Page 121 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

NOR THERN SP AIN  119

THE BASQUE COUNTRY,

NAVARRA AND LA RIOJA

Vizcaya • Guipúzcoa • Álava • La Rioja • Navarra

The landscapes of the Basque Country, land of an ancient
people of controversial origin, range from green hills to
Atlantic beaches. Also enjoying a remarkable setting is the
former medieval kingdom of Navarra, which is partly Basque
and sits across the beautiful western Pyrenees. To the south,
the vineyards of La Rioja produce many of Spain’s finest wines.
The Basques are a race apart – they will known as Donostia. Euskara is also
not let you forget that theirs is a culture spoken in parts of Navarra, which is
different from any in Spain – and the counted as part of the wider (unofficial)
Basque regional government enjoys Basque Country. Many of its finest
considerable autonomy from Madrid. sights – the towns of Olite and Estella,
The Basque Country (Euskadi is the and the monastery of Leyre – date from
Basque name) is an important indus trial the Middle Ages, when Navarra was a
region blessed with spectacular land­ kingdom straddling the Pyrenees.
scapes. The Basques are great deep­sea Pamplona, its capital, is best known for
fishermen and fish plays a major role in its daredevil bullrunning fiesta of San
their imaginative cuisine, regarded by Fermines, which is held in July.
many as the best in Spain. As well as its vineyards and bode gas,
Unrelated to any other tongue, the La Rioja is a fertile region of vegetable
Basque language, Euskara, is widely gar dens. Among its many historic sights
used on signs and most towns have are the cathedral of Santo Domingo
two names; the fashionable resort of de la Calzada and the monasteries of
San Sebastián, for exam ple, is officially San Millán de la Cogolla and Yuso.

Basque farmhouse near Gernika-Lumo in the Basque Country
Beautiful yellow fields of La Rioja in summertime

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