BASQUE COUNTRY

DREAM AND MADNESS: WHERE EVERYTHING HAS STARTED

My life as a traveler started in the Basque Country.
The Sardinians have a historic bond with the Basques and I wanted to live it in person, choosing to travel alone in this heart-shaped nation.
For me it was one of the easiest trip: I sailed to Barcelona and from there I drove all the way: about 1,700 km during 15 days. Embarking on my car gave me the confidence to make this trip alone.

Later I did other weekends in Bilbo and Iruña, and every time I looked back thinking thatmy travel started here, dreaming of madness, with the madness of dreaming.

WHEN A LANGUAGE DOES A NATION

You cannot come here without trying to understand independence, going beyond the flags of ikurrina in the balconies or the road signs written first in Basque and then, maybe, in Spanish or French.
Into every pub you have to look at the photos of men and women prisoners that parents and friends asked to come back closer to home.

The history of the Basque People is between an inscription consumed by the fight and a new mural in a “pelota” field, the basque ball game.

In the Basque language, called euskera, the Basque Country is called Euskal Herriawhich literally means“the people who speak the Basque language”.
Having almost never been able to live freely into its borders, the Euskera has always represented the element of union of its people.
It is considered an isolated language, with no connection with other languages, the only pre-Indo-European survived the invasions after 1200 BC.

WHERE IS THE BASQUE COUNTRY?

The name itself “Basque Country” (Euskadi in Basque, País Vasco in Spanish) can cause some confusion.
Looking at Spain, the autonomous community of the Basque Country consists of the provinces of Álava (in Basque Araba, in Spanish Álava), Biscay (in Basque Bizkaia, in Spanish Vizcaya) and Gipuzkoa (in Spanish Guipúzcoa).

When one refers to the Basque Country as a nation, speaks instead of the seven historical regions that have always spoken the Basque language:
– south of the Pyrenees (for those who don’t consider them Spain):
NAVARRE (Nafarroa in Basque, most important cities Iruña/Pamplona, Tutera/Tudela),
ÁLAVA (Gasteiz/Vitoria, Amurrio),
BISCAY (Bilbo/Bilbao, Barakaldo/Baracaldo, Getxo/Guecho, Gernika/Guernica)
GIPUZKOA (Donostia/San Sebastián, Zarautz/Zarauz, Irun)

– north of the Pyrenees (for those who don’t consider them France):
LABOURD (Lapurdi in Basque, Labourd in French, most important cities Ustaritz, Baiona/Bayonne, Miarritze/Biarritz)
LOWER NAVARRE (Nafarroa Beherea in Basque, main town Donibane Garazi/Saint Jean Pied de Port)

Zazpiak Bat is the name of the crest of Euskal Herria, represented by a shield divided into six sections (three upper and three lower) with the coat of arms of the regions that make up the Basque nation (only in this case Navarre and Lower Navarre are united into a single region).

HOW TO GET TO EUSKAL HERRIA

Plane

The Bilbo airport (Bilboko aireportua) is the most important of the Basque Country.
There are numerous daily connections with Barcelona, Spanish cities, Berlin, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Milan, Paris and Rome.
The Bizkaibus A3247 bus connects the airport with the center of Bilbo every 15 minutes.

The Donostia airport actually rises almost equidistant between Donostia and Miarritze. The flights connect the area exclusively with Barcelona and Madrid.

Iruña airport has connections with Madrid and seasonally with some foreign cities.

Although it is not in Euskal Herria, it may be useful to check flights to Santander, Burgos and Zaragoza.

Train

Renfeis the Spanish public company that deals with the transport of passengers and objects on the Iberian peninsula.
It is usually possible to book from 60 days before departure.

Bus

In my opinion the best way to get around the Iberian peninsula, not having a car, is by bus.
Alsais the leading company for connections between major cities
I have used his services several times and have always found perfect punctuality when starting and arriving early. The buses are comfortable and clean and the prices very affordable.
You just need to get organized for maximum air conditioning.

Car

Driving in the car gives you the freedom to stop in beautiful villages and little beaten by the classic destinations. The roads are always in excellent condition and even traveling on the motorway is pleasant and not very expensive.

THE MAIN CITIES

Gasteiz – Vitoria

The capital of the Basque Country is as beautiful as it is little known.
The modern part in constant development and the intact medieval quarter above the hill, make the stay in the city unforgettable which, with its 42 square meters of parks per person, is among the greenest in Europe.

Bilbo – Bilbao

Increasingly at the center of tourist destinations, the capital of Bizkaia is an important port and industrial center.
It is easy to identify it especially with the titanium structure of the Guggenheim Museum, but Bilbo is much more.

Iruña – Pamplona

I have been to Iruña three times in the week from 6 to 14 July.
Because Iruña is San Firmin and it’s impossible to imagine this beautiful city in the other 356 days of the year.
If you want to know all about the San Firmin Feast, read the article and you’ll discover that there is more than just the famous running of the bulls.

Donostia – San Sebastian

The Kontxa Beach is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Its shell shape, perfectly recognizable not only from the top of Monte Urgull or Monte Igueldo reached by the 1912 cable car, represents Donostia in the world.
But don’t stop at the beach and lose yourself in the streets of the “casco viejo”.

Miarritze – Biarritz

The waves of the Atlantic Ocean have turned Miarritze into one of Europe’s must-see surfing destinations.
There are countless specialist shops but even those who are not practical on the table can spend nice days here.