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The Basque Country is a cross-border cultural region that has a distinctive
culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
including its own
language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...
, customs, festivals, and
music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...
. The
Basques The Basques ( or ; ; ; ) are a Southwestern European ethnic group, characterised by the Basque language, a Basque culture, common culture and shared genetic ancestry to the ancient Vascones and Aquitanians. Basques are indigenous peoples, ...
living in the territory are primarily represented by the symbol of the flag
Ikurriña The flag of the Basque Country, also known as the ikurrina (in Basque)EuskaltzaindiaDictionary of the Standard Basque, retrieved 2010-10-04. or ikurriña ( Spanish spelling of the Basque term), is the official flag of the Basque Country Auton ...
, as well as the
Lauburu The lauburu (from Basque ''lau'', "four" + ''buru'', "head") is an ancient swastika with four comma-shaped heads and the most widely known traditional symbol of the Basque Country and the Basque people. In the past, it has also been associated ...
cross and the
Zazpiak Bat Zazpiak Bat is a heraldic nickname for the Basque coat of arms which includes the arms of the seven Basque provinces, stressing their unity. It was designed by the historian Jean de Jaurgain in 1897 for the ''Congrès et Fêtes de la Tradition ...
coat of arms. The ''
Gernikako Arbola ''Gernikako Arbola'' ('the Tree of Gernika' in Basque) is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayan people, and by extension for the Basque people as a whole. It is located in Gernika, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. ...
'' and the '' Agur Jaunak'' are its most recognizable anthems in music, and the oak its most revered tree (cf. the aforementioned Tree of Gernika). Despite their present conspicuous secularization, the Basques have been
Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
for centuries. However, they owe much of their religious festivals to ancestral beliefs and pagan sites, sometimes extending as late as the 15th century. Saint Miguel, Saint Mary, Saint John and Saint Peter are its most worshiped and ancient cults, while during the Modern period new saints came into being, notably
Saint Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola ( ; ; ; ; born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Basques, Basque Spaniard Priesthood in the Catholic Church, Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six compa ...
and
Saint Francis Xavier Francis Xavier, SJ (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; ; ; ; ; ; 7 April 15063 December 1552), venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Navarrese cleric and missionary. He co-founded the Society of Jesus and, as a representative o ...
.


Language

The traditional Basque districts are home to Basque, an
ergative language The term ergative is used in grammar in three different meanings: * Ergative case, the grammatical case of the subject of a transitive verb in an ergative-absolutive language * Ergative–absolutive language, a language in which the subject of a ...
. However, Basque has showed a receding trend, and it is nowadays a minority language due mainly to political fragmentation, with higher usage intensity in
Biscay Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the Bay of Biscay, eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilb ...
,
Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa ( , ; ; ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiqu ...
, northern-western
Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...
, and western sub-Pyrenean areas of the
Pyrénées Atlantiques The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. F ...
.
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
and French remain the most widely used everyday communication languages in their respective administrative districts, with the legal status of Basque varying depending on the area. Basque medium education is provided for by the
Ikastola An (, plural ) is a type of primary and secondary school in the Basque Autonomous Community, Navarre and (to a much lesser extent) the French Basque Country (see Basque Country) in which pupils are taught either entirely or predominantly in the ...
Federation, and sometimes the public network. It is the main linguistic option in the
Basque Autonomous Community Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous com ...
, while in some areas of the
French Basque Country The French Basque Country (; ; ), or Northern Basque Country (, or , ), is a region lying on the west of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Since 1 January 2017, it constitutes the Basque Municipal Community (; ) presided ...
and
Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...
its presence is small. Town councils operating in Basque clustered around the consortium UEMA for mutual support and legal assistance.


Literature

Literature in the Basque Country may refer to the literature made in Basque, Spanish, and French. Basque, historically the primary language of the territory at either side of current French-Spanish border, was not prone to be written until the early Modern Period, aside some short poems (''Beotibarko gudua''), letters (between Navarrese high-ranking officials in the early 15th century), loose phrases, and notations. Stories and poems were transmitted down generations by oral tradition. The official Spanish and French languages were preferred (often compulsory) for written works starting in the 16th century. However, the coming of the printer allowed for the first glossy Basque literary sprouts to spring up (
Bernard Etxepare Bernard Etxepare (pronounced ) was a Basque writer of the 16th century, most famous for a collection of poems titled ("First Fruits of the Basque Language") that he published in 1545, the first book to be published in the Basque language. Spell ...
with ''Linguae vasconum primitiae'', 1545;
Joanes Leizarraga Joanes Leizarraga (1506–1601) was a 16th-century Basque priest. He is most famous for being the first to attempt the standardisation of the Basque language and for the translation of religious works into Basque, in particular the first Basque tr ...
) in the mid-16th century. The Royal Basque Society fostered arts and literature in the late 18th century. Much of Basque literature was ''
costumbrismo ''Costumbrismo'' (in Catalan: ''costumisme''; sometimes anglicized as costumbrism, with the adjectival form costumbrist) is the literary or pictorial interpretation of local everyday life, mannerisms, and customs, primarily in the Hispanic sce ...
'' literature (''Garoa'' by Txomin Agirre, 1912), or Romantic historic novels like ''
Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII ''Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII'' (''Amaya, or the Basques in the 8th century'') is a Romanticism, Romantic historical novel published in 1877 (in the magazine ''Ciencia cristiana'') and in 1879 (as a book) by Francisco Navarro-Villoslada, ...
'' by Navarro Villoslada (1879) and, especially in Basque, often aimed at Catholic indoctrination up to the Second Republic period, but plays, lyric poems in
bertso Bertsolaritza or bertsolarism is the art of singing improvisation#Poetry, improvised songs in Basque language, Basque according to various melodies and rhyming patterns. Bertsos can be composed at a variety of occasions but are performed genera ...
metre ( Bilintx, Joan Batista Elizanburu, the Lore Jokoak festivals), and press articles were also produced. Meanwhile, Spanish language writers started to stand out in the context of the 1898 crisis, figures such as Unamuno and
Pio Baroja Pio or PIO may refer to: Places * Pio Lake, Italy * Pio Island, Solomon Islands * Pio Point, Bird Island, south Atlantic Ocean People * Pio (given name) * Pio (surname) * Pio (footballer, born 1986), Brazilian footballer * Pio (footballer, born 1 ...
(''El árbol de la ciencia'', 1911), hailing from urban areas like Bilbao and Donostia. After the barren postwar years, a new generation set an innovative trend along the lines of contemporary European literature, authors like Txillardegi (influenced by existentialism), Ramon Saizarbitoria,
Gabriel Aresti Gabriel Aresti Segurola (October 14, 1933 – June 5, 1975) was one of the most important writers and poets in the Basque language in the 20th century. He grew up in Bilbao, which was a Spanish-speaking environment. Although his father talked to ...
in Basque, or works in Spanish like '' Tiempo de silencio'', as well as Ignacio Aldecoa and Blas de Otero (''Pido la paz y la palabra'', 1955 (1975)) with their social realism. A committed literature approach appeared unavoidable in the social and political context of Franco's dictatorship. However, the trend towards diversification in genres and styles was confirmed during the 80s and 90s with the emergence of regional editorial houses, and authors as diverse as
Joseba Sarrionandia Joseba Sarrionandia Uribelarrea (Iurreta, Biscay, April 13, 1958) is a Basque writer who has published a large number of books of poetry and short stories, as well as novels. He has been awarded on numerous occasions for his work, and is nowadays ...
(''Ni ez naiz hemengoa'', 1985),
Bernardo Atxaga Bernardo Atxaga (born 27 July 1951), pseudonym of Joseba Irazu Garmendia, is a Spanish Basque writer and self-translator. He is a full member of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language since 2006, in November 2010, he was also named a member ...
(''Obabakoak'', 1988), Pako Aristi, Aingeru Epalza (in Basque), or Toti Martinez de Lezea, Miguel Sanchez Ostiz and Espido Freire in Spanish. In the 90s and on into the 2000s,
Marie Darrieussecq Marie Darrieussecq (; born 3 January 1969, Bayonne) is a French writer. She is also a translator, and has practised as a psychoanalyst. Her books explore the unspoken and abandoned territories in literature. Her work is dense, marked by a consta ...
from Bayonne should be highlighted in French language literature.


Music

Music in the Basque Country has evolved from its historic characteristic instruments (
txistu The txistu () is a kind of fipple flute that became a symbol for the Basque folk revival. The name may stem from the general Basque word ''ziztu'' "to whistle" with palatalisation of the ''z'' (cf ''zalaparta'' > ''txalaparta''). This three-hol ...
,
xirula The xirula (, spelled ''chiroula'' in French, also pronounced ''txirula'', ''(t)xülüla'' in Zuberoan Basque; Gascon: ''flabuta''; French: ''galoubet'') is a small three holed woodwind instrument or flute usually made of wood akin to the Basqu ...
,
trikitixa The trikiti (standard Basque, pronounced ) trikitixa ( dialectal Basque, pronounced ), or eskusoinu txiki ("little hand-sound", pronounced )) is a two-row Basque diatonic button accordion with right-hand rows keyed a fifth apart and twelve uni ...
, etc.) and singing traditions to include a whole range of musical options in step with a modern European context. Popular tunes have been closely related to the ''
bertso Bertsolaritza or bertsolarism is the art of singing improvisation#Poetry, improvised songs in Basque language, Basque according to various melodies and rhyming patterns. Bertsos can be composed at a variety of occasions but are performed genera ...
'' tradition, but the tunes used are often variations of a common European folk music heritage. The coming of the Enlightenment and the Royal Basque Society saw attempts of establishing an upper status music, e.g. bringing more dignity to the txistu, and technically developing it. This trend toward a more sophisticated music catering to the upper classes saw its heyday in the early 20th century, with acclaimed composers like Jesus Guridi or Jose Maria Usandizaga (who held friendship ties with the French Basque
Maurice Ravel Joseph Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with Impressionism in music, Impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composer ...
), featuring Basque topic
zarzuela () is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
s, operas, and operettas. In the run-up to the golden age of the opera theatres (Victoria Eugenia, Teatro Gayarre, Teatro Arriaga), among individual singers,
Julián Gayarre Sebastián Julián Gayarre Garjón (9 January 1844 in Roncal, Navarre, Spain – 2 January 1890 in Madrid, Spain), better known as Julián Gayarre, was a Spanish opera singer who created the role of Marcello in Donizetti's '' Il Duca d'Alba'' ...
from Roncal struck a chord in the opera scene. Local choirs and ''ochotes'' also developed. This is a period of strong influence of the ''costumbrismo'' and overall nationalist motifs. In the early 1960s, the seeds of the Basque music revival were sown at either side of the French-Spanish border with new young figures eager to sing their ideals (Mixel Labeguerie,
Benito Lertxundi Benito Lertxundi is a Basque singer-songwriter born in Orio, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country in 1942. He is an acclaimed and veteran figure in Basque music, who spearheaded with other key figures its revival in the 1960s and following years, showing a ...
, etc.), incorporating the guitar as musical instrument. Radio and television (ever more local) provided the springboard for numerous groups, and in the early 80s punk music saw a surge in the
Southern Basque Country The Southern Basque Country (; ) refers to the Basque territories southside of the Pyrenees, within the Iberian Peninsula. Name In Basque language, known as '' Euskera'', natives have referred to the Basque districts as ''Euskal Herria(k)''. ...
, crystallizing in a strong musical movement ('' Basque Radical Rock''). Basque traditional music has come to integrate new influences and technical innovations (Tapia eta Leturia,
Kepa Junkera Kepa Junkera Urraza (born 1965 in Bilbao, Basque Country (autonomous community), Euskadi, Spain) is a Basque people, Basque musician and composer. A master of the trikitixa, the diatonic accordion, he has recorded more than 10 albums. Allmusic ...
, etc.), while many pop-rock bands have confirmed their own paths and even go international, groups as diverse as Gatibu, Barricada">Gatibu">Allmusic ...
, etc.), while many pop-rock bands have confirmed their own paths and even go international, groups as diverse as Gatibu, Barricada, Berri Txarrak, Fito y los Fitipaldis, or La Oreja de Van Gogh. The proliferation of community centres (''kultur etxeak'') and private music venues have set the foundations of a vibrant music scene, complementing the existing squat circuit catering to emerging bands. In the late 90s, music festivals sprang up all over the Basque territory, events like Bilbao BBK Live (Bilbao)
Euskal Herria Zuzenean
(Arrosa, 40 km SE from Bayonne),
Azkena Rock Festival The Azkena Rock Festival (a.k.a. ARF) is one of the most relevant Spanish rock festivals. It is celebrated in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava) organized by Last Tour International. ARF is notorious due to its diverse cartel of groups and for the submerse ' ...
(Vitoria-Gasteiz), as well as other smaller ones. Catering to the classical music tastes, the ''Quincena Musical'' stands out in Donostia, while jazz and folk find their best showcases in
Getxo Getxo () (Spanish: ''Guecho'') is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, in Spain. It is part of Greater Bilbao, and has 75,430 inhabitants (2023). Getxo ...
(International Folk and Jazz Festivals),
Vitoria-Gasteiz Vitoria-Gasteiz (; ; also historically spelled Vittoria in English) is the seat of government and the capital city of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country and of the provinces of Spain, province of Álava in northern Spain. I ...
( International Jazz Festival), and Donostia (Heineken Jazzaldia).


Media

Since the early 2000s, Basque‐language media have undergone a marked digital transformation, led by the Basque public broadcaster
EiTB Euskal Irrati Telebista (; ; acronym EITB, branded eitb) is the Basque Autonomous Community's public broadcast service, which broadcasts throughout the Basque Country. Its main brand is Euskal Telebista (ETB, Basque Television). EITB is the l ...
. Faced with declining viewership from 2004 onwards, EiTB reorganized its radio, television and online services under the “EITB Media” umbrella in 2020, launching mobile apps, a redesigned website and the OTT platform Primeran, announced in May 2021 and released in mid-September 2023 with over 3,000 titles of films, documentaries, sports, music and children’s programmes, aimed at younger, Basque-speaking audiences as part of its EITB 2030 strategy. Simultaneously, rising costs for paper, energy and services, alongside insufficient public subsidies, have compelled Basque media outlets to explore innovative solutions, such as AI-based subtitling and pilot projects for 2025–27, and to launch new platforms like Bikain in 2023. Beyond technological change, outlets such as Berria and
EiTB Euskal Irrati Telebista (; ; acronym EITB, branded eitb) is the Basque Autonomous Community's public broadcast service, which broadcasts throughout the Basque Country. Its main brand is Euskal Telebista (ETB, Basque Television). EITB is the l ...
remain crucial to Basque language maintenance: they provide style guides, educational platforms, digital text corpora for automatic translation and contribute to standardization efforts.


Art and cinema

In recent years,
Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...
art and cinema has also undergone a notable revival, both in its production and its international recognition. On 18 June 2024, the Etxepare Basque Institute released a new edition of ''Basque Cinema'', by Joxean Fernández, as part of its twelve-book BASQUE series; this volume offers a comprehensive survey of the region’s film history, from the advent of the
cinematograph Cinematograph or kinematograph is an early term for several types of motion picture film mechanisms. The name was used for movie cameras as well as film projectors, or for complete systems that also provided means to print films (such as the ...
in the late nineteenth century to present-day international successes, and highlights key moments such as the first Basque-language feature ''Gure Sor Lekua'' and the ten
Goya Awards The Goya Awards () are Spain's main national annual film awards. They are presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. The first ceremony was held in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Ar ...
won by '' Handia'' in 2018. Supported by public funding and institutions like the
San Sebastián International Film Festival The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; , ) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spain, Spanish city of Donostia, Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Countr ...
and the Basque Film Archive, the industry has seen a resurgence of Basque-language filmmaking under figures such as Joxe Mari Goenaga and Asier Altuna, with recent works including ''20,000 Species of Bees'' (2023) earning acclaim at major festivals. Moreover, the region’s varied landscapes and distinctive urban architecture have attracted both domestic and international productions, from the blockbuster comedy ''
Ocho apellidos vascos ''Spanish Affair'' (; ) is a 2014 Spanish comedy film directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro. It premiered in Spain on 14 March 2014. Six weeks after its release, it became the second List of highest-grossing films in Spain, biggest box-office hit ...
'' (2014), Spain’s highest-grossing film at over €56 million, to '' Maixabel'' (2021) and the Netflix series ''Intimacy'' (2021), filmed in locations ranging from Getaria and
Zumaia Zumaia (, ) is a small town in the north of Spain in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country. The town has two beaches (Itzurun and Santiago), which are of interest to geologists because they are situated among the longest set ...
to
Bilbao Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...
’s modern skyline.


Architecture

The concept of the house holds a special significance for the Basques, rendered as the generic ''etxea'', one that according to tradition was indivisible and to be inherited by the eldest child. The house in the forest is the '' baserri'' or farmstead, ubiquitous across the Atlantic basin, but almost absent in the central areas of
Álava Álava () or Araba (), officially Araba/Álava, is a Provinces of Spain, province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, heir of the ancient Basque señoríos#Lords of Álava, Lordship ...
and
Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...
, where traditionally the prevailing type of settlement is the village dotting those areas. The southern fringes of the Basque Country follow a pattern of more scattered and larger settlements (towns). Initially the farmsteads were built all in timber, but as of the 15th century the ground floor started to be framed in stone, limiting timber for the upper floors. The slope of the roofs is not very steep except in the Pyrenean valleys (Aezkoa, Zaraitzu, Roncal,
Soule Soule (; Basque language, Basque: Zuberoa; Zuberoan/ Soule Basque: Xiberoa or Xiberua; ) is a former viscounty and France, French Provinces of France, province and part of the present-day Pyrénées-Atlantiques ''département in France, départ ...
), where the construction of the roofs are more vertical in order to better cope with snowfall. In the late 19th century, new European styles left an imprint in the traditional Basque house. A blend of
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
and the traditional house coined a new style, especially in the
French Basque Country The French Basque Country (; ; ), or Northern Basque Country (, or , ), is a region lying on the west of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Since 1 January 2017, it constitutes the Basque Municipal Community (; ) presided ...
, the neo-Basque style, best represented in the Villa Arnaga of
Cambo-les-Bains Cambo-les-Bains (; ) is a town in the traditional Northern Basque Country, Basque province of Labourd, now in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in south-western France. It lies on the south-western bank of the river Nive ...
(Kanbo), home to the writer
Edmond Rostand Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand (, , ; 1 April 1868 – 2 December 1918) was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism and is known best for his 1897 play ''Cyrano de Bergerac''. Rostand's romantic plays contrasted with th ...
. The European architectural trends expanded to the main Basque cities along with their new urban schemes, e.g. Art Deco, Romantic, Modernist, Rationalist. The Ways of Saint James provided the channel for the penetration of civilian and especially religious architecture starting in the 12th century. The Romanesque and Gothic styles thrived in the period up to the 15th century, with its most outstanding samples found in central and southern Álava and Navarre.


Basque law

Within the Basque cultural sphere, law has long been central to both communal identity and self-governance. The modern Basque legal framework is rooted in the
Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country of 1979 (; ), widely known as the Statute of Gernika (; {{langx, es, Estatuto de Guernica), is the legal document organizing the political system of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country' ( ...
(approved in 1979), which recognizes
Euskadi The Basque Country or Basque Autonomous Community (), also officially called Euskadi (), is an autonomous community in northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. It surrounds two enclaves called Treviño ...
, comprising
Álava Álava () or Araba (), officially Araba/Álava, is a Provinces of Spain, province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, heir of the ancient Basque señoríos#Lords of Álava, Lordship ...
,
Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa ( , ; ; ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiqu ...
, and
Bizkaia Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao. Biscay is one of the most renowned and prosperou ...
, with the option to include
Navarra Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...
, as an
Autonomous Community of Spain The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Spai ...
, guarantees the co-official status of
Euskera Basque ( ; ) is a language spoken by Basques and other residents of the Basque Country, a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Basque is classified as a language isol ...
and
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
, and entrusts regional institutions with extensive powers over education, culture, public works, health, social security, police, media, civil law, heritage protection, natural-resource regulation, and interregional agreements, while reserving defense and foreign policy to the central government. Legislative authority resides in the
Basque Parliament The Basque Parliament (Basque language, Basque: ''Eusko Legebiltzarra'', Spanish language, Spanish: ''Parlamento Vasco'') is the legislative body of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community of Spain and the elected ...
, elected every four years by
proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (Political party, political parties) amon ...
, whose members enjoy parliamentary inviolability and oversee the budget and government confidence; executive power lies with the
Basque Government The Basque Government (, ; ) is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of the Basque government is known as the '' Lehendakari''. The Lehendakari is appointed by the Basque Parliament every four years, after a re ...
, headed by the Lendakari, which must resign upon electoral turnover, loss of parliamentary support, or the President’s departure. Judicially, the High Court of Justice stands as the apex court, with judge appointments favoring knowledge of Basque law and
Euskera Basque ( ; ) is a language spoken by Basques and other residents of the Basque Country, a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Basque is classified as a language isol ...
, and the Basque Autonomous Police serving judicial-police functions; historic territories retain exclusive jurisdiction over local governance, territorial demarcation, and elections, with an arbitration committee to resolve conflicts, and fiscal autonomy is maintained via the Economic Agreement that allocates tax-collection powers to the Basque treasury. Underlying this statute is the medieval
fueros (), (), (), () or () is a Spanish legal term and concept. The word comes from Latin , an open space used as a market, tribunal and meeting place. The same Latin root is the origin of the French terms and , and the Portuguese terms and ...
system; charters dating from the 10th century, upheld by
Castilian monarchs This is a list of kings regnant and queens regnant of the Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom and Crown of Castile. For their predecessors, see List of Castilian counts. Kings and Queens of Castile Jiménez dynasty House of Ivrea / Burgundy ...
through the Pase Foral (“obey but not enforce”) and codified in the Old (1452) and New (1526) Statutes of Bizkaia; which established local assemblies (notably the
General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...
beneath the Tree of Gernika) and ensured flexible, democratic governance until their repeal in 1876; remnants were incorporated into the Economic Agreement, and were revitalized under the
1978 Spanish Constitution The Spanish Constitution () is the supreme law of the Kingdom of Spain. It was enacted after its approval in 1978 in a constitutional referendum; it represents the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. The current version was ap ...
and the 1979 autonomy referendum.


Religion

In 2018, less than 1% of the population from
Basque Autonomous Community Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous com ...
carries out religious or civil participation and collaboration activities in organizations.


Cuisine

Basque cuisine Basque cuisine refers to the cuisine of the Basque Country and includes meats and fish grilled over hot coals, '' marmitako'' and lamb stews, cod, Tolosa bean dishes, paprikas from Lekeitio, '' pintxos'' (Basque '' tapas)'', Idiazabal shee ...
marries centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge innovation, anchoring the region’s cultural identity. An example of this is at the 2016
Smithsonian Folklife Festival The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, launched in 1967, is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage presented annually in the summer in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is held on the National Mall for two weeks around the Fo ...
, where chefs Igor Ozamiz Goiriena and Igor Cantabrana presented dishes at the Ostatua Kitchen that honoured time-tested methods while embracing new techniques. Renowned for having the highest number of
Michelin-starred The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic ...
restaurants per capita, Basque sukaldari (chefs) prize fresh, local seafood from the
Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay ( ) is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Point Penmarc'h to the Spanish border, and along the northern coast of Spain, extending westward ...
alongside organic produce, dairy and meats, exemplified by classics such as bacalao al pil-pil (salt cod in garlic-chili emulsion). Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, pioneers of New Basque Cuisine integrated French culinary methods without sacrificing regional character, a spirit that endured at the Basque Food Laboratory of the Escuela Superior de Hostelería Artxanda-Bilbao, where chefs experimented with modern technologies to elevate traditional ingredients.


Folklore

Basque folklore is a rich blend of ancient mythology, rural traditions, and evolving social practices, deeply embedded in the region's identity. Rooted in pre-Christian beliefs, it features a pantheon of mythic figures, including Mari, the
earth goddess Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
, and various beings such as
Olentzero Olentzero (, ; sometimes Olentzaro or Olantzaro) is a character in Basque Christmas tradition. According to Basque traditions, Olentzero comes to town late at night on 24 December to drop off presents for children. In some places he arrives la ...
, a gift-bearing character linked to
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
, and Akerbeltz, the protective goat spirit. Many of these traditions, while reshaped by
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
, persist in modern cultural expressions. The eguzkilore, a
thistle Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterized by leaves with sharp spikes on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the planton the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. T ...
-like plant, is traditionally hung on doorways to ward off evil spirits, and tales of lamiak, siren-like creatures, highlight the region's connection to natural forces. The practice of witchcraft, centered around the
akelarre ''Akelarre'' is a Basque term meaning Witches' Sabbath (a gathering of those practicing witchcraft). ''Akerra'' means male goat in the Basque language. Witches' sabbaths were envisioned as presided over by a goat. The word has been loaned to ...
, and the communal dances and rituals associated with
Carnival Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Carnival typi ...
, particularly in the
French Basque Country The French Basque Country (; ; ), or Northern Basque Country (, or , ), is a region lying on the west of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Since 1 January 2017, it constitutes the Basque Municipal Community (; ) presided ...
, reflect the region’s blending of the sacred and the secular. Rural sports, which originated from farming and
whaling Whaling is the hunting of whales for their products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that was important in the Industrial Revolution. Whaling was practiced as an organized industry as early as 875 AD. By the 16t ...
, continue in the form of
regattas Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water body, water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and ...
and pelota matches, while traditions like the pintxo-pote, where food and drink are shared in communal settings, have become vital parts of Basque life. Events like the
Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...
Basque Book and Record Fair, established in 1965, underscore the ongoing cultural significance of language and literature. These practices, from oral improvisation to rural sports ( herri kirolak), remain vibrant, ensuring the continuity of Basque cultural heritage.


Sport

Basque sport has developed along the lines of the European countries. Originating from medieval games and rural sports based on intra- and inter-community rivalry and challenges, Basque native sports have specialized and expanded up to date, with various degrees of success.
Basque pelota Basque pelota (Basque: '' pilota'', Spanish: '' pelota vasca'', French: '' pelote basque'') is the name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using one's hand, a racket, a wooden bat or a basket, against a wall (''frontis or fronto ...
(especially ''esku-huska'', handball) and rowing races are highly popular, while traditional bowls or hole drilling have remained largely local, limited to occasional events and celebrations. Like overall in Europe,
football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
caught on early on in time expanding from its main influence focus in Bilbao (early 20th century), after it was imported by English iron industry operators from southern England. Spanish 1st League teams include Athletic de Bilbao,
Real Sociedad Real Sociedad de Fútbol, more commonly referred to as Real Sociedad ( ; ''Royal Society'') in English, and Erreala or Reala in Basque language, Basque, is a Spanish professional sports club in the city of San Sebastián, Donostia / San Sebastián, ...
, and
SD Eibar Sociedad Deportiva Eibar (in ) is a Spanish football league teams, Spanish professional football club based in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, the men’s te ...
in the 2014–15 season.
Rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
is not played at a professional level in the Southern Basque Country, but bears witness to a loyal following and important teams in Gipuzkoa and Biscay, like, Getxo Rugby Taldea, AMPO Ordizia and more playing in the Spanish Top League. Basque rugby does hold a higher, professional profile in the French Rugby League, with the
Biarritz Olympique Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque (; ), usually known simply as Biarritz, is a French professional rugby union team based in the Iparralde, Basque city of Biarritz in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine ...
(BO) and the
Aviron Bayonnais Aviron Bayonnais (AB, ), commonly called Bayonne, is a French rugby union club from Bayonne (''Baiona'' in Basque) in Pyrénées-Atlantiques which competes in the Top 14, the top tier of the National Rugby League (France), French league system. ...
playing in the top-flight. Mountaineering (hill walking, trekking) is a signature Basque sport with early entrenched roots in its history. The territory numbers 40,000 plus members associated in local federate mountain clubs, one of the highest concentrations in the world, ranging from family outings to the most competitive specialities (skiing, rock climbing, high mountain trekking...). The leisurely activity took on an institutional shape in 1924 with the establishment of the Basque-Navarrese Federation at
Elgeta Elgeta () is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North ...
. One of its most memorable historic feats remains the 1980 expedition to the
Everest Mount Everest (), known locally as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level. It lies in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas and marks part of the China–Nepal border at its ...
, topped by Martin Zabaleta along with the
sherpa SHERPA (Securing a Hybrid Environment for Research Preservation and Access) is an organisation originally set up in 2002 to run and manage the SHERPA Project. History SHERPA began as an endeavour to support the establishment of a number of open ...
Pasang Temba (14 May 1980). Other mountaineers with worldwide recognition include
Juanito Oiarzabal Juan Eusebio Oiarzabal Urteaga (born 30 March 1956), commonly known as Juanito Oiarzabal, is a noted Spanish Basque mountaineer. He has written four books on the subject. He was the 6th man to reach all 14 eight-thousander summits,explorersweb.c ...
,
Edurne Pasaban Edurne Pasaban Lizarribar (born August 1, 1973) is a Basque Spanish mountaineer. On May 17, 2010, she became the first woman to climb all 14 of the eight-thousanders – and the 21st person to do so.
,
Iñaki Ochoa de Olza Iñaki Ochoa de Olza (May 29, 1967 in Pamplona, Navarre – May 23, 2008 on Annapurna, Nepal) was a Spanish people, Spanish Climbing, climber. Ochoa de Olza took part in more than thirty separate climbing expeditions in the Himalayas over the c ...
, or the brothers Iñurrategi.


Festivals

Festivals are a central part of Basque culture, blending religious, folkloric, and communal traditions. The Basque Carnivals (Ihauteriak), held each February, feature colourful parades, lively music, and performances marking the transition from winter to spring. Key events include the "awakening of the bear" and the symbolic burning of San Pantzar, with towns like Ituren,
Zubieta Zubieta is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. ...
,
Saint-Jean-de-Luz Saint-Jean-de-Luz (; ,Donibane Lohitzune
Auñamendi Encyclopedia, Auñamendi Eu ...
, and
Bayonne Bayonne () is a city in southwestern France near the France–Spain border, Spanish border. It is a communes of France, commune and one of two subprefectures in France, subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments of France, departm ...
hosting week-long celebrations. The summer months of July and August are particularly festive, with
Aste Nagusia Aste Nagusia or "The Great Week" (, ) is the main festival of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, which is celebrated annually over 9 days beginning on the first Saturday following 15 August, the festivity of the Assumption of Our Lady. History The ...
in
Bilbao Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...
(starting the Saturday after 15 August) showcasing the Marijaia figure, concerts, traditional sports, and "txosnas" (temporary bars). Other highlights include the
running of the bulls A running of the bulls (, from the verb ''encerrar'', 'to corral, to enclose'; , literally 'haste, momentum'; 'bulls in the street', or 'bull-runner') is an event that involves running in front of a small group of bulls, typically six Fiske ...
in
Pamplona Pamplona (; ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Navarre, Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. Lying at near above sea level, the city (and the wider Cuenca de Pamplona) is located on the flood pl ...
,
Tamborrada Tamborrada of Donostia (in Basque Donostiako Danborrada) is a celebratory drum festival held every year on January 20 in the city of San Sebastián, Spain. At midnight, in the Konstituzio Plaza in the "Alde Zaharra/Parte Vieja" (Old Town), the m ...
in
San Sebastián San Sebastián, officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián (, ), is a city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, from the France–Spain border ...
, and the Geese Day (5 September) in
Lekeitio Lekeitio (; ) is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northeast from Bilbao. The municipality has 7,307 inhabitants (2019) and is one of the most important fishing po ...
. In April, the Bilbao Basque FEST celebrates Basque heritage with music, rural sports, and
gastronomy Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between Human food, food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating. One who is well ver ...
, while supporting local arts and social initiatives.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Basque Country Basque language