Basq Lore

Basq Lore is a tiny jewellery and souvenir shop in Bilbao's old town, occupying just 7 square metres in the entrance hall of number 5 Bidebarrieta Street — in a historic building constructed in 1913.

A hundred years ago, small shops and stores in Bilbao were located precisely like this: right in the entrance halls of residential buildings. Today, only four such historic shops remain, and Basq Lore is the "largest" of them.

The shop's name is a play on words: "Basq" (Basque) + "Lore" (flower in Basque). Here they sell jewellery and souvenirs featuring the most important symbols of the Basque Country, explain their meaning and tell the ancient legends associated with each one.

Eguzkilore ("sun flower") is a dried wild thistle that in Basque mythology protects the home from evil spirits, illness and storms. It is hung above the door: witches, seeing the flower, mistake it for the sun and hurry back to their caves before dawn.

Lauburu ("four heads") is an ancient symbol of life's movement, representing the four elements (fire, water, earth, air), the four seasons and the cardinal directions. Its image can be seen as decoration on farmhouses, balconies, furniture, jewellery...

And the famous Baldosa de Bilbao — a relief tile in the shape of a rosette with latticed grooves — was devised in the first half of the 20th century so that on rainy days pedestrians wouldn't slip on wet pavements. It became so beloved by residents that it turned into a semi-official symbol of Bilbao. It is often depicted on awards, festival posters, souvenir products and much more.

If you're looking for something unique in Bilbao for yourself or as a gift — at Basq Lore you can choose a symbolic piece of the Basque Country, crafted as jewellery, a souvenir or an interior object.