LA CONCHA

La Concha, in the shape of a shell (concha means "shell" in Spanish) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful urban beaches in Europe. San Sebastián owes much of its charm to its Paseo de la Concha, a meeting and strolling place, where the off-season rhythm suits it so well. From the port and gardens of Alderdi Eder - whose name means "beautiful site" - to the foot of Mount Igueldo, the walk extends for almost 1.5 km. You can also go around Mount Urgull via Paseo Nuevo to push the walk to Zurriola beach.

It was around the middle of the 19th century that La Concha gained international fame. On the advice of her doctor, Queen Isabel II went sea bathing to treat her skin problems, dragging in her wake all the aristocracy of the time. The tourist boom caused by the arrival of the queen leads to the development of a beautiful promenade along the beach: the Paseo de la Concha. Among its emblematic elements is the wrought iron railing created in 1910 by the municipal architect Juan Rafael Alday, whose ornamental forms make it stand out. Its elegant lampposts inspired the trophy awarded at the city's film festival. Towards the end of the 19th century, the regent Maria Cristina also came to the bay of La Concha to bathe in the sea. Succumbing to the charm of the site, she had the Miramar palace built to spend her summers there. Built in 1893, this superb English style palace stands on a promontory facing the bay. Opposite, the island of Santa Clara, accessible by sea shuttle, offers a small 30-metre long beach popular with holidaymakers.

Today, the bay of La Concha has lost none of its charm. During the summer, when the tide is low, 40 metres of beach are available for families and holidaymakers - surfers prefer the Zurriola beach for its waves. Under the arcades, many services have been set up for bathers (changing rooms, showers, lockers, etc.). At the end of the day, his paseo fills up with a dense crowd, especially during the famous Semana Grande. On this occasion, the Bay of La Concha becomes the scene of a great fireworks competition celebrated every year since 1964, in which the best pyrotechnic companies from all over the world take part. In September, it is the turn of the "dragu" ("traînière" in French) to invade the bay for the Bandera de La Concha competition (literally "flag of La Concha").