Basque Country Arts Agenda for May 2015

Here you have a selection with some of the best events in the Basque Country during May 2015

Regarding traditions and festivities:

• In Elciego (Rioja Alavesa) the market of the flower and the farm

Regarding arts and exhibits:

• In Bilbao also, in BBK room of Bellas Artes Museum, Hiperrealism 1967 exhibit. Open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 8pm.
• In Getaria, "The art of Balenciaga" exhibit from 13th October 2014 to 16th April 2015
• In Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, a water puppets exhibit in The Puppet Museum
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has the best of the Guggenheim collection on exhibit (where you can see works by Marc Chagal, Kandinsky or the Basque artists Jorge Oteiza, Chillida, etc.) until 10th May 2015
• In Vitoria, the restoration work of a painting made over a photograph, done in 1900. In Bellas Artes Museum of Vitoria. Until 15th March. 
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has a temporary exhibit on Niki de Saint Phalle, until 10th May 2015

Regarding music:

• In Bilbao, in Bilbao Arena, Breakdance Festival "Break on Stage" from 25th April to 25th May.

Picture credit: pedronchi

Basque Country Arts Agenda for April 2015

Our agenda with some of the best events in the Basque Country during April 2015

Regarding traditions and festivities:

• Easter is celebrated all over the Basque Country from 29th March to 4th April this year, but these are the best places to see something different:
• Segura (Gipuzkoa) and Balmaseda (Biscay). These have famous living theater performance by locals speaking about the last days of Jesus Christ life. There are records from 17th Century of these representations. 
• Bilbao and Vitoria and other smaller towns. Have traditional parades which take out religious images and march in an old traditional penitent dressing (that some foreigners wrongly confuse with Ku Klux Clan costume)
• Hondarribia. Religious processions dating back to the begining of the 1600s. On April 3rd and 5th

• In Elciego, the market of the flowers and gardens. With local producers showing their best products in this city of Rioja Alavesa. On April 11th
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz, San Prudencio traditional festival. Scargots and sweet donuts are served in Armentia where you can discover also many people with the traditional costume or see our old traditional Basque sports. On April, 28th.
•  

Regarding arts and exhibits:

• In Getaria, "The art of Balenciaga" exhibit til April, 16th
• In San Sebastian, "Barrokino", concerts in family (suitable for kids), on April, 18th.
• In Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, a water puppets exhibit in The Puppet Museum
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has the best of the Guggenheim collection on exhibit (where you can see works by Marc Chagal, Kandinsky or the Basque artists Jorge Oteiza, Chillida, etc.) until May 10th
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has a temporary exhibit on Niki de Saint Phalle, until May, 10th 
• In San Sebastian, cod fish Basque fishermen history exhibit, in the Navy Museum, until November, 29th

Regarding music:

• In Bayonne, in the Maurice Ravel conservatory piano concert, on April 10th
• In Bilbao, 365 Jazz until June, 30th.
• In Bilbao, Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci on April 25th, 28th, May 1st and 4th.
• In Bilbao, in Bilbao Arena hall, the European Breakdance festival, from April, 25th to May, 25th.

Regarding sport:

• In Biarritz, Basque Jai Alai (also called "Cesta Punta") every Thursday

Basque Country Arts Agenda for March 2015

Our agenda with some of the best events in the Basque Country during March 2015

Regarding traditions and festivities:

• In Sopuerta (Biscay), Charcuterie Fair. On 1st and 2nd March.
• Moreda de Alava, in Rioja Alavesa, the festival of the Basque Olive Oil. On 21st, 22nd and 23rd March
• Llodio (Alava). Has a special church permit that allows them to eat meat during Easter. This nowadays has become a big festival where you can see local horses, sheeps, cows, etc. On 27th March
• Easter is celebrated all over the Basque Country from 29th March to 4th April this year, but these are the best places to see something different:
• Segura (Gipuzkoa) and Balmaseda (Biscay). These have famous living theater performance by locals speaking about the last days of Jesus Christ life. There are records from 17th Century of these representations. 
• Bilbao and Vitoria and other smaller towns. Have traditional parades which take out religious images and march in an old traditional penitent dressing (that some foreigners wrongly confuse with Ku Klux Clan costume)

Regarding arts and exhibits:

• In Bilbao also, in BBK room of Bellas Artes Museum, Hiperrealism 1967 exhibit. Open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 8pm.
• In Getaria, "The art of Balenciaga" exhibit from 13th October 2014 to 16th April 2015
• In Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, a water puppets exhibit in The Puppet Museum
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has the best of the Guggenheim collection on exhibit (where you can see works by Marc Chagal, Kandinsky or the Basque artists Jorge Oteiza, Chillida, etc.) until 10th May 2015
• In Vitoria, the restoration work of a painting made over a photograph, done in 1900. In Bellas Artes Museum of Vitoria. Until 15th March. 
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has a temporary exhibit on Niki de Saint Phalle, until 10th May 2015

Regarding music:

• In Bilbao, in the Teatro Arriaga, Cesar Franck's The Little Match Girl, Opera for kids, on 2nd March
• In Biarritz, in Hotel du Palais, Big Piano Concert by Julie Alcaraz, on 8th March
• In Bilbao, 365 Jazz from 1st February until 30th June.
• In Barakaldo, in Bilbao Exhibition Center Arena, the Spanish pop musician Joaquin Sabina, on 14th March
• In Bilbao, in the Teatro Arriaga, Mozart's Magical Flute, Opera for kids, on 14th & 16th March

Basque Country Arts Agenda for February 2015

Our agenda with some of the best events in the Basque Country during February 2015

Regarding traditions and festivities:

• In a lot of villages of the Basque Country Santa Agueda is a popular festival very spread on the small villages and big cities when small children dress with the local custom. 4th February.
• In Lapuebla de Labarca (Alava) all wineries of this Rioja Alavesa village will be opened so that you can taste and see wineries and Rioja wines that are closed to public during the rest of the year. An unique opportunity if you visit this village on 14th February
• In the whole Basque Country. Carnival. Special mention to these villages and cities: Zalduondo (Alava), Mundaka (Biscay), Markina-Xemein (Biscay), Lekeitio (Biscay), Tolosa (Gipuzkoa), Bera (Navarre), Lesaka (Navarre), Lantz (Navarre), Unanua (Navarre), Alsasua (Navarre), Goizueta (Navarre), Valcarlos (Navarre), and this year in Gamere-Zihigan Camou-Cihigue the important theater representation of the French Basque Country called Mascarada. All happening from 12th to 17th February. 
• Olive Oil festival in Arroniz. The toast with local olive oil is the king here on 22nd February.

Regarding arts and exhibits:

• In Pamplona, the Documentary Film Festival, from 10th to 15th February. Do not miss on 11th February and on 15th February the documentary of Orson Welles "Around the World" that he made over the Basques.
• In Bilbao, in Euskalduna Palace until February 22nd 150 reproductions of the Terracota Army of the burial of the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Open everyday with different timetables but in general from 10am to 5:30pm.
• In Getaria, "The art of Balenciaga" exhibit from 13th October 2014 to 16th April 2015
• In Bilbao in Bellas Artes Museum due to the 3rd edition of the International Engraving Festival from 28th October to 9th February the engravings of Mimmo Paladino, one of the best examples of Italian Transavantgarde
• In Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, a water puppets exhibit in The Puppet Museum
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has the best of the Guggenheim collection on exhibit (where you can see works by Marc Chagal, Kandinsky or the Basque artists Jorge Oteiza, Chillida, etc.) until 10th May 2015
• In Vitoria, the restoration work of a painting made over a photograph, done in 1900. In Bellas Artes Museum of Vitoria. Until 15th March. 
• In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has a temporary exhibit on Niki de Saint Phalle, until 10th May 2015

Regarding music:

• In Bilbao, in the Teatro Arriaga, Cesar Franck's The Little Match Girl, Opera for kids, on 28th February
• In Bilbao, 365 Jazz from 1st February until 30th June.
• In Bilbao, in the Palacio Euskalduna, Carnival Music by the piano player Gabriela Montero, on 12th and 13th February
• In Bilbao, in the Bilbao Arena, Verdi's Aida Opera, on 13th and 14th February
• In Bilbao, in the Palacio Euskalduna, Madama Butterfly Opera, on 14th, 17th, 20th, 22nd and 23rd February
• In Biarritz, in the Gare du Midi, Tchaikovsky's Iolanta, on 14th February
• In Biarritz, in the Gare du Midi, Belcantissimo, on 22nd February
• In Hendaye, in Boulevard de Gaulle, Basque dancings, on 22nd February from 11:30 to 12:30
• In Bilbao, in the Palacio Euskalduna, Brahms' 4th Symphony, on 26th and 27th February

Regarding dance:

• In Bilbao, in Teatro Arriaga Theater, one of the most popular local dance, "Soka Dantza", will be the start of a show with several traditional Basque dances of the whole Basque Country. On 18th January at 7pm. 
• In Pamplona, in Teatro Gayarre, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, on 27th January.

San Fermin festival in Pamplona - Running of the bulls festival in July

San Fermin is told to be the first bishop of Pamplona, Navarre, back in the 3rd Century, on Roman times. 

According to the tradition it was baptisted by Saturninus (known in Pamplona also as St. Cernin) and became a priest in Toulouse (France). He was the first bishop of Pamplona and died afterwards in Amiens (France) beheaded after giving baptism there to more than 3000 people.

Packed City Hall square for the running of the Bulls

But for what is best known San Fermin nowadays, abroad from Navarre and Spain, it is because of the festival of San Fermin happening from 6th to 14th July every year in Pamplona, Navarre.

The festivals there start early in the morning with the bulls running in the streets of the city center from the North of Pamplona to the bull fighting square of Pamplona.

Monument to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona

Hemingway, the American famous writter and traveller loved this festival and wrote about it in his famous book: "The Sun also Rises".

Basque traditional sports also popular during San Fermin festival

Mainly because of this book, the fame of San Fermin is spread all around the world. Tours to see the places related with Hemingway visits, rentals of balconies or just enjoying the atmosphere of this great festival are very common on these days.

Contact me by this contact form giving details of your interests for your tour, or send me an email: tours@aitordelgado.com

The origin of the Christian Catholic order of Jesuits in the Basque Country

After recent election of the new Latin American Pope of Rome, Francis, it came into news that he is the first elected pope from the society of Jesus.

Not a lot of people know that two of the founders of Jesuits born in the Basque region: Ignatius of Loiola and Francisco Xavier.

Sanctuary of Loiola

 
In the province of Guipuzcoa, rising in the middle of green mountains you will find the sanctuary of Loiola a short trip from San Sebastian. A barroque temple, designed by a disciple of Bernini, embracing the old medieval tower of the family of Ignatius Loiola.

And in Navarre, you have two other interesting points on this history: 

First is the medieval castle of the family of Xavier, in Javier village, just 30 minutes from Pamplona.

Castle of Francisco Xavier, Navarre

Second is the city of Pamplona itself, where both Francisco Xavier and Ignatius of Loiola brothers fought one against the other on the battle in Pamplona of the Castilla troops against the Navarre and French alliance.

Enjoy the Basque Country!

Need help on discovering these or any other parts of the region? Contact me for information to prepare your day tour in the Basque Country or by email: tours@aitordelgado.com

Michelin stars shine in the Basque sky

Image took from http://www.woodstone-corp.com/

Another year of success for the Basque gastronomy as the Michelin guide has just released their new list of highest quality restaurants.

All the previous restaurants distinguised with a Michelin star in the Basque Country remain with their prize, but others have joined or increased their number of stars, like the Azurmendi Restaurant in Larrabetzu, Biscay.

Congratulations to all the chef and team in all those restaurants for this wonderful job done.

Here I leave you a full list of the best restaurants in the Basque Country according to the acknowledged Michelin guide in 2012. You can see in black the ones winning a new recognition.

We start with the restaurants which have three Michelin stars:

• Arzak. Juan Mari Arzak, San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)
• Akelarre. Pedro Subijana, San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)
• Martín Berasategui, Lasarte (Guipuzcoa)
• Azurmendi. Eneko Atxa, Larrabetzu (Biscay)

With two Michelin stars:

• Mugaritz. Andoni Luis Aduriz, Errenteria (Guipuzcoa)

And with one Michelin star:

• Nerua. Bilbao (Biscay)
• Etxanobe. Bilbao (Biscay)
• Zortziko. Bilbao (Biscay)
• Mina. Bilbao (Biscay)
• Kokotxa. San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)
• Mirador de Ulía. San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)
• Miramón Arbelaitz. San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)
• Alameda. Fuenterrabía, (Guipuzcoa)
• Andra Mari. Galdácano, (Biscay)
• Boroa. Amorebieta, (Biscay)
• Etxebarri. Axpe (Biscay)
• Zuberoa. Oyarzun (Guipuzcoa)
• Zaldarián. Vitoria-Gasteiz (Alava)
• Marqués de Riscal. Elciego (Alava)
• Europa. Pamplone (Navarre)
• Rodero. Pamplone (Navarre)
• El molino de Urdániz. Urdaitz (Navarre)
• Ithurria, Ainhoa (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Le Moulin d'Alotz, Arcangues (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• L'Aubergue Basque, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Aubergue du Cheval Blanc, Bayonne (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• La Villa Eugénie, Biarritz (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Les Rosiers, Biarritz (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Table et Hostellerie des Frères Ibarboure, Bidart (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Brikéténia, Ghétary (Labourd or Lapurdi, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
• Les Pyrénées, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Basse-Navarre, Pays Basque, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
 

Do you need help on your reservations? 
Do you want to combine your visit to some of these restaurants with a relaxed and completely tailored tour around the town of San Sebastian or nearby coastal spots? Feel free to contact me for more information: tours@aitordelgado.com

 

Flights to arrive to the Basque Country (Pamplona airport, PNA)

These are the countries and cities served from this airport:
 
Spain:

* Barcelona (BCN, El Prat Airport) by AIR NOSTRUM http://www.airnostrum.es/.
* Madrid-Barajas (MAD) by AIR NOSTRUM http://www.airnostrum.es/.

* Menorca (MAH) by ORBEST http://www.orbest.com/
* Palma de Mallorca (PMI) by HELITT http://www.helitt.com

Where to arrive best in the Basque Country? Flights.

I receive from time to time requests on help on which airport(s) to arrive to visit the Basque Country.
In order to make it easier for you, I have made a full list of the airline companies serving the airports which are near to the Basque Country or that have good connections to come to this region of the North of Spain and the Southwest of France.

I am preparing some entries so that you can find updated airport scheadules in direct flights from Europe to the Basque Country airports.

Be aware for the posts arriving everyday at noon (Central European Time) starting tomorrow...

Hope that it will be helpful for all of you.

Basque traditional sports - Idi probak

Idi Probak are one of the traditional Basque games based on the farm and seaside works. 
It involves oxen, sometimes a single but usually a pair, dragging a rock from one side of a square to another. 
In Spanish this sport is called arrastre de piedra (stone dragging) or prueba de bueyes (oxherd test) and concours de bœf (oxen competition) in French.

Ox prepared and me in a traditional Basque dressing for the festival

The rocks are rectangular, slightly narrower at the front end with a hole for attaching the chain that conects it with the oxes. 

The weight of the rock varies from town to town and may be between 1500-4000 kg or higher. 

The goal of the competition is to complete as many plaza (the distance between the two ends of the proba toki) as possible within a given space of time.

Do you need to know more? Contact your local guide in the Basque Country at: tours@aitordelgado.com

And always remember that you can also contact us through our new website launched in December 2019.

Shore excursions increase in Bilbao, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Pasaia

By Bilbao Port Authority

The number of cruises arriving in the ports of Bilbao (Getxo), Saint-Jean-de-Luz and San Sebastian (Pasaia) has been continuously increasing during the last years.


These are the main shipping companies arriving to these ports in the North of Spain and Southwest France:
 Holland America Line, with their ship: MS Prinsendam,
 MSC Cruises, with their ship: MSC Opera,
 P&O Cruises with their ships: Azura and Adonia, 
 Silversea Cruises with their ships: Silver Whisper and Silver Cloud, 
 Azamara Cruises with their ships: Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest
 Crystal Cruises with their ship: Crystal Symphony, 
 Princess Cruises with their ships: Ocean Princess and Crown Princess
 Celebrity Cruises with their ships: Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Infinity
 Oceania Cruises with their ships: Marina and Nautica
 Pulmantur Cruises with their ship: Empress,
 Regent Seven Seas Voyager Cruises with their ship: Seven Seas Voyager,
 Phoenix Reisen GmbH Cruises with their ship: Albators,
 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines with their ships: Balmoral, Black Watch and Braemar
 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises with their ships: MS Europa and MS Europa 2,
 Royal Caribean International Cruises with their ship: Adventure Of The Seas
 Saga Holidays done properly Cruises with their ship: Quest For Adventure
 Cruise & Maritime Voyages Cruises with their ship: Marco Polo


These luxury and exclusive cruises have docked or will be mainly doing in Bilbao, but also in the mentioned Pasajes, near San Sebastian or Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in French Basque Country, close to Biarritz, all on different times of the year 2012.

This increase in the shore stops has make a huge increase in the demand of adjusted tours to fit the demand of the people arriving on them for a tailored tour completely adjusted to the short time they have in each destionations.


Aitor Delgado Tours is proudly making private tours tailored and concierged for shore excursions.
Aitor Delgado personally guides private tours for couples, families or groups of friends assuring that you get most of your time in your shore stop.
These local guided tours are to help our guests to discover the most interesting parts of the North of Spain and the Southwest of France: Bilbao, the wine region of Rioja, the coast of Biscay, San Sebastian, Vitoria, Biarritz and Pamplona are our most popular tours.



Ask me for the a request for a private local guide in Bilbao, Saint-Jean-de-Luz or Hondarribia at tours@aitordelgado.com 
Also in the US phone: +1 (518) 632 4867 
and the Spanish phone: +34 687 476 134

San Fermin. July in Pamplona is more than running of the bulls & Hemingway.

A lot of people out of Spain knows Pamplona and its summer festivals of July thanks to the book of the American writer, traveller and Spain lover, Ernest Hemingway "The Sun also Rises".

His first arrival to Pamplona was back on 6th July 1923. He felt in love with the festivals and came back several times until 1959.

Following the reading of his book (compulsory in some schools), a lot of young and not so young come to the city of the Running of the Bulls from 6th to 14th July to enjoy the party, and often, run the bulls in the early morning.
Now that I am older to run, I am also going to enjoy other parts of this festival, such as the Basque sports (like the pelota or cesta-punta known in some countries like France and Florida, United States as Jai Alai, wood chopping or stone lifting, etc. (yes I know those sports sound weird). But also enjoy a beer in a park or terrasse or the music in the Fueros Square. The ambience is really special on this time of the year in Pamplona.

Have you already experience Pamplona in San Fermin?
It is worthy. No mather your age, if you are coming alone, with your couple, with friends or with your children or grand-children. 

There is an space for all! 
Just take your white t-shirt and you can buy here a white trouser/skirt and a red scarf to look like locals.

If you need any help you can contact me to make a private tour for you to see the areas of most interest. You can contact me here: tours@aitordelgado.com 
Enjoy Pamplona!

Mondays in Museums XVIII - Planetarium in Pamplona, the Pamplonetario

In one of the corners of the Japanese Garden of Pamplona, you can find one of the best Planetarium in the North of Spain.

Opened nearly 20 years ago and renewed in 2007 with lattest image technologies.

It is a key feature of the region. Closed on Mondays.

Mondays in Museums XII - Aresketamendi Renewable Energy Park

On these days with the "hangover" of the last week's start of European Green Capital year of Vitoria-Gasteiz, we will go on this entry with museums devoted with Environmental issues.


A nice option for those travelling with kids. The Renewable Energy Park explains for children, youngs and adults different inventions related to renewable energy production by air, sun, water and bio-mass in a didactical and recreational way.
The park is an open-air exhibition area of 22,600 m² in which a wooden spiral, of almost 1 km guides you into the different areas of the park displaying all these 26 inventions.


As is it an open air museum, it is advisable to check the weather conditions prior to arrive there to fully enjoy the place.


Closed on Mondays.


Similar iniciatives can be found in Pamplona  

Thursdays of food - Best Pintxo Bar in Spain

Hold in Alicante, Valencia Autonomous Region, the Spanish Gastronomy Congress gives every year a prize for the Best Pintxo Bar in Spain.

This prize has been given to different bars on these last years, but most of them are in the Basque Region. 

This is the list of winers in the last years:
 2011 Marmitaco, Vitoria-Gasteiz
 2010 Joël Restaurant Bistronomic, Valencia
 2009 Bitoque de Albia, Bilbao
 2008 Café Niza, Pamplona
 2007 A Fuego Negro, San Sebastian
 2006 Sagartoki, Vitoria-Gasteiz
 2005 Sagartoki, Vitoria-Gasteiz


2011 Best Pintxo Bar in Spain has been awarded to the Bar Marmitaco of Vitoria-Gasteiz.This bar has a very nice and imaginative menu of pintxos available as well in their restaurant area.
A truly wonderful experience to see your food to flourish!

It is to be noticed that Vitoria-Gasteiz has a great presence on this list as 3 restaurants have been directly awarded and the chef of A Fuego Negro in 2007 and the chef of Café Niza in 2008 are from Vitoria-Gasteiz and they are running now their own bars in Vitoria-Gasteiz: Hordago and Rodaballo.

Mondays in Museums

In the Basque Country there is a wide range of Museums that you can visit.
There are museums of archeology, etnographic (to see the local traditions and culture, arts, etc. that will make for you a perfect trip whatever are your interests.

In our Mondays in your Basque Host we will make for you a guided tour on them so that you can get an idea on the highlights and also some off the beaten track museums, our hidden gems.

So, where are we? Euskadi, País Vasco, Pays Basque, Basque Country, Euskalerria or Euskal Herria?

At first sight for foreigners it can be a tought question to determine the correct name of this tiny area just in the most hidden part of the Bay of Biscay.

Euskadi, País Vasco, Pays Basque, Basque Country, Euskal Herria, Euskalerria... In your travel to this area you might face to any of these names and it will give you a good approach to understand what your host is trying to tell you when he uses one word or another.

You can easily understand this and other local characteristics, if you book a private excursion with the best private tour guide in the Basque Country, you can contact me here: Basque Country Private Tour Booking or send me an email: tours@aitordelgado.com


This map will help us to understand all these names:

Full map of Euskal Herria or Euskalerria
Pink: Basque Country (Autonomous Region of)
Green: Navarre (Charterred Community of)
Yellow: French Basque Country (Pays since 1997)
Purple: Treviño (enclave of Castilla y León A. Region)
Purple: Valle de Villaverde (enclave of Cantabria A. Region)

Euskal Herria or Euskalerria. They are both names in basque for the region where lives people that speak Basque language "euskaldun" in Basque.
This region corresponds to the area in blue in the top European map and includes in its limits the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country, Navarre, the French Basque Country and two small enclaves in the Basque Autonomous Region (Treviño and Valle de Villaverde).
This bigger area has not official recognition but it is commongly referred by some sectors of the society in this area, specially between the Basque nationalists.

Vasconia is also used as the historical name used for the full region in Spanish, but it is very few listened. 

Euskadi, Euzkadi or País Vasco refer normally to the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, which is marked in pink in the drawing. It is often referred as Basque Country or officially: Basque Autonomous Region in English.
Here it comes first confusion as Euskadi or Euzkadi (names invented by a Basque Nationalist in the end of the 19th century) can be also referring to the area including all 7 regions marked in the picture above.

Vascongadas is the name officially given in the past to the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country (roughly from 1939 to 1975) and it is not nowadays used.

Pays Basque is the French denomination for the 3 areas marked in pink. Often also recalled as Iparralde, Northern Basque Country or French Basque Country.

To finish with the names that you can encounter here, there is another denomination for the group of Navarre, Alava, Biscay & Gipuzkoa, which is Hegoalde or Spanish Basque Country.


I know, it can be quite confusing at the beginning, but what can I say, our way of life and situation can be hard to see without the help of a local guide. 

Remember, if you want a private excursion with the best private tour guide in the Basque Country, you can contact me here: Basque Country Private Tour Booking or send me an email: tours@aitordelgado.com


And always remember that you can also contact us through our new website launched in December 2019 and see more information about Bilbao, San Sebastian, French Basque Country, Rioja, Vitoria-Gasteiz or Basque coast.


Images from wikipedia.