The Pais Vasco
Noted for its unique character, its language and its intense national identity that have evolved apart from the rest of Spain; this is the Basque Country.
Its language, the roots of which are obscured by the mists of history, has no known relation within the Iberian Peninsula.
Because of this, the Basque National Identity is one of fierce and proud independence, a characteristic that serves not only to fan the flames of Basque nationalism but also provides a truly distinct cultural panorama.
The Basque geographic area is a region that includes the French Pyrénées Atlantique, Spanish Navarre and the three provinces that, since 1980, have been part of the autonomous Basque community.
It is in the Iberian part of the region, however, that the differences between the Basque people and their neighbours are most marked.
Anthropologists believe that, because of distinct physical characteristics, known about long since and more recently supported by genetic profiling, the modern Basque is directly descended from Cro-Magnon Europeans that migrated into Europe, probably before the last Ice-age.
But it is the language, Euskera, that really gives the Basque people their national identity. During the Franco regime, Euskera was banned from schools but was perserved mostly amongst the rural population.
Today, the language is not only taught on a par with Castillian Spanish in schools but it is a requirement of the Basque Autonomy Statute that it is officially recognised alongside Spanish.
The Basque community is divided into three provinces; Guipúzcoa, Ávala and Vizcaya. Guipúzcoa is the smallest province within the Iberian Peninsula. The capital city, San Sebatián, provides a beautiful setting for summer holidays and has been used for many years by the aristocracy seeking a benign climate and peaceful surroundings. San Sebastián retains much of the elegance that earlier periods defined and, during the summer and autumn months hosts popular film and jazz festivals.
The capital of Álava, Vitoria, boasts a wonderful ancient quarter with buildings that include a 12th century cathedral and the 15th century Churches of San Pedro and San Miguel.
Festivals and Cuisine
The festival of the Virgen Blanca (White Virgin), which is celebrated from the 4th to the 9th of August, forms a colourful backdrop of music and dance which turns this normally austere and worklike city into one enormous party. Bilbao, the capital of Vizcaya, has a neoclassic central square has been declared Conjunto Histórico Artístico, an important cultural distinction, because of its outstanding architectural beauty and, of course, the centrally located Guggenheim Museum is sure to be one of the wonders of the modern world before much longer. The coastline of the Basque country is marked by steep cliffs that are punctuated in places by serene beaches.
Along the coast, small fishing villages that for centuries have sent out fishermen to all parts of the globe, provide the focus for the marvellous Basque cuisine and a welcome break from the bustle of the city. In the interior majestic mountains that mantle breathtaking valleys provide a scenic panorama that is second to none.
More information: http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com/home.php
