BASQUE COUNTRY, COME AND SPEAK ABOUT IT

The Basque Country (Basque : Euskal Herria) is a cultural region in the western Pyrenees mountains that spans the border between France and Spain, extending down to the coast of the Bay of Biscay (Cantabrian Sea) . It corresponds more or less with the homeland of the Basque people and language.

Here lives more or less 3,000,000 people.

Basque Country has got 3 official languages: Spanish (in the part of Spain), France(in the part of France) and Basque(in both parts). It may be some villages which are basque only spoken.

One of Basque Country's highest peaks is Aizkorri (5012ft/1528m).We´ve got also kms and kms of beachs.

The city from where we are from is Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country's capital. It's located in the South. It is home for the most important Basque institutions. The city is rich in heritage, in fact, its medieval Old Town was declared Monumental Complex in 1997. It is gothic designed and has got narrow streets, as well as important medieval and Reinaissance buildings.

In the old Town we can admire four towers: Santa Maria Cathedral or Old Cathedral (who has appeared in lots of books, for example the last one of Ken Follet), the Church of San Pedro, The church of San Vicente and the chuch of San Miguel.

Church of Santa Maria

There is also a square, call Virgen Blanca, the most known square of Vitoria. On the first days of August, the descent of Celedon, which takes places at this point, marks the beginning of the most important festivals in the city.

Vitoria is one of the cities with the best quality of life in Europe due to its large and large green zones. It offers 20m2 of green zones per inhabitant, the highest rate in the whole country.

The city also offers a wide range of activities throughout the year. It houses lots of museums and culture centres and some of the most important cultural events as the Basque Cinema Week, The Spring Craftwork Fair or the International Jazz Festival.

The other cities of Basque Country are:


Bilbao-Bilbo(capital of Bizkaia), famous because of its Guggenheim,

San Sebastian-Donosti(capital of Gipuzkoa) , famous because its Zinemaldia(Zinema's festival), the beach call La Concha and its Pintxos.

La Concha beach

Peine del Viento

Pintxos

Pamplona-Irunea (capital of Nafarroa), it has lots of parks and is famous because there are holded San Fermines on July.

There are also another three cities which are in Iparralde( the part of France):

Baiona(capital of Lapurdi)

Maule(capital of Zuberoa)

Donibane Garazi (capital of Behe Nafarroa)


The typical sports from this country are:
Sokatira

Harrijasotzaile


Eskupilota


Zesta punta

Arraun




We also have famous basketball and football teams:

Baskonia(basketball)


Athletic Bilbao or Real Sociedad (football)