Basque Country (greater region)

The Basque Country (Basque: Euskal Herria; Spanish: País Vasco; French: Pays basque) is the home of the Basque people. It is located in the western Pyrenees, right on the border between France and Spain, near the Bay of Biscay.

The Basque Country includes parts of Spain called the Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country and Navarre, as well as the Northern Basque Country in France. This area is special because it is where the Basque people (Basque: Euskaldunak), their language (Basque: Euskara), and many traditions live. Even though the region has many different groups, some people, especially in southern Navarre, do not always feel they are part of the Basque culture. The idea of the greater Basque Country can be tricky and sometimes causes debate.

Etymology

Further information: Spanish names of the Basque Country

The name in Basque is Euskal Herria. The word is hard to translate into other languages because the Basque word herri has many meanings, such as nation, country, land, people, town, village, and settlement. The first part, Euskal, comes from Euskara, which means "the Basque language". So a more exact translation would be "the land or people of the Basque language", a concept that is hard to express in just one word in most other languages.

The oldest known uses of the name appear in writings from around 1564–1567 and in a Bible translation from 1571.

Territory

The Basque Country is a region home to the Basque people, called Euskal Herria in the Basque language. It first included seven traditional areas in the early 1600s. Today, it is split into two main parts: the Northern and Southern Basque Countries.

The Northern Basque Country lies in France, in the western part of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques area. It includes three provinces: Labourd, Lower Navarre, and Soule. The Southern Basque Country is in Spain and is larger and more populated. It includes the Basque Autonomous Community with three provinces: Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa. The other part is the Chartered Community of Navarre, with its capital in Pamplona-Iruña.

Climate

The Basque Country has a warm, wet climate influenced by the ocean. Near the coast, places like Bayonne and Biarritz feel very similar to areas in Green Spain. Further inland, especially in Navarre, the weather can change more between seasons, feeling a bit like a Mediterranean climate.

Geology

The Basque-Cantabrian Basin is found at the western end of the Pyrenees mountains. It is bordered by old rock masses on its northwest and southeast sides. Over many years, different layers of rock have built up here, including important limestone layers that once held large amounts of iron ore. People mined this iron for over a hundred years, taking out more than 300 million tons before the early 1900s. The area also contains other valuable minerals found within the rock layers and veins.

History

Main article: History of the Basque people

The Basque people have a long and interesting history. Ancient writers like the Greek author Strabo and the Roman writer Pliny the Elder wrote about Basque tribes such as the Vascones. During Roman times, several Basque tribes lived in the area, including the Vascones, Varduli, and Caristi.

In the Middle Ages, the area known as Vasconia was home to many small groups and counties. Over time, some areas became part of bigger kingdoms. By the end of the Middle Ages, some Basque lands were included in the Kingdom of Castile, while others became part of France.

During the modern period, changes continued. In the 1800s, ideas about nationhood grew, leading to the development of Basque nationalism. Today, the Basque Country has its own government in Spain, but some people still seek more self-rule. The area in France does not have the same level of recognition.

Demographics

The Basque Country is home to about 3 million people. Most live near big cities, especially around Bilbao. The area has more people living close together than average in Spain and France, but some parts, like the French countryside and parts of Navarre, have fewer people.

About 70% of the people live in the Basque Autonomous Community, 20% in Navarre, and 10% in the Northern Basque Country in France. Many people in the Basque Autonomous Community were born in other parts of Spain and moved there for work when the area grew more industrial. Some people left the Basque Country due to political tensions, moving to other parts of Spain.

Largest cities

Metropolitan areas

• Greater Bilbao: 984 745 inhabitants (2014)
• Greater San Sebastian: 447 844 inhabitants (2014)
• Greater Pamplona: 346 716 inhabitants (2012)
• Metropolitan area of Vitoria: 277 812 inhabitants (2015)
• Metropolitan area of Eibar: 70 000 inhabitants (2012)
• Agglomération Côte Basque Adour: 126 072 inhabitants (2013)

Non-Basque minorities

Historical minorities

Different groups, like the Romani, lived in the Basque Country. The Cagots were a group who lived separately and could only marry among themselves. The Cascarots were a Roma group in the Northern Basque Country. The Erromintxela were a special group of Kalderash Roma who spoke a mixed language. The Mercheros traveled as merchants and later settled near cities.

In the Middle Ages, many Franks settled along the Way of Saint James. Some were from France, but others came from Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Switzerland, Poland, and Denmark. Gascon was spoken in San Sebastián until the early 1900s. Navarre had Jewish and Muslim minorities who were expelled or forced to assimilate after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

Recent immigration

The Basque Country, like other wealthy areas in Spain, attracted people from poorer regions seeking jobs. Since the 1980s, it has also seen immigrants from Eastern Europe, North Africa, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and China, mostly settling in big cities. However, the number of immigrants is lower than in Madrid and Catalonia.

Language

Main article: Basque language

Today, most people in the Basque Country speak either Spanish or French. Both countries tried to limit the use of the Basque language in the past. The Basque language has many dialects, and a standard form was introduced in the 1960s to help it be used in education.

In the Basque Autonomous Community, Basque is an official language along with Spanish. There are special schools where children can learn in Basque. However, the use of Basque varies, and it is not spoken by everyone. In Navarre, there are different types of schools, some teaching in Basque and others in Spanish.

In the French Basque Country, the Basque language faces challenges because French is the main language, and there are obstacles to teaching Basque in schools. The future of the Basque language there remains uncertain.

Universities

The Basque Country has a rich history of higher education. The earliest university was the University of Oñati, founded in 1540. Later, in the late 1800s, efforts began to create more schools to support growing industries. This led to the creation of engineering and business schools, which eventually became part of larger universities.

During the Spanish Civil War, a public university was briefly established in Bilbao but closed soon after. In the following decades, more schools were founded, eventually leading to the creation of the University of the Basque Country. Today, there are several universities, including the University of Navarre in Pamplona and the Mondragon University in Mondragón.

Politics

Since the late 1900s, people in the Basque Country have had different ideas about what the area should be. Some want it to be an independent country, while others do not. This has led to many changes in political groups and leaders over the years.

In recent elections, different parties have won seats in government. In Spain, groups like the Basque Nationalist Party and others have taken part in making decisions. In France, where the Basque Country is also found, local political groups have grown in popularity and taken part in elections too.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Basque Country

Sports

See also: Football in the Basque Country

The Basque Country is known for its love of sports, especially football. Many famous football players come from this area. The top teams play in Spain's league system, and some teams only hire players from the Basque region.

Other popular sports in the Basque Country include rugby, cycling, and traditional games like wood chopping and stone lifting. The region's mountains also make it a great place for activities like mountaineering and surfing.