Have you heard of Europe’s Basque Country?

Published in the Sunday Gujarat Samachar on 19 January 2025

The Basques have long been custodians of their language, Euskara, considered one of Europe's oldest and most mysterious tongues, as its origins are still debated. 

A question I often like to ask is how many countries have you been to? For someone who has done at least 3 or 4 trips outside Incredible India, there is a high possibility that there is at least one European country on that list. So my followup question always is ‘how many European countries have you been to?’ My number for Europe currently stands at 19. There are 44 countries in Europe today, according to the United Nations.  

So I can easily say that I have 25 more countries to go. But it was only recently that I realized after a trip across Europe with Heta, that just counting the number of European countries that you have been to, is not a complete measure. There is so much more to Europe that your bucketlist will always be increasing. Let me explain.  

If you think of Europe, it’s quickly evident that Europe is a continent of astounding diversity and cultural richness, which extends far beyond its 44 countries. Each corner of Europe brims with unique regions, each boasting its own identity, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. With every journey, Europe reveals that it is not just a collection of countries but a mosaic of countless communities and landscapes, ensuring that a traveller's bucket list is always expanding.  

One such region that my wife, Heta and I had the opportunity to explore over a 15 day holiday is Basque Country, a region that is a testament to Europe's cultural complexity, with its own language, culinary traditions, and vibrant festivals. Known as Euskal Herria to its inhabitants, Basque Country is a cultural and culinary haven.  

To understand this region, let’s first look at it from a geographical lens. The Basque Country is a region in northern Spain and southwestern France. It is located on the western end of the Pyrenees mountains, straddling the border between Spain and France along the Bay of Biscay. The Spanish part includes notable towns like Bilbao and San Sebastián, while the French part, known as the Northern Basque Country or French Basque Country, consists of cities like Bayonne and Biarritz.  

When we travelled through Basque Country, it’s undeniable that we noticed deep rooted traditions and unique customs. The Basques have long been custodians of their language, Euskara, considered one of Europe's oldest and most mysterious tongues, as its origins are still debated.  

If you recall the 2011 blockbuster hit, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, what do you remember from the last part of the movie? It’s the Running of the Bulls festival. On our road trip, we had the great opportunity to witness this festival, also known as "Encierro," held annually in the city of Pamplona, Spain. As part of the San Fermín Festival, this festival takes place from July 6th to 14th, and the bull run occurs each morning during this period.  

Participants, often dressed in white with red scarves, run ahead of a group of bulls released on the streets, running all the way through the street of Pamplona to the city’s famous bullring. This tradition dates back to the 14th century and was originally a way to transport bulls to the market. If you ask me, it’s more fun securing tickets for the bullring where the bull run ends than waiting on the streets or paying top dollar at the balconies of buildings along the bull run route, trying to get that two-second glimpse of the bulls running past you.  

If you listen to my podcasts, Travel Explore Celebrate Life and 5 Minute Travel Tips on Spotify, you know that I love food. A love of food and communal dining is deeply ingrained in the Basque psyche, and the abundance of local produce fuels a cuisine that is constantly evolving while remaining true to its roots. The city of San Sebastián is known to have some of the best restaurants in the world and we had the opportunity to dine at one such place, Mirador De Ulia. A special restaurant, particularly given its outstanding views of the city and Zurriola beach, Mirador left a lasting impression on us. Located at the top of Monte Ulía, it is run by chef Rubén Trincado, the third generation of the family, who has his own style yet with a culinary legacy rooted in tradition.  

No mention of the Basque Country's natural beauty is complete without a nod to ‘Games of Thrones’, which transformed locations like Dragonstone (Gaztelugatxe) and King's Landing's gardens (Plaza de Santa María, in Cáceres) into mythical realms. For fans of the series, a trip through this region is a chance to step into the shoes of their favourite characters; for all others, it's an opportunity to behold these vistas as they truly are—awe-inspiring in their raw, unscripted guises.  

If that wasn’t enough, the coastlines of Biarritz and San Sebastián, with their crescent-moon bays and renown for surfing, leave you in awe. La Concha Beach: Situated in San Sebastián, La Concha is often rated as one of the best city beaches in the world, known for its golden sands and crescent shape, offering breathtaking views of the bay and the city. Sopelana Beaches: These beaches, including Arrietara and Atxabiribil, are renowned for their surfing, beautiful cliffs, and paragliding opportunities. Playa de Zarautz: Zarautz has one of the longest beaches in the Basque Country, attracting surfers of all levels and visitors enjoying its promenade and gastronomy. 

For a cultural explorer, a historian, a romantic, or simply a food enthusiast, the Basque Country is an inexhaustible well of experiences, simultaneously complex, compelling, and most importantly, welcoming. It is said that the Basques are neither entirely Spanish nor French; they are Basque. This individuality is mirrored in their warm, welcoming spirit, which is an echo of the region's own distinctive identity. To know the Basque Country is to know its people. Whether it is a spontaneous conversation with a local at a Pintxos bar or the deliberate immersion in a Basque cooking class, the hospitality extended is always genuine, always from the heart. All in all, I believe we are now at a point that along with counting the number of countries of Europe that we have been to, I would say that we should have a separate region based bucket-list of Europe.  

In one trip alone, we covered 4 different regions of Europe: Loire Valley, Basque Country, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Paris. Given its vastness, I believe Paris should definitely be considered its own region. So yup, that was my Basque experience. Have you been to Basque Country? What did you think of it? I would love to know about your experience, so write to me at neil@veenaworld.com. Until the next time, keep Celebrating Life!