BASQUE COUNTRY - France 2014 - page 726

or“BasqueCountryandFreedom.”)ETAhasbeenblamedformorethan800deaths
since 1968, but in late 2011, the group declared an end to its campaign of violence
(butnotitscallforindependence).WhilemanypeopleintheBasqueCountrywould
like a greater degree of autonomy from Madrid, only a tiny minority of the popula-
tion supports ETA, and the vast majority rejects violence.
ThroughouttheBasqueCountry—inbothFranceandSpain—theBasquespirit
remains strong. Basque nationalists with websites prefer the suffix .eh (for Euskal
Herria) or the more generic .com to .fr (for France) or .es (for España).
This is only a first glimpse into the important, quirky, and fascinating Basque
people. To better understand the Basques, there's no better book than Mark Kur-
lansky's The Basque History of the World —essential pre-trip reading for historians.
And various museums in this region also illuminate Basque culture and history, in-
cludingtheMuseumofSanTelmoinSanSebastián(see here ) ,theAssemblyHouse
and Basque Country Museum in Guernica ( here ) , and the Museum of Basque Cul-
ture in Bayonne ( here ) .
Basque Country at a Glance
▲▲ St - Jean - de - Luz (France) Sleepy seaside retreat in the French Pays Basque
that serves as home base for countryside exploration.
▲▲ San Sebastián (Spain) Relaxing upscale city with beachfront promenade
wrapped around chic shopping neighborhood and tasty tapas bars.
▲▲ Bilbao (Spain) Revitalized regional capital with architectural
gem—Guggenheim Bilbao—and atmospheric Old Town.
▲ Bayonne (France) Urban French scene with a Basque twist, home to impressive
cultural museum, scenic ramparts, and lots of ham.
▲▲ Guernica (Spain) VillageattheheartofBasqueculturethatwasdevastatedby
bombs during the Spanish Civil War—later immortalized by Picasso's masterpiece.
Biarritz (France) Beach resort known for its mix of international glitz and surfer
dudes.