijo commissioned this French Neo-Gothic castle in 1856 to honor their son, on the bones of a 13th-century fortress, by architects Couvrechet and Ancelet. It opened as a 13-room boutique in the early 2000s: monumental fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings, a five-story turret looking over the Urdaibai estuary near Gernika. UNESCO biosphere outside, rooftop pool on the castle.
- 13 rooms
- Opened 1856
- Neighborhood: Urdaibai
- Architect: Couvrechet and Ancelet (1856 rebuild)
- Interiors: Garbiñe Azkuenaga
About Hotel Castillo de Arteaga
- Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie commissioned the 1856 rebuild to honor their son.
- French architects Couvrechet and Ancelet raised the Neo-Gothic house over a 13th-century tower.
- Thirteen rooms in the UNESCO Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, five kilometres from Gernika.
History
Commissioned by Empress Eugénie de Montijo and Napoleon III in the mid-19th century, the castle was built on the site of a 13th-century fortress to honor their son. Designed by French architects in a French Neo-Gothic style, the structure was later restored and opened as a luxury boutique hotel in the early 2000s. The property retains its imperial atmosphere with monumental fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings, and five-story turreted architecture.
The setting
5 km from Museo De La Paz De Gernika. 9 km from surfing at Playa de Laida.
Restaurants and bars
- Castle restaurant — Restaurant
Experiences
- Exploring the surrounding area — Explore the surrounding cliffs, rivers, marshland and meadows.
- Wine tasting in the cellar — Wine tasting in the well-stocked cellar.
- Indoor and outdoor activities — The natural environment surrounding the castle enables multiple indoor and outdoor activities.
Amenities
- Fine-dining Basque restaurant (Gaztelu Maitea) with traditional and creative cuisine
- Historic wine cellar offering sommelier-led tastings of international selections
- Napoleon Suite featuring a private terrace and a rooftop pool during summer months
- UNESCO-protected Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve setting for hiking and birdwatching
- Grand event hall accommodating up to 230 guests for weddings and celebrations
- Authentic 19th-century Neo-Gothic architecture with period furnishings and stone walls
Open Hotel Castillo de Arteaga in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.