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, with 347,342 residents. 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 is made up of 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 mountain ranges. The northern part near the coast has rough cliffs and small inlets, while the middle area is a high plateau. The southern part shares characteristics with other areas near the Ebro River, where some Rioja wine is made. The Plaiaundi Ecology Park is a coastal wetland where many birds live, especially during migration season.

The Basque Country has different climates. The northern valleys have wet weather all year with moderate temperatures. The middle area has warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The southern part near the Ebro River has cold, dry winters and very warm, dry summers, but it is milder than areas farther inland.

Demographics

See also: Immigration to Spain

Almost half of the people living in the Basque Country, which has 2,227,684 inhabitants, live in the area around Bilbao. Six of the ten biggest cities in the region are part of the Bilbao area, known as Greater Bilbao. These cities are Bilbao, Barakaldo, Getxo, Portugalete, Santurtzi and Basauri.

Many people in the Basque Country were born in other places. Over the past 100 years, most came from other parts of Spain, especially from Galicia or Castile and León. Recently, more people have come from other countries, mainly from South America.

As of 2024, there are 295,902 people from outside the Basque Country, making 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 has faced changes over time. It was used less over many years because of people moving in from other parts of Spain, not enough schools teaching Basque, and government rules that did not support the language. After 1982, when the Basque Country got more control over its own 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, but there are still discussions about how much power it should have. In 2003, there was a plan to change these rules, but it was not accepted by the Spanish government. The leader of the Basque Country today is Iñigo Urkullu, who belongs to the Basque Nationalist Party.

Politics

The Basque Country is set up as a group of three main areas, called provinces. These areas have kept some of their own rules and ways of doing things for a very long time, even when other rulers tried to change them. Later, new rules in 1978 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 be able to 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 is the most productive area in Spain. It has a higher amount of money made per person than both the whole of Spain and the European Union. This is because it has strong industries and good services.

Historically, the Basque Country was known for making 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 a big part of Basque culture. The city of San Sebastián is known for having very high-quality food that you can find almost anywhere. 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 changed how people cook, bringing new 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 it is a favorite place for people who love good food to visit. The city of San Sebastián even has a special school called the Basque Culinary Center where people study and learn more about cooking and food.

Enjoying pintxos together is a popular way for people in the Basque Country to spend time and visit different places, much like going on a friendly walk to try small dishes at many spots.

Sports

The Basque Country has many traditional sports called Herri Kirolak, such as Basque pelota, which is related 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.