Major city of the Basques. Basque Country: where it is better to relax and buy property

Mysterious Basque Country… What associations arise with these words? Steep mountain slopes of unimaginable green hues, with a light veil of morning mist, fat sheep on rope-thin legs in mountain pastures, an elderly peasant in a black beret tirelessly cultivating the land of his ancestors, orderly rows of chakoli vineyards along the ocean shore, the endless expanse of the ocean, so calm and azure in summer and rebellious and stormy in winter, surfers in black overalls who do not let go of their boards all year round, the mystical island of Gastelugache (a fragment of the sunken Atlantis), bars in which the counters are bursting with an abundance of various pintxos, songs after a plentiful feast, traditions that take its roots from ancient times...

And against the backdrop of all this pastoral idyll and tradition - the modern and dynamic cities of Vitoria and Bilbao with the highest standard of living in Spain and the glamorous San Sebastian, the city chosen by the Spanish kings and the high society of all Europe for their summer holidays on the waters, with its magnificent Bay of La Concha, one of the TOP most beautiful beaches in the world.

The Basque Country is a region that will give you many opportunities and discoveries during your trip. The country is a mystery, the country is a worker, the country is a creator and a country that knows how to relax after a hard day's work!

If you want to learn more about the Basques and understand their character, by all means go to small villages. After all, it was in the countryside for many, many centuries that the local people kept and observed their traditions, culture, language and passed them on from generation to generation. Not a small imprint on the character of the Basques left the proximity of the ocean. Be sure to visit the fishing towns, blown by sea winds, saturated with ocean spray and the smell of fresh fish. Sit in the bars of the ports, walk along the old streets of these cities, immerse yourself in their charming atmosphere.

In the villages of the mountainous part of the Basque Country, you will feel the spirit of traditional peasant life, you will see with what love the Basques treat their housing, because the house, etxea (etxea) in Basque, is the main character of local mythology. Be sure to visit the small family tavern to enjoy the famous traditional Basque cuisine.

Traveling in the Basque Country, you will realize that the Basques living on the coast and the Basques living in the mountains are completely different people, with different traditions. The Basques living in the big cities of the region (Vitoria, Bilbao, San Sebastian) also differ. But all of them are united by the unshakable spirit of fighters, formed over many millennia, friendliness and entrepreneurial character.

It is these characteristics of the national character of the Basques that have allowed the region to be the locomotive of the entire economy of the Kingdom of Spain for many centuries. The region does not miss these positions to this day. The level of GDP in the Basque Country is 34% higher than the national average. This economic platform helped the region stay afloat in the midst of the economic crisis, which is especially reflected in the business rhythm of the cities of Bilbao and Vitoria.

The Basque Country is famous for its beaches. Their beauty and comfort were appreciated by the Spanish royal family, back in the middle of the 19th century, when they built their summer residence in San Sebastian, on the shores of the magnificent La Concha bay. And after the royal family, the rest of the Spanish nobility also pulled up here, building their luxurious villas along the embankment of the bay.

When the First World War broke out in Europe, which miraculously did not affect Spain, the entire European world, accustomed to relaxing on the waters in France, began to come to rest on the Atlantic coast of Spain and, above all, in San Sebastian. So from what was once a military port, the city turned into the glamorous capital of Spain and this title is not inferior to this day.

If you are not an adherent of secular entertainment and pathos, then magnificent sandy beaches await you along the entire coast of Costa Vasca, from large and crowded in resort towns to small and private in small cozy bays. There are 21 disabled accessible beaches in the Basque Country.

The open ocean beaches of the Basque Country are chosen by surfers from all over Europe. Mundaka is recognized as the most popular place among them, for its magnificent surrounding landscapes. But you will find those who like to tame the wave here on almost any beach.

The Basque Country gives great opportunities to learn new things for nature lovers. Here you can join a one-day expedition to watch whales and other marine mammals, get to know the world of birds in specially equipped ornithological centers, visit nature reserves and national parks, the mysterious forest of Oma, climb Mount Anboto, which offers stunning landscapes, join the traditions of the Sanctuary of Urquiola, where colorful romeria are held - folk holidays with pilgrimages.

In the Flysch Soumaya Geological Park, you can look into the history of planet Earth and see how 60 million years have passed. For lovers of hiking and cycling, hundreds of kilometers of bicycle paths are laid here.

Eating well and drinking well in the Basque Country is a luxury that is available to everyone: high quality local produce, seasonal produce and pintxos, accompanied by good Rioja Alavesa wine, chacolis or cider. Basques love to eat well and tasty!

And most importantly, you will never find here a division of bars and restaurants "for tourists" and "for their own". Here everywhere they cook and serve as “for their own”! Since the status of the "Region with the best cuisine in the world", which is confirmed by the shooting stars from the Michelin guide, does not allow anyone to relax here.

Your gastronomic explorations in the Basque Country can be complemented by impressive tours through the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, where you can visit traditional and avant-garde wineries, visits to the production of traditional Chacoli wine and Basque cider.

Allow yourself the luxury - to know the Basque Country in its various manifestations!

Your personal guide in the Basque Country Elena Vivas Garcia

The Basque Country, also known as the Basque Country or Euskadi (Pais Vasco, Euskadi) is undoubtedly one of the most mysterious and distinctive historical regions in all of Western Europe. The Basque Country occupies the territory of northern Spain and the southeastern part of France, it is inhabited by the most ancient European people who managed to preserve their rich culture, traditions, identity, and original language. The Basque Country is one of 17 autonomous regions in Spain. Autonomy status was obtained in 1979.
The Basque Country in Spain consists of three provinces: Alava (Alava) - the capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Biscay (Vizkaya) - the capital of Bilbao and the province of Gipuzcoa (Gipuzcoa) - the capital of San Seastian. This also includes the vast province of Navarre, inhabited by the Basques, which administratively is not part of the Basque Country. The provinces of Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Lower Navarre make up the French Basque Country. The official administrative capital of the Basque Country in Spain is Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spanish - Vitoria, Basque - Gasteiz) Euskal-Herria - this is how the Basques themselves call these lands, literally means "Land where they speak the Basque language" French Basque Country called Northern Euskadi - Iparralde (Iparraldea), and the Spanish - Southern Euskadi - Egoalde (Hegoaldea).

“A story about the history of any nation usually begins with the word “came” - in such and such a century the Celts came there, the Iberians - there, the Visigoths - there ... In violation of established traditions, the story about the Basques should have begun like this: "The tribes of the Vascons have lived on their land since time immemorial, probably since the very creation of the world ..." There is almost no exaggeration in this formulation, and the sensational discoveries of archaeologists, which completely turned the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhen the European continent was settled, are proof of this. Not so long ago, in northern Spain in Atapuerca, scientists discovered the jaw of an ancestor of a modern human (Homo antecessor) who lived one million 200 thousand years ago! , animal bones, with drawings scratched on them.The probability that the ancient inhabitants of the Ebro Valley are the ancestors of the Basques is very high.It is not only the geography of the settlement of the ethnic group - the Basque Euskara language itself testifies to the greatest antiquity of this people. Euskara is not associated with any language in the world and, apparently, "from scratch" originated at the dawn of mankind, becoming the first language of southern Europe. In ancient times, the Basques inhabited not only the Iberian Peninsula, but also part of the territory of France and Belgium, but gradually other peoples who came to Europe forced them out to the very ends of the earth under the protection of the Cantabrian mountains. This territory became the last bridgehead from which there was no way to retreat. The Basques, hardworking creators, often had to take up the sword, in fierce battles defending not only their lands, but also the very right to exist as a single people. In ancient times they opposed the Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Franks, Normans; in the Middle Ages - to the Moors, and much later - to the Napoleonic guards. Throughout its history, the people of Euskadi did not submit to any invader, and even the mighty Rome managed to only partially conquer the Basque territories. It was this fanatical resilience that allowed the Basques to maintain their unique language and traditions. For Rome, they remained a mysterious, incomprehensible and unconquered people of seers, famous throughout the empire for their art of foreseeing the future. And yet, not a single soothsayer could predict what fate awaited both the Roman Empire and the Basques themselves ...

Rome fell, swept away by an avalanche of barbarians, cruel suffering swept over the Iberian Peninsula. Then the Visigoths replaced the barbarians, and after a few more centuries, new invaders - the Arabs and the Moors (Berbers). In 709, they invaded the territory of the Visigothic kingdom (the southern neighbor of the Basques), and five years later they already controlled almost the entire peninsula. Only a small area between the Cantabrian mountains and the Bay of Biscay, inhabited by Cantabras, Asturs and Basques, remained unoccupied. The remnants of the Visigothic army that fled to Asturias received the support of the local population, and in 718 they defeated the Moors for the first time. This date is considered to be the beginning of the Reconquista (conquest) - the process of liberation by Christians of the lands occupied by Muslims. The Reconquista lasted for almost eight centuries and ended only in 1492.

During the early Middle Ages, there were several Basque states on the territory of Euskadi, which retained their independence until the 11th-14th centuries. However, the strengthening of Spanish statehood led to the fact that by the beginning of the 16th century, the Basques formally became part of the kingdom. Nevertheless, it should be noted that, despite the partial loss of Basque sovereignty, the Spanish monarchs recognized the independence of this people, as evidenced by many documents of that era.

The turn of the XV-XVI centuries, marked by the completion of the Reconquista and the discovery of America, became a turning point for Spain that changed the history of the country. The power of the Spanish state was largely due to the Basques, whose role in the discovery and development of the American continent can hardly be overestimated. The sailors of Euskadi probably crossed the Atlantic more than once before Columbus, and therefore it is no coincidence that the Basques became the core of the Genoese expedition and the captains of all his caravels. The participation of the Basques in the colonization of the New World, their active mediation in trade with France, Italy and England, the development of the metallurgical and shipbuilding industries created a powerful economic base for the development of Spain.

The intersection of economic interests, as well as the relative weakness of the central government, allowed Euskadi to retain a special status for several centuries. Privileges in trade, taxation, military service, administration and foreign relations were enshrined in the Basque code of laws (fueros), and had to be confirmed by each Spanish monarch upon his accession to the throne. The king was to visit the spiritual capital of Euskadi Guernica and swear before the sacred oak to respect the rights and freedoms of the Basques.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the Basque provinces of Araba (Alava), Gipuzkoa and Biscay retained their ancient magistrates, but the forced Hispanization of Euskadi, Catalonia and Galicia, which intensified at that time, became the main reason for the entry of the Basques into the Carlist movement. The sad result of participation in two Carlist wars (dynastic wars between two branches of the Spanish Bourbons in the 30s and 70s of the XIX century) for the Basques was first a partial, and then a complete loss of autonomy and the abolition of the fueros.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Euskadi had lost its freedom, but retained a leading role in the Spanish economy. More than half of the total number of Spanish ships were built at the shipyards of the Basque Country, 45% of the turnover of the Spanish merchant fleet was also provided by supplies from the Basque provinces, and by the 30s of the 20th century, the Basques were mining half of all iron ore and smelting three-quarters of all Spanish steel ... ........"

Elena Artamonova

The ancient, most likely autochthonous, people of the Basque Pyrenees - the self-name Euskaldunak - live in the proud, but not currently nationally independent Basque Country, otherwise the Greater Basque Country, divided into seven historical provinces: Alava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa and the autonomous community of Navarre are included in composition of Spain; Labourdie, Zuberu and Lower Navarre are part of France. The first three are united in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, or Basque Country, bordering the province of Navarre in northern Spain, and in France the division into provinces was abolished after the revolution (1789-1799). So, the main "country" where the Basques live is primarily the northeastern Spanish region of Basque Country. It extends from the coast of the Bay of Biscay, which limits the northern limits, to the lowering of the eastern part of the Cantabrian mountains, which constitute the tectonic continuation of the Pyrenees. In the west, the Basque Country borders on other Spanish regions (, Castile and Leon), in the south - on the province of Rioja. In the east, the Basque Country shares a large part of the border with Spanish Navarre (historically, this is also a Basque land), and a small fragment of the border near the coast with the Basque lands within France (Basque Pyrenees department).
The very first settlements in the region date back to 150 thousand years BC. e. The Basque Country showed a lot of examples of the primitive fine arts of the Madeleine culture (15-8.5 thousand years BC). On the vaults of the caves - the world's oldest "art galleries" - you can see images of bison, deer, horses and other animals. One of the most important archaeological sites of the Basque Country is located in its province of Biscay. This is the Santimaminier cave, in which ancient art is presented in development, since the earliest drawings belong to the Mousterian culture (previously 28 thousand years BC) and then date back to different times up to the Iron Age (IX-VII centuries BC). BC.). The oldest architecture is represented by an abundance of megalithic (from very large blocks of wild or roughly processed stone) structures: about 800 dolmens alone were found here.
The Basques are still one of the most mysterious and little studied peoples. Their exact origin is still unknown: scientists can only state the fact that they lived on these lands for centuries, did not move anywhere and ... did not come from anywhere. They lived in a rather closed community, and from potential invaders they simply went to the mountains, not experiencing a tendency to wars and aggression. Perhaps this kind of isolationism allowed them to preserve to this day both their original culture and their special, isolated language, the self-name "Euskera" - pre-Indo-European, not related to any studied language. People joke: “For seven years the devil tried to learn the Basque language, but he could remember only three words,” and intelligence uses his system to create encryption codes. Basque / Euskera, along with Spanish / Castilian, became the official language of the Basque Country in 1982. The modern name of the people and the country arose from the Roman designation of local tribes - “Vascones”.
The Basques have always managed to maintain their originality: during the reign of the Romans from the 1st century BC. e. according to the 5th century n. e. they did not succumb to Latinization, then survived the invasion of the Visigoths, and even the Arabs, who captured almost the entire Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, did not break the national spirit and subjugated the semi-wild Basques, whose country became the stronghold of the Reconquista (reconquest, which ended with the capture of Granada in 1492. ). The Christianization of the region also took place gradually and with great difficulty.
Having preserved their national identity for thousands of years, the Basques have long lost the unity and independence of their country, but still strive by any means - from extremist to political - to regain their Euskadi.
The Basque lands formally became part of the Spanish state in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, but retained a certain degree of autonomy. In 1876, the Basque Country lost its rights and finally became part of Spain, and nationalist sentiments have been roaming among the Basques since then. All seven regions of the Greater Basque Country, in particular the Spanish Basque Country and Navarre, have been seeking unification since their artificial separation, and the desire for independence does not leave them to this day.
An autonomous region called the Basque Country was created in Spain in 1936 after the victory of the Popular Front. But with the fall of the republic in 1939, the Basque Country was deprived of self-government. According to the constitution of 1978, the Basque Country received at first temporary, and from January 1980 permanent autonomy. The movement for complete separation from Spain until 2003 was led by the Batasuna political party (Basque. "Unity of the people"), banned for the National Socialist orientation, separatist sentiments and cooperation with the ETA group. In turn, the radical nationalist organization ETA (an acronym for the Basque Country and Freedom), organized in 1959, is still trying to draw attention to the Basque problem by organizing terrorist acts. True, in 2011, ETA repeatedly officially announced the cessation of "revolutionary terror" and the change of instruments of its activity: the former concept of the "Europe of States" in the course of the unification of countries into the European Union is also changing its course to the concept of "Europe of regions". Basque rights are now going to be represented by the Amayur coalition, which was formed to participate in the parliamentary elections and has created its own faction in the Congress of Deputies.
In the XX century. The Basque Country became the center of heavy industry in Spain. The process of formation of heavy metallurgy began at the end of the 19th century, when rich iron ore deposits were discovered in the vicinity of the city. Here, up to ¼ of iron ore was mined and more than ¼ of steel and rolled products were created. Metallurgy naturally concentrated in the area of ​​historical Bilbao. In the same place, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, two of the country's largest shipyards are located, in general, shipbuilding is well developed in the region (about 1/3 of Spanish shipyards are located). In 2010, the Basque Country overtook other provinces in Spain, and indeed the EU countries, in terms of per capita income and GDP. But in 2011, the region experienced a financial crisis. The unemployment rate increased (up to 14.5%) and the incomes of the population decreased. Now the focus is on the development of the financial (banking) sector, energy and services, including tourism.
The Basque Coast is the center of the fishing industry. Basques have long been considered excellent sailors. They were among the first to start mining whale oil, and in their fishing raids they reached the northern seas. The fishing theme is even dedicated to a separate museum, which is located in Bermeo. The shores of the Basque Country are numerous fishing villages and endless beaches, which attract an increasing number of tourists and sportsmen, because nature has created excellent conditions for surfing on the Bay of Biscay. The most prestigious resort of the bay is the capital of the province of Gipuzkoa, the city of San Sebastian in the bay of La Concha.
The capital of the entire Basque Country is not the industrial center and the city of modern art and architecture of Bilbao (the center of Biscay), but the quieter, but no less significant Vitoria-Gasteiz (the center of Apava) - the "European Green Capital of 2012".
In this beautiful and fashionable city, many large companies have opened their representative offices, cultural life is seething with festivals, banks, a university and political institutions of the Basques - the parliament and government of the community - are located here. The Basques sacredly cherish everything that is related to their culture, and revere the authors who tell the world about its beauty and originality with their work. For example, one of the famous Basque artists, Ignacio Zuloaga (1870-1945), is represented in many museums, and the work of the patriarch of Basque music, songwriter Mikel Laboa (1934-2008), influenced several generations of his compatriots.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Status: autonomous region in the Kingdom of Spain.

Administrative-territorial division: the provinces of Alava (the capital city of Bilbao), Biscay (the capital city of Vitoria-Gasteiz), Gipuzkoa (the capital city of San Sebastian).

Capital: Vitoria-Gasteiz, 238,247 people (2010).

Ethnic composition: Basques dominate.

Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic.

Languages: Spanish, Basque.

Currency unit: Euro.

Major river: Nervion.
Largest cities: Bilbao - 354,860 people (2009), Vitoria-Gasteiz, San Sebastian.

Major airport: Bilbao International Airport (Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastian also have airports).

Numbers

Area: 7234 km2.

Population: 2,155,546 (2008).

Population density: 297.9 people / km 2.

highest point: Mount Aitksuri (1551 m).
The total length of the coastline: 252 km.
The total length of the land borders of the region: 686 km.

Climate and weather

On the northern coast - temperate maritime. The northern valleys are the climate zone of "Green Spain" with high rainfall north of the mountain slopes, warm winters and cool summer months.

January average temperature:+8.7°С.

July average temperature:+21.3°С.

Average annual rainfall on the coast: 1200 mm.
The climate is continental in the central and southern parts.

Average annual rainfall in the central and southern parts: 300 mm.

Winters are cold, summer months are warm.

Economy

GDP per capita:€31,110 (2010), 33.8% above the national average. The Basque Country today is one of the most prosperous autonomous regions of Spain, although since the 1970s - 1980s. production volumes are steadily declining, many industrial enterprises have closed. The emphasis in the economy is shifting from industry to services.
Industry: heavy, manufacturing (metallurgy, metalworking, mechanical engineering, steelmaking and rolling enterprises), mining (iron ores, lead and zinc), chemical, paper, cement, food, shipbuilding, machine tool building, production of railway equipment, electrical equipment, weapons.

Agriculture: meat and dairy farming, agriculture, viticulture, winemaking.

Fishing.
Services sector: tourism, financial.

Attractions

■ Natural: the main tourist attraction of the Basque coast is the beaches of La Concha Bay in the resort of San Sebastian; Since 2010, the coast of the province of Gipuzkoa has become an object of the global network of geoparks under the protection of UNESCO (individual natural parks: Aralar, Ayaco-Arria Pagoeta, as well as the Rio Ley Saran biozone). In the province of Biscay: Urdaibae Biosphere Reserve, Urquiola Natural Park, Valderejo. In the province of Ala-va: Gorbeya parks (part in Biscay), Ischi, Sierra de Etncia and Valderejo, Lagunas de Laguardia biozone and Maciso de Aitsgorri mountain range (part in Gipuzkoa).
■ Biscay, Urdabay estuary, Kortesubi municipality: Cave of Santimamine.
Cultural and historical
■ City of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Basilica of St. Prudentius (XII century), St. Mary's Cathedral (late XIII-XVII centuries), Church of St. Peter the Apostle (XIV century), Church of St. Michael the Archangel (XIV-XVI centuries), monasteries of San Antonio and Santa Cruz (XVII century), Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary (XX century), Plaza de España (1781), Alava Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, archaeological, Playing Card Museum, weapons.
■ City of Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum (since 1997), Cathedral of St. James (beginning of the 14th-19th centuries), Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Archeology, Ethnography and History of the Basques, Maritime Museum of the River, Church of San Nicolás de Bari ( restored in the 18th century according to the plan of the 14th century), San Anton bridge, statue of Don Diego de Aro, Getxo district (palaces and mansions 1800-1920), San Antonio Abad church (XV-XVII centuries), park Doña Casilda de Iturrisa, City Hall building (XIX century), Sanctuary of Our Lady of Begogna, Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción (XVI-XV centuries) with a wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary - Nuestra Señora de la Antigua ( XII century), Begogna area with a pilgrimage church (XVI century), Ensanche (new city), Subisuri suspension arched footbridge (XX century).

Curious facts

■ The Basques themselves never refer to themselves as "Basques". Moreover, their own language does not even have such a word. The inhabitants of this region designate themselves with the word "Euskaldunak", which literally translates as "people who speak the language of Euskera".
■ The Basques introduced what we all call “berets” into world fashion: this is what the rounded, small-sized traditional headdress made of soft fabric, adopted by the inhabitants of the Basque Country, looks like. They got into wide production after 1928 at the suggestion of French designers.
■ Since 1898, the city of Bilbao has its own football club Athletic, which is one of the most titled in Spain: it has won the national championship eight times. Only the Basques have the right to play in it. And in 1913, a football club with the name "Basque Country" was founded in the suburbs of Bilbao.

Autonomous Society of Spain - - known as Euskadi in the Basque language and how Pais Vasco in Catalan. It should be noted that the autonomous society of Spain, the Basque Country, should not be confused with the large European cultural and historical region - the Basque Country, the territory of this region includes not only the northern part of Spain, but also the south of France. Therefore, it is very important to give the full name when referring to one or another region: the autonomous society of Spain, the Basque Country, is part of the European region of the same name.

The autonomous society of Spain, the Basque Country, is located in northern Spain, east of Cantabria and Castile and León. It has borders with France and the Kingdom of Navarre, which should also not be confused with the Spanish province of the same name, in the west, the autonomous province of La Rioja in the south. The population according to the 2008 census is 2,155,546 people. The capital of the Spanish Autonomous Society of the Basque Country is Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Occupying an area of ​​7,234 sq. km, the autonomous society of the Basque Country is divided into three parts - historical regions: Arava / Alava (capital - Vitoria-Gasteiz, population - 301,926 people), Gipuzkoa / Ibarra (capital - Donostia / San Sebastian, population - 691,895) and Biscay (capital - , population - 1,139,863).

The Basque language (Eusquera/Basco) is recognized as the second official language in the autonomous society of the Basque Country and is also spoken in Navarre and the French Basque Country. The language has its origins in pre-Roman times and is the only language of the European family of languages ​​that is not part of the Indo-European group of languages ​​of this family. Linguists have not yet found a connection between this language and any other language. It should be noted that the Basque language is very different from the official Spanish dialect - Castilian, so before you go to the Autonomous Society of Spain, the Basque Country, you should learn at least a few phrases in Basque.

Autonomous Society of the Basque Country was recognized as such after the statute of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, also known as the statute of Guernica. According to this statute, all three provinces - Biscay, Alava and Gipuzkoa - are given the right to unite in an autonomous society of Spain.

Each province has its own local government - Diputaciones Forales, each of which has its own local parliament.
For the first time, the Basque Country region gained its autonomy during the time of José Antonio Aguerra, leader of the Nationalist Basque Party. In 1936 he was chosen as the first President of the Basque Government. However, this charter was abolished during the Civil War, the end of which marked the beginning of the Franco regime. The Basque government was expelled and Aguerra himself died in exile in 1960.

Carlos Garaycoetsea became the second elected President of the Basque Country in 1980, a year after the recognition of the autonomy of the northern region of Spain.

Juan José Ibarretse is currently President of the Autonomous Society of Spain of the Basque Country and was elected in 1999.

The Basque Country is an autonomous territory in northern Spain. The local population managed to preserve the identity of their culture and language since ancient times, not assimilated under the onslaught of great states. Learn about the features of the Basque Country further from the article.

Who are the Basques?

The Basques are an ancient people living in southern Europe. The historical lands of this ethnic group include territories in the south-west of France and the north of modern Spain. There are many questions and discussions about its origin. According to research, the ancestors of the Basques inhabited the Atlantic coast of Europe in prehistoric times.

It is known that the Aquitanes, Cantabri and Vascons participated in the formation of the people. From the latter came the name "Basque". The relationship of the ethnic group with the Caucasian population, who lived in the pre-Indo-European period, remains controversial.

In Spain and France, there are approximately 2.5 million people of Basque origin, the total number in other countries of the world reaches 14 million. Outside the European continent, representatives of this people mainly inhabit the countries of Latin America.

Spain: Basque Country

The original region is located in the north-east of the kingdom. Despite the fact that representatives of the ethnic group also live on French lands, only Spanish territories are officially the Basque Country. It is here that about 2.2 million Basques live.

The status of the Basque Country within the Spanish state is an autonomous community. The self-name is pronounced as "Euskadi", sometimes the name "Basque Country" is used. In the west, the region is surrounded by Castile, Leon, Cantabria, in the east - France and Navarre, in the north is the Bay of Biscay, in the south is Rioja.

The local population speaks Basque and Spanish. The capital of the Basque Country is the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. The area of ​​autonomy is 7,234 square kilometers. The Basque Country is an important economic center of the state. Metallurgy, chemical industry and agriculture, fisheries and tourism are developing in the region.

French side

In France, representatives of the people live in the southwestern part, which belongs to the department of the Atlantic Pyrenees. The Northern Basque Country, as it is called here, covers an area of ​​2,869 square kilometers.

In French lands, the Basques fought for independence for centuries. During the French Revolution, the three provinces managed to maintain their independence for some time. In the end, autonomy was suppressed, and the Basque lands were united into one department with other sovereign territories.

In the development of a modern economy, the French Basques emphasize agriculture and tourism, rather than industry. Bayonne and Biarritz are the largest cities.

Language

What the Basque Country really boasts of is the language. He is unique. Although during its long history, Basque, or Euskaru, acquired a number of words borrowed from Latin, it managed to preserve its identity as much as possible.

It is completely different from other European languages ​​and differs significantly from Spanish. Along with Sumerian and Elamite, it is considered isolated. Euscarou does not belong to any existing language family, however, many linguists point to its connection with Aquitanian.

Basque is the only language that originated in southeastern Europe in the pre-Roman period and has survived to this day. Now it is spoken by approximately 800 thousand people, most of whom are residents of the Basque Country.

The language consists of more than ten dialects, all of which differ significantly from each other. A single national literary language appeared only in the 1960s, thanks to Koldo Michelin.

Cities of the Basque Country

Euskadi is divided into three provinces and 251 municipalities. The most numerous is the province of Biscay, which is home to about 1.5 million people. The largest cities of the Basque Country: Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteit.

The capital of the autonomy was built on the site of a small settlement in 1181 and for a long time was an ordinary small town. It became the main political center of the region only in May 1980, after a significant increase in population, due to the active construction of factories and factories on the Iberian Peninsula.

Now the government and parliament of the Basque Country are located here. Vitoria has a lot of ancient architecture, a beautiful historical center. However, tourists often sacrifice it in favor of visiting Bilbao, the largest city in the region.

Bilbao is an important port and industrial center. Compared to the capital, it is more energetic and literally radiates life. The city has many museums and galleries, as well as a huge number of monuments of modern architecture.

Culture and national character

The population of the Basque Country has retained its unique features that greatly distinguish it from the Spaniards, Catalans and other representatives of Spain. The main characteristics for the Basques are diligence, perseverance and great inner strength. Residents of villages and remote areas are characterized by a certain isolation and excessive religiosity.

Basques are especially reverent about food. Eating here is a separate cult, so in any institution the service is at a high level. It is not customary to store food for a long time, everything is consumed immediately after harvest and is not fried. In the Basque Country, they prefer to boil or stew food. Seafood, mushrooms, rice, lamb and sheep's milk are popular.

Among the traditional local games are endurance competitions while lifting weights, mowing grass and chopping firewood at a speed called "aiscolari". Every year in Pamplona, ​​a bull run through the city streets is held, and Bilbao is famous for the bright performances of herding dogs.

Attractions

The Basque Country is endowed with a special charm, primarily due to the incredibly beautiful landscapes. One of them can be observed on the Ayskorri massif, where the highest point of the Basque Country - Mount Aichuri is located. The territory of the region is predominantly hilly, with many fast full-flowing rivers. There are about 8 protected areas here.

Bilbao attracts with cultural centers and museums. The most popular is the Guggenheim Gallery. The city of San Sebastian is a famous resort that combines the atmosphere of beaches and relaxation with ancient villas that once belonged to the Spanish aristocracy.

Monuments of sacred architecture are located in Getaria, Aspeitia. Medieval architecture is widely represented in the cities of Tholosa and Ordisia. Tolosa also hosts a colorful carnival every year. Segura, Mundac, Bera de Bidasoa, Guernica and other cities of the Basque Country are also interesting in their own way.