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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

The Basque country is a region located in northern Spain and Southern France. It is one of Europe's oldest and most culturally rich regions. It has varied activities to offer all tourists that come and visit our beautiful cities and villages: beautiful beaches, very interesting traditions, particular gastronomy, traditional sports, lots of arts... In few words, a place willing to be discovered.

In this document we are going to talk about the amazing things we have to offer in The Basque Country, starting from the very beginning until today.

GEOGRAPHY

The Basque Country, called in Spanish “País Vasco” and “Euskadi” in Basque, it is an autonomous community and historic region of northern Spain encompassing the provinces of Álava, Guipúzcoa, and Vizcaya.

The region is bounded by the Bay of Biscay in the north, by the autonomous communities of Navarra in the east, by La Rioja in the south, and by Cantabria in the west (La Rioja and Cantabria are Spanish provinces). The Pyrenees Mountains separate the Spanish area from the France area in the northeast. However, the ethnically similar autonomous community of Navarra, makes up most of the border with the French Basque region. While Vitoria-Gasteiz (the capital city) is the largest municipality in area, with 277 km2, Bilbao (or Bilbo in Basque) is the largest in population, with 353,187 people, located in

the province of Biscay within a conurbation of 875,552 people.

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

The Basque Country, is a really rich area environmentally speaking. The typical landscape is based in mountains full of vegetation (pine trees, beeches,...); however, we also have amazing sea landscapes and a huge esplanade, how not, surrounded by beautiful mountains.

Flysch trail in Zumaia

HISTORY

In this block, we are going to talk about the history of the Basque Country. It is said that the Basque Country is one of the oldest regions in Europe. Many say, that the Basques (this is how we call people from the Basque Country) have been here since the Neolithic period, whereas others say they have been here even before.

The first historical references come from the 1st century after Christ. It was when Strabo wrote that the actual north of Navarre and Aragon (two Spanish communities) were

the ancestors of modern Basques, the historical toponymy of the area and some personal names on the tombstones of Roman times suggest it.

inhabited by the Vascones.

Although there is no clear proof that they were our ancestors,

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

Going back in time, as we said at the beginning of this block, the Basque Country’s roots are a mystery due to very little knowledge before the period of Roman occupation. Thanks to archaeological evidences found, we know that Basques have been around since Aguracian ages to the Iron Age, just before Roman occupation.

It is thanks to caves, such as Santimamiñe cave, that we know this information. Santimamiñe is one of the most important caves in the whole Basque Country. It preserves human remains that are over 14.000 years old and has nearly half a hundred beautiful cave

Paintings in caves of Santimamiñe

paintings.

During plenty of centuries, the European history has been based in colonisations and occupations which led into wars and battles. So has happened in the basque area. However, basque people must have been strong because history is uncertain about some colonisations taking our territory, such as when Muslims took the Iberian Peninsula.

It was in middle ages when the actual Basque Country started forming. Navarre’s kingdom was the first one to consolidate. It had a huge importance in national terms due to its power. Years later, the French part consolidated: Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Behe Nafarroa. So did we in Spain, after the definition of Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. They joined the three provinces as a cause of the culture they shared. This marked difference between Spanish and Basque culture was the starting point of the home rule in Basque Country. The western Basques managed to achieve this home rule at the end of the Kingdom of Castile's civil wars, asking for self-administration to Isabella I of Castile in exchange for overseas trade. Thanks to this they got their fueros, which recognised separate laws, taxation and courts in each district.

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

POLITICAL ORGANISATION

To start off, it is curious to say that the Basque Country has three different administration charges: France, Spain and the Basque Autonomous Country. We will focus on the last one.

The political system is a parliamentarian democracy, in which there is a legislative power represented by the parliament, an executive power represented by the Basque government and the judicial power that resides in the Tribunal of Justice of the basque country. This powers are not completely administrated inside the autonomy. In here, we deal with the competences gathered up in the statute of autonomy, regulated mainly by the Spanish government. This autonomous community is one of the 27 communities that form Spain, and also the one with greatest independence.

Inside Euskadi, there are three historical territories: Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. Each territory counts with a regional council whose aim is to collect taxes and offer and provide services to the inhabitants in the area. Furthermore, each of this three territories counts with a more local and nearer administration incarnated in town halls.

ECONOMY

From 2008 until the present day, Spain has been submerged in a financial crisis. This crisis, also called “The Great Spanish Depression”, began during the world financial crisis of 2007-2008. Moreover, Spain
has been one of the most

affected countries in the European Union and it seems that the process of recuperation is going to be and is being a long and tough one.

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

However, not all the regions of Spain have been affected in the same way. Andalusia, in the south of Spain is the region with the highest unemployment rate of Spain's history (31,23% in 2017) while in the Basque Country we have managed the crisis surprisingly well (12,61% in 2017).

This is partly due to the special economic measures it has that makes it different to the rest of the regions in Spain. This has its origins long time ago, due to the difference of culture and economic independence. Euskadi collects its own taxes since the last years of XIX century. This phenomenon is called economic concert.

BASQUE CULTURE

As we said before, the Basque country is one of the most ancient regions of all Europe. One of the only things that has remained all these years has been our language, Euskera. Euskera, the language of the Basques, is the oldest living language in Europe. This statement is ratified by most linguists, experts and researchers. A living and ancient language whose origin, today, is still unknown.

Today, the Basque language is spoken by 37% of the Basque population, approximately one million "euskaldunak", translated literally as "those who speak Basque", who live in the different Basque territories located on both sides of the Pyrenees.

BASQUE SOCIETY

Regarding locals, it is remarkable to say that we create really close bonds with family and friends. To start off, families usually keep in touch regularly; not only with parents and grandparents, but also with uncles and aunts, great uncles and great aunts, cousins... Grown up sons and daughters often live near the area where they were born and raised by their parents, so that their children create a strong link with their same family, culture and traditions. Moreover, family names are really important: it is said that to be basque is necessary to have at least eight different basque last names and many farmhouses are named by surnames. In regard with friends, all of us have a “kuadrilla”. This refers to our close group of friends, the friends we meet every day and with whom we can count

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

during tough and happy times. The kuadrilla is a bond that usually never sparks. In spite of this, we have a bigger circle of friends, do not think we are unsociable, not at all.

It is necessary to add that even though there is a big amount of stereotypes about us, the Basques, the best way to now us is coming to our lands and enjoying our live style. We are confident to say that we will not be a disappointment.

Each kuadrilla wears different shirts during festivities

GASTRONOMY

Had we to choose just one of our greatest pleasures, many of us (the basques) would choose gastronomy. In our country, cooking has always had a huge importance. In ancient years, when whole families lived in baserri-s, the lunch or dinner time was a remarkable moment of the day to spend and enjoy with relatives. Moreover, the feast on Sundays was unmissable. In those times, mostly women put all their willing, effort and love in each meal. This, has led to an amazing gastronomical culture.

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

Some baserris

During the end of XX. Century, there was an amazing generation of cooks who created the movement of haute cuisine, obviously influenced by French. They turned traditional dishes and flavours into light and modern cuisine. The idea was well received by everyone, so that high-class gastronomy was brought form restaurants to bars, and from the Basque Country to Spain. This

meaningful change was the reason for this small country to become the place with more Michelin Stars. There is a huge list of highly qualified basque chefs: Juan Mari Arzak, Karlos Arguiñano, Martin Berasategui...

Arzak and his team

Luckily, the list continues spreading thanks to
the Basque Culinary Centre. As they mention: “The centres aim is the professional training, the investigation and the innovation in culinary art and alimentation. We work to drive the gastronomy.” However, this incredible qualification does not rest importance to small bars and hidden restaurants all around the area. They offer amazing pintxos and dishes in really affordable prices; and have the real basque essence.

The Basque Culinary Center

Pintxos in a street bar

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

Nowadays, Basque Country is an important spot and destination mainly all around Spain and Europe for those who appreciate and get the most out of savouring, like us, as previously mentioned. But if you are wondering what type of products and cooking methods do we use, the answer won’t be short. We are lucky to have the wide range of resources from mountains and seas near us; as well as from many vegetable effective gardens, thanks to the climate. Grilled fish and meat is a must. Cod, Beans from Tolosa, cheese from Idiazabal, ham from Baione or peppers from Ezpeleta are exquisite too. And never forget about drinks! Local cider or wine are great choices to accompany our food.

The products mentioned are just the start of a wonderful ream of basque dishes and drinks. If this sounded tasty, try to go to a sagardotegi or to go de txikiteo y poteo from bar to bar. Be sure you will enjoy!

A "sagardotegi". The barrels are full of cider, and people come here to enjoy the meal but above all, the drink.

SPORTS

When foreigners come to the Basque country, they are always surprised at the weird sports we practice here.

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Izaskun Molás, Jon Ander Sánchez, Nekane González and Joshua Viela Trilingual Primary Education, 1st course

One of these weird sports is weight lifting here called harri-jasotzaile. “Harri-jasotze” refers to a popular rural sport in the Basque Country in which stones of various shapes