LAND OF CREATIVITY
Discover the land of Basque
Photo: Kukai, Gorka Bravo
LAND OF TRADITIONS
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Photo: Ekaitz Zilarmendi
LAND OF INSPIRATION
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Photo: Anari, Juan G. Andrés
LAND OF TASTE
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Photo: Mugaritz, Oscar Oliva
LAND OF ARTS
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Photo: The Comb of the Wind, ULMA taldea
LAND OF CULTURE
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Photo: Santa María Cathedral, Basquetour
LAND OF AUTHENTICITY
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Photo: La Concha rowing regattas, Santiago Farizano
LAND OF BASQUE.
Discover the land of Basque
Basqueculture.eus is an official website designed for international audiences, focusing on various aspects of Basque culture, art, creativity, heritage and language (Euskara). It is a window into the culture of our land. We invite you to look through the window and explore the articles, stories and essays by the people who create and shape our culture.
Stories
Bodies that take to the streets
At the turn of the new century, a woman in a black skirt stood in the middle of the Brooklyn ...
From Mikel Laboa to Delorean: The flight of a free bird
It's as if Mikel Laboa (Donostia, 1934-2008) never left us. The words to his best-known song, 'Txoria Txori' came to ...
New basque cinema: On flowers and giants
Today's Basque cinema could be compared to a brilliant spring flower: its sturdy, upright stem leads to a series of ...
An outfit worn around the world
When I was little, I asked my mother why she decided to have her children learn a language that was ...
10 keys to understanding Basque gastronomy
1. Food first Don't mess with food, especially in a country where much of the social life revolves around eating. ...
10 books to immerse yourself in 21st century basque literature
The list that follows brings together the soul of Basque literature, a combination of prominent names as well as authors ...
Basqueculture.eus is also a gateway for industry professionals from other countries seeking information on the audiovisual, music, publishing, performing arts and plastic art sectors, as well as Basque heritage and language. This website will allow you to contact the main actors in these sectors.
BASQUE. IN 10 POINTS
LAND
01. The land of the basque language
Euskal Herria, which means ‘land of the Basque language’, is located in southern Europe, west of the Pyrenees. It straddles both sides of the mountain range, stretching through valleys and plains down to the wild Cantabrian Sea. This ancient land boasts an extraordinary culture, and a language unlike any other in the world. The Basque Country, Euskadi or Euskal Herria, is inclusive and welcoming, and everything is within easy reach. Having adapted to change, this modern society leads the way in Europe in terms of quality of life and sustainable development.
LANGUAGE
02. Euskera, an ancient language of unknown origin
Euskera is the oldest living language in Europe. Its origin remains a mystery today: nobody knows where it came from and it bears no resemblance to any other family of languages. It has survived for centuries, and in so doing, the Basques have preserved a rich, unique culture. A case in point is the robust health enjoyed by the Basque art of improvised verse (bertsolaritza), a formidable force in Basque culture today. Currently, some 900,000 people speak Basque. The language also enjoys a strong presence in the educational, cultural, social and digital spheres.
SOCIETY AND TRADITIONS
03. A land of authenticity
This is a land of deep roots and unique traditions, folklore, and mythology. Together with the language, they occupy a prominent place in the collective imagination. But more than as a means of interpreting the past, our heritage serves as a base on which to forge our future. Ours is a modern land where tradition and modernity live together in harmony.