The Basque Country (Basque: Euskadi) is a region at the north of Spain, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and France. It is defined formally as an autonomous community of three provinces within Spain, and culturally including a fourth province and a small portion of France.

Provinces

The following Spanish provinces make up the autonomous community of Pais Vasco:

• Alava (Basque: Araba), capital Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque: Gasteiz).
• Guipuzcoa (Basque: Gipuzkoa), capital San Sebastián (Basque: Donostia).
• Vizcaya (Basque: Bizkaia), capital Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo).

Culturally, Basque Country also includes the Spanish province of Navarra (Basque: Nafarroa), and the French territories of Labord (Basque: Lapurdi), French Navarra (Basque: Behenafarroa), and Soule (Basque: Zuberoa).

Cities

• Bilbao
• Vitoria-Gasteiz
• San Sebastian

Other destinations

Understand

Under the Franco regime all languages other than Castillian Spanish were severely restricted. There was brutal oppression of the Basque language and culture. The Spanish constitution of 1978 established the provinces of Alaba, Guipuzcoa, and Vizcaya as the Basque Autonomous Region. The Basque Autonomous Region (Communidad Autonoma Vasca) has a great deal of autonomy from the national government (including the autonomy to recognize Euskera as an official language of the region) but this has not satisfied all factions of the Basque community. The Basque people have had a stormy relationship with the nation of Spain, and for decades there had been incidents of violence made in the name of self-determination and/or independence. However ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna -the Basque terrorist organization) announced a permenant ceasefire effective at the end of March of 2006.

Talk

The native language of the region is Basque (euskara). Spanish is widely spoken, but you'll also see signs in Basque. From the region's location, you might expect this language to be a blend of Spanish and French, but it's actually unrelated to either of them... or any other known language, having developed in relative isolation from neighboring peoples.

See also: Basque phrasebook

Get in

Get around

See

• The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is world-renowned for its contemporary architecture and modern art.

Do

Eat

Drink

Txakoli, Kalimotxo, Patxaran.

Stay safe

Get out