Euskadi, or the Basque Country, is one of the places that can be safely attributed to the most unusual historical regions not only in Spain, but also in Western Europe as a whole. Inhabited in hoary antiquity and managed to preserve its originality and culture, this region is worthy of the closest attention. By the way, neither the secret of the origin of the people who have inhabited these lands since ancient times, nor the history of the emergence of their language have yet been disclosed.
Basque Country - where is it?
The region to which this article will be devoted is often referred to as Green Spain. Its territory, stretching along the Atlantic coast, is located in the northern part of the country and is separated from the rest of the territory by the Cantabrian mountains. And it is "green" because of the abundance of forests, a lot of rain and a mild maritime climate.
The Basque Country is an autonomous community that includes three provinceswith their capitals: Alava (Vitoria-Gasteiz), Biscay (Bilbao), Gipuzkoa (San Sebastian). Each of these administrative centers is a city that can charm and fall in love with tourists. However, the ancient settlements scattered in the valleys between the mountains, and stunning landscapes with mountains covered with greenery, and the blue of the ocean will also not let you forget the original land, forcing you to come here again and again.
The secret of the Basque language
In the north-east of Spain, where the Basque Country is located, bilingualism reigns. By the way, the second language, which is indigenous to this area, Basque (Euskara or Euskera) has nothing to do with Spanish.
Some scientists are inclined to believe that he came here from Georgia. Its structure contains ancient word forms belonging to the group of Caucasian languages, as well as to the Iberian and Aquitanian dialects of the Iberian Peninsula, which, it would seem, confirms this conclusion. But many terms and names that have no analogues in any known language of the Earth still do not allow us to put an end to the study of the history of the origin of this dialect.
Bilbao is the best city in the world
Basques appreciate the new and respect the old. And the amazing history of the capital of the province of Biscay, the city of Bilbao, founded in the 14th century, can serve as confirmation of this. Back in 1980, it frightened tourists with its neglect and filth: a closed port, stopped factories, a catastrophically polluted river … But the new mayor performed a miracle, and in 10 years the city became beautiful, convenient for both residents andfor the guests, from whom there is now no end.
The Basque Country, whose sights can be listed for a long time, has been enriched with new stunning art objects. And this was facilitated by the decision of the city authorities to invite the best European architects for the construction.
Thus, the original entrances to the Bilbao metro are called "fosterite" in honor of the famous English architect Norman Foster (by the way, you can take the metro here to the very ocean). And in the very center of the city, on the site of abandoned wine warehouses, Philippe Starck designed a cultural and sports center, which is included in all textbooks on architecture. The building of the hotel "Mariot" is a masterpiece of the Mexican Riccardo Legfetta, and the Palace of Congresses, designed by F. Sorano and D. Palacios, is recognized as the best parliamentary building in the world. No wonder Bilbao won the World's Best City and World City Award in 2010!
San Sebastian
At 80 km from Bilbao is another major city of the Basque country and the capital of the province - San Sebastian, which is home to about 200 thousand people. The road between the settlements is amazing - it stretches along the ocean, revealing a beautiful panorama of the ancient region. And San Sebastian itself looks like a shining shell, located on the shores of La Concha Bay.
By the way, it is considered one of the most beautiful and expensive cities in Spain. Even 100 years ago, it became the summer residence of kings, which, of course, spurred its development, and now San Sebastian is another capital, the administrative centerprovince of Guipuzcoa. The city shines with cleanliness and pomposity. And since 1953, the famous film festival has been held here annually in September. In July, jazz lovers come here from all over the world.
Vitoria-Gasteiz - a city for walking
The capital of the Basque Country - Vitoria-Gasteiz - can safely be called a city where walking is a national sport. And this is not surprising, because there are 30 km of pedestrian streets, 100 thousand trees and 45 m² of green spaces per inhabitant. Such conditions have led to the fact that Vitoria has become a city with the highest quality of life.
On sunny days, the locals do not waste time - they fill the narrow cobbled streets, strolling between the many shops, or visiting small delicious-smelling pastry shops. After all, where coolness reigns, everyone loves sweets very much, and this is an immutable law!
The mayor's office of the city provided its residents with more than 4 million bicycles to replace cars. To do this, there are special parking lots in Vitoria where you can take a two-wheeled vehicle and then leave it after a long use.
A ring of parks has been created around the perimeter of the city, and thanks to this, settlements of nutrias, deer and wild cats have appeared just 4 km from the city center.
Sights of Vitoria-Gasteiz
In 1181, Sancho VII of Navarre awarded the settlement of Vitoria the title of a city. Its medieval layout has since beenhas undergone some changes, but, nevertheless, has survived to this day almost untouched. New buildings appeared in place of old buildings, and the street markings remained the same.
The oldest building in the city is the Utrada de Anda tower, built in the 13th century. In addition, the city has four beautiful Gothic cathedrals: St. Mary, built in the 12th century, the Church of the Apostle Peter (14th century), as well as San Vincento and San Miguel (14th century), where the patroness of the city Belaya found shelter Mother of God.
Once in the capital of the entire Basque Country, one cannot fail to visit the Museum of Modern Art "Artium", museums of natural history, archeology, weapons of Alava and sacred art. By the way, there is even a museum of playing cards in the city, since this is where their production has been established.
There are also many interesting things around the capital
The beauty of the suburbs plays a very important role in the special charm of Vitoria. After all, almost every quiet and cozy village around the capital has its own historical monument. It can be an ancient stone mansion, decorated with a proud family coat of arms, or a colorful church. So, in the village of Mendoza you can visit a very interesting Museum of Heraldry, and in Salvatierra, the church of Santa Maria and the ancient fortress will surely attract the attention of tourists.
The Basque Country is rightfully proud of its wine-making traditions. Therefore, having been here, it is impossible not to visit the Rioja Alaves region, famous for its vineyards. It is especially interesting here in September, during the colorful Harvest Festival, onwhich gathers not only local residents, but also numerous tourists.
How the Basque Country rests: reviews of tourists
Euskadi is very fond of holidays, and that's probably why there are so many of them. Festive fairs, carnival processions, shepherd dog contests, bull races, tomato fights - these are just a small part of what can be seen in this seemingly measured and calm land.
People from all over Spain and other European countries come to the Basque Country for the holidays, because, perhaps, only here you can see so much fun, endless joy of life and confidence that everything around is beautiful. The Basques know how to have fun like no one else, giving it all their heart, and those who have ever been to a city holiday tend to come here again.
Where to visit when visiting the Basque Country
When planning to go to Euskadi, be sure to write down your route, as there are a lot of places in this region that simply cannot be missed without honoring your attention. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of them, but the Basque Country has other unique objects to offer:
- San Juan de Gaztelugache Chapel, located on a high cliff near Bilbao;
- the majestic Cathedral in San Sebastian, like two drops of water, similar to the famous Cologne Cathedral;
- the longest underground labyrinth around Onyati;
- Frank Gehry's incredible Marcus de Richa winery.
Don't forget to ridebike through the quiet streets of medieval Vitoria, eat octopuses in one of the cozy restaurants of Getaria, taste the best wines in Laguardia, test yourself in surfing in Mundaka, discover a huge number of secluded wild beaches on the Costa Basca and understand that this region has become close and familiar to you. Have a great holiday in the Basque Country!
