Basque Country (autonomous community)

The Basque Country or Basque Autonomous Community, also officially called Euskadi, is an autonomous community in northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava (Araba), Biscay (Bizkaia), and Gipuzkoa (Guipúzcoa). It also surrounds two smaller areas called Treviño and Valle de Villaverde.

The Basque Country was given special status as a nationality by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. This status is based on the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, an important law that helps the Basque people live in their region of the Southern Basque Country. Nearby, Navarre has its own separate rules.

Although there is no official capital for the Basque Country, the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz acts as the main city. This is where the Basque Parliament and the Basque Government are located. The High Court of Justice of the Basque Country is based in Bilbao, the biggest city in the area. While Vitoria-Gasteiz covers the most land, Bilbao has the most people. The term Basque Country can also mean the larger cultural home of the Basque people, known as the larger cultural region (Basque: Euskal Herria).

Geography

Main article: Physical geography of the Basque Country

The Basque Country has three provinces: Álava with its capital Vitoria-Gasteiz, Biscay with its capital Bilbao, and Gipuzkoa with its capital San Sebastián.

The Basque Country borders Cantabria and Burgos province to the west, the Bay of Biscay to the north, France and Navarre to the east, and La Rioja to the south. The land has three main areas separated by mountains. The northern part near the coast has rough cliffs and small inlets. The middle area is a high plateau. The southern part is near the Ebro River, where some Rioja wine is made. The Plaiaundi Ecology Park is a coastal wetland where many birds live.

The Basque Country has different climates. The northern valleys have wet weather all year. The middle area has warm summers and cold winters. The southern part near the Ebro River has cold winters and warm summers.

Demographics

See also: Immigration to Spain

Almost half of the people living in the Basque Country live near Bilbao. The Basque Country has 2,227,684 people. Six of the biggest cities are in the Bilbao area, called Greater Bilbao. These cities are Bilbao, Barakaldo, Getxo, Portugalete, Santurtzi and Basauri.

Many people in the Basque Country were born in other places. Most came from other parts of Spain, like Galicia or Castile and León. Recently, more people have come from other countries, mainly from South America.

As of 2024, 295,902 people were born outside the Basque Country. They make up 13.3% of the population.

Roman Catholicism is the most common religion in the Basque Country. In 2019, 60% of people identified as Roman Catholic. The Basque Country is one of the least religious areas in Spain, with 24.6% of people not following any religion and 12.3% identifying as atheist.

Major cities

See also: List of municipalities in the Basque Country

Languages

See also: Basque language and Spanish language

Both Spanish and Basque are official languages in the Basque Country. The Basque language changed over time. It was used less because people moved in from other parts of Spain, and there were not enough schools teaching Basque. After 1982, when the Basque Country got more control over its rules, the language started to grow again with new schools and programs.

In Gipuzkoa, most people speak Basque, while in Álava, fewer people speak it. Surveys show that more young people are learning Basque than before. In 2021, 36.2% of people over 16 spoke Basque, with the highest numbers in Gipuzkoa at 51.8%.

History

The Basque Country became an autonomous community in 1979, after Spain approved a new constitution in 1978. Before this, the three main areas of the Basque Country—Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa—were known as the Provincias Vascongadas.

The rules for how the Basque Country is governed are written in something called the Gernika Statute. Over time, the Basque Country has gained more control over its own affairs. The leader of the Basque Country today is Iñigo Urkullu, who belongs to the Basque Nationalist Party.

Politics

The Basque Country is made up of three main areas called provinces. These areas have kept many of their own rules and traditions for a very long time, even when other rulers tried to change them. In 1978, new rules let these areas work more on their own, like having their own police and schools.

Today, each province collects its own taxes and has its own leaders, but they all work together as part of the Basque Government. The main leader is called the Lehendakari and is chosen by the Basque Parliament, which has representatives from each province. The government’s main office is in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital city.

Different groups have different ideas about how much the Basque Country should decide for itself, with some wanting more independence and others preferring the current setup. There have been discussions about whether nearby areas, like Navarre, should join the Basque Country, but this has not happened yet. There are also small areas surrounded by Basque land that belong to other parts of Spain, which sometimes causes discussion.

Economy

The Basque Autonomous Community makes more money per person than Spain and the European Union. It has strong industries and good services.

Historically, the Basque Country made steel and ships because of its iron ore. Today, important industries include making things, airplane parts, moving goods, money services, and energy. Some big companies here are banks, energy companies, and makers of trains and wind turbines.

Transport

The Basque Country is in a good spot for travel, linking northwest Spain to the rest of Europe.

Road

Major roads include the AP-8 motorway connecting Bilbao and San Sebastián to the French border, and the A-1 motorway linking San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz to central Spain. The AP-68 motorway connects Bilbao to the Mediterranean area.

Rail

The Basque Railway Network keeps and builds railway tracks. Euskotren runs train services in Bilbao and San Sebastián, and also tram services in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Bilbao Metro has two lines serving the Bilbao area. Spanish trains also connect Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastián with Bilbao and central Spain. A new high-speed rail network called the Basque Y is being built to connect the three main cities.

Airports

The three main cities have airports: Bilbao Airport, Vitoria Airport, and San Sebastián Airport. Bilbao Airport is the busiest, with many international flights.

Seaports

The Port of Bilbao is the most important port in the Basque Country and northern Spain. The Port of Pasaia is also important. There are smaller fishing ports at Bermeo and Ondarroa. Ferries run from Bilbao to Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.

Cuisine

Main article: Basque cuisine

Basque cuisine is an important part of Basque culture. The city of San Sebastián is famous for its high-quality food that you can find everywhere. Popular foods include seafood, fish (like Marmitako), and small snacks called "Pintxos" that you can eat with your hands.

In the 1970s, chefs from the Basque Country brought new cooking ideas from France to Spain. One Basque restaurant, Zalacaín, was the first in Spain to get the top rating in the Michelin Guide. Today, the Basque Country has many top-rated restaurants and is a favorite place for people who love good food. The city of San Sebastián has a special school called the Basque Culinary Center where people learn more about cooking.

Enjoying pintxos together is a popular way for people in the Basque Country to spend time and visit different places.

Sports

The Basque Country has many traditional sports called Herri Kirolak, such as Basque pelota. This sport is similar to games like real tennis and squash. Players from this area often compete for both Spanish and French teams and do very well in international contests.

The Basque Country is also famous for its football clubs. Athletic Club from Bilbao is well-known because it only uses players who were born or trained in the Basque Country. Another top team is Real Sociedad from San Sebastián. The area has produced many great football players, such as Xabi Alonso and Andoni Zubizarreta.

Cycling is also very popular here. The region hosts important races like the Tour of the Basque Country and the Clásica de San Sebastián, and has had successful cyclists such as Abraham Olano.

Notable people

The Basque Country has been home to many famous people from different fields.

Some well-known Basque people include Francisco de Vitoria, a philosopher who helped shape ideas about fair wars and international rules. Juan Sebastián Elcano finished the first journey around the whole world by ship. Ignatius of Loyola started the group known as the Jesuits. Other famous Basques are artists, writers, and athletes who have achieved great things in their areas.