The Basque Country (País Vasco in Spanish, Euskadi in euskera) is an autonomous community of Spain located on the northern of the country and it borders on the north with the Gulf of Vizcaya in the Cantabrian Sea and with France, on the south with La Rioja, on the west with Cantabria and Burgos and on the east with Navarre.
In the Basque Country, residents spoke two languages: euskera and spanish.
“Euskal Herria” is the name to refer to the cultural space which includes, in addition to the Basque Country, some areas of Navarre and France, where Basque culture is predominant.
Cities to visit
San Sebastián or Donostia (in euskera) is one of the best cities to taste pintxos, as well as the nearby Hondarribia site. In addition to the remarkable gastronomic culture, there are beautiful beaches in San Sebastian, where even in winter it is a pleasure to take long walks on the famous La Concha beach.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, whose name means “dangerous castle” in euskera, is a kind of island that enjoys an impressive view of the Gulf of Vizcaya and the inland. You can go to the islet through a stone bridge of more than 241 steps to reach its summit, where there is a small hermitage dedicated to San Juan. Futhermore this wonderful place was used as “Dragonstone” in the first episode of the seventh season of the series “Game of Thrones”. Although the special effects of the series have replaced the original hermitage for a huge stone palace, the landscape is incredibly wonderful and identical to the one used in the series!
Another important city is Guernica, known for the famous Pablo Picasso’s painting inspired by a bombing that actually happened in that place on April 26, 1937.
In the French Basque Country (in euskera Iparralde), a historically basque territory in the western part of France, there are towns and villages of great interest, such as:
- San Juan de Luz, a harbour frequented by basque pirates who brought wealth here, but also a place where you can observe the traditional basque architecture. Now it is a quiet place perfect for all tourists looking for serenity, sun and beach.
- Espelette, where in addition to traditional Basque houses, typical of this charming village is the pepper that the inhabitants expose from the windows to make it dry.
- Biarritz, a famous seaside resort for all tourists and surfers.
Natural parks
The interior landscape of the Basque Country is mainly mountainous, the climate is differente across the whole community: in the north, cold and rainy, in the south warm and dry with low precipitation.
For hikers enthusiasts, there is San Juan Pie de Puerto, a village surrounded by green hills, ancient walls and gates of access to the city, one of which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also visit other mountainous and hilly landscapes of remarkable beauty, including:
- Gorbea Natural Park
- Aralar Natural Park
- Valderejo Natural Park
- Urkiola Natural Par
- Flysch route, along the coast
- Ruta del Queso Idiazábal (Cheese route), a six-step route through three Guipúzcoa’s valleys of great cultural and landscape interest to know the whole production cycle of Idiazábal cheese: where sheeps graze, where the cheese is produced and where it is sold.
- Ruta del Vino y del Pescado (Wine and fish route), in different villages: Oyón-Oion-Laguardia; Laguardia-Albaina; Albaina-Estibaliz; Estibaliz-Otxandio; Otxandio-Durango; Durango-Gernika; Gernika-Bermeo.
Culture
In the Basque Country is well known the San Sebastian Jazz Festival and the Vitoria Jazz Festival. For art enthusiasts there is the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Vasco Museum in Bilbao, the Artium in Vitoria and the Chillida-Leku in Hernani.
Beaches
Along the coast of the Basque Country you will find wonderful beaches, some of which:
- Beach Laixatxu, in Mundaka
- Beach Lekeitio
- Beach Laga, in Ibarrangelu
- Beach Arrigunaga and Las Arenas, in Getxo
- Beaches of Sopela
- Beach Hondarribia
- Beach la Concha, San Sebastian
- Beach Itzurun, Zumaia
- Beach Zarautz
Wine tourism
In the Basque Country there are some places of interest for wine-and-food connoisseurship. In the small village of Laguardia you can visit the wine cellars in the basements that stretch across Laguardia.
On the coast of the Basque Country you will find Getaria, Zarauz and Aya, a charming places where you can find a white wine, known as Txakoli de Bizcaia, which can be tasted in the cellars or restaurants on the sea.
Cultural traditional Festivals
Among the most popular folk festivals in the autonomous community of the Basque Country there is the Semana Grande in Bilbao, the Fiestas de La Blanca in Vitoria, the Tamborrada of San Sebastián, and Alarde of Irún and of Fuenterrabia.
Gastronomy
Pintxos are a very popular and appreciated speciality. These are small mono portions of food, accompanied by a drink at a time before meals. Usually people use to go from one bar to another to try different pintxo specialities.
Typical dishes include: porrusalda (leek soup), pisto a la bilbaina (vegetables), marmitako (tuna-based), pastel de cabracho (redfish), piperrada (peppers) and bacalao al pil pil (dried salted cod).
Typical sweets are: Goxua, Pastel Vasco, Cuajada, Leche frita and Tostadas de crema. Among the popular drinks there is the Txakoli and the cider.
