Page 125 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION  123
THE BASQUE COUNTRY

Situated on the Bay of Biscay, and
bordering France to the east, the
Basque Country is a region where
green hills meet Atlantic beaches.
Visitors can enjoy the varied coastline, historic inland towns, avant-garde art
and architecture, excellent cuisine and the unique culture of the Basque people.
Basque customs and traditions – very much alive today – add a richness and
colour to the region.

The Basque Coun try is divided into three by the Franco regime. In the 1960s, the
provinces – Vizcaya, Álava and Guipúzcoa – ETA organization began an armed struggle
with the capital in Vitoria. Little is against Franco’s repression, demanding
known about the origins of the Basque complete Basque independence. When
people, except that they are the oldest demo cracy returned to Spain in the
pre-Indo-European ethnic group on the 1970s, the Basque Country was again
Iberian peninsula. granted autonomy, which was accepted
Secure in their mountain homeland, the by most moderate Basque nationalists.
Basques lived in isolation from the rest of ETA continued its armed campaign for
Spain for centuries, and so retained their independence, but in 2011 a definitive
distinct traditional language (Euskera) and ceasefire was announced.
laws (fueros). When, in the 19th century, As a holiday destination, the Atlantic
Spain started to become more centralized, coast offers a tempting variety of sandy
the Basques felt threatened and began to beaches, rías and cliffs. In the larger cities,
fight to maintain their privileges. With the museums give visitors the chance not only
onset of indus trialization and the influx of to learn about the history of the Basque
thousands of people in search of work, lands, but also, in Bilbao for instance, to
nationalist sentiment took hold. At the admire fantastic modern art. Those wishing
end of the century, during the Second for a more low-key experience can head
Republic, the Basque Country was granted inland to the region’s historic towns, such
autonomy, though this was later repealed as the former university town of Oñati.

A typical Basque farmhouse in the countryside near Gernika-Lumo
The flower-covered balcony of Cafe Bizvete in Bilbao

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