Culture of the Basque Country

The Basque Country is a cross-border cultural region that has a distinctive culture including its own language, customs, festivals, and music.

The Basques living in the territory are primarily represented by the symbol of the flag Ikurriña, as well as the Lauburu cross and the Zazpiak Bat coat of arms. The Gernikako Arbola and the Agur Jaunak are its most recognizable anthems in music, and the oak its most revered tree (cf. the aforementioned Tree of Gernika).

Despite their present conspicuous secularization, the Basques have been Catholics for centuries. However, they owe much of their religious festivals to ancestral beliefs and pagan sites, sometimes extending as late as the 15th century. Saint Miguel, Saint Mary, Saint John and Saint Peter are its most worshiped and ancient cults, while during the Modern period new saints came into being, notably Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier.

Language

Legal status of Basque (21st century)

Main article: Basque language

The traditional Basque districts are home to Basque, an ergative language. However, Basque has showed a receding trend, and it is nowadays a minority language due mainly to political fragmentation, with higher usage intensity in Biscay, Gipuzkoa, northern-western Navarre, and western sub-Pyrenean areas of the Pyrénées Atlantiques. Spanish and French remain the most widely used everyday communication languages in their respective administrative districts, with the legal status of Basque varying depending on the area.

Basque medium education is provided for by the Ikastola Federation, and sometimes the public network. It is the main linguistic option in the Basque Autonomous Community, while in some areas of the French Basque Country and Navarre its presence is small. Town councils operating in Basque clustered around the consortium UEMA for mutual support and legal assistance.

Literature

Lazarraga's pastoral novel and set of poems (1567-1602)

Debate on translation and Basque literature (2017)

Further information: Basque literature and Bertsolaritza

Literature in the Basque Country may refer to the literature made in Basque, Spanish, and French. Basque, historically the primary language of the territory at either side of current French-Spanish border, was not prone to be written until the early Modern Period, aside some short poems (Beotibarko gudua), letters (between Navarrese high-ranking officials in the early 15th century), loose phrases, and notations. Stories and poems were transmitted down generations by oral tradition. The official Spanish and French languages were preferred (often compulsory) for written works starting in the 16th century. However, the coming of the printer allowed for the first glossy Basque literary sprouts to spring up (Bernard Etxepare with Linguae vasconum primitiae, 1545; Joanes Leizarraga) in the mid-16th century.

The Royal Basque Society fostered arts and literature in the late 18th century. Much of Basque literature was costumbrismo literature (Garoa by Txomin Agirre, 1912), or Romantic historic novels like Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII by Navarro Villoslada (1879) and, especially in Basque, often aimed at Catholic indoctrination up to the Second Republic period, but plays, lyric poems in bertso metre (Bilintx, Joan Batista Elizanburu, the Lore Jokoak festivals), and press articles were also produced. Meanwhile, Spanish language writers started to stand out in the context of the 1898 crisis, figures such as Unamuno and Pio Baroja (El árbol de la ciencia, 1911), hailing from urban areas like Bilbao and Donostia.

After the barren postwar years, a new generation set an innovative trend along the lines of contemporary European literature, authors like Txillardegi (influenced by existentialism), Ramon Saizarbitoria, Gabriel Aresti in Basque, or works in Spanish like Tiempo de silencio, as well as Ignacio Aldecoa and Blas de Otero (Pido la paz y la palabra, 1955 (1975)) with their social realism. A committed literature approach appeared unavoidable in the social and political context of Franco's dictatorship. However, the trend towards diversification in genres and styles was confirmed during the 80s and 90s with the emergence of regional editorial houses, and authors as diverse as Joseba Sarrionandia (Ni ez naiz hemengoa, 1985), Bernardo Atxaga (Obabakoak, 1988), Pako Aristi, Aingeru Epalza (in Basque), or Toti Martinez de Lezea, Miguel Sanchez Ostiz and Espido Freire in Spanish. In the 90s and on into the 2000s, Marie Darrieussecq from Bayonne should be highlighted in French language literature.

Music

Alboka players of Zeanuri (Biscay)

Folk band Oskorri (1977)

Main article: Basque music

Music in the Basque Country has evolved from its historic characteristic instruments (txistu, xirula, trikitixa, etc.) and singing traditions to include a whole range of musical options in step with a modern European context. Popular tunes have been closely related to the bertso tradition, but the tunes used are often variations of a common European folk music heritage. The coming of the Enlightenment and the Royal Basque Society saw attempts of establishing an upper status music, e.g. bringing more dignity to the txistu, and technically developing it.

This trend toward a more sophisticated music catering to the upper classes saw its heyday in the early 20th century, with acclaimed composers like Jesus Guridi or Jose Maria Usandizaga (who held friendship ties with the French Basque Maurice Ravel), featuring Basque topic zarzuelas, operas, and operettas. In the run-up to the golden age of the opera theatres (Victoria Eugenia, Teatro Gayarre, Teatro Arriaga), among individual singers, Julián Gayarre from Roncal struck a chord in the opera scene. Local choirs and ochotes also developed. This is a period of strong influence of the costumbrismo and overall nationalist motifs.

In the early 1960s, the seeds of the Basque music revival were sown at either side of the French-Spanish border with new young figures eager to sing their ideals (Mixel Labeguerie, Benito Lertxundi, etc.), incorporating the guitar as musical instrument. Radio and television (ever more local) provided the springboard for numerous groups, and in the early 80s punk music saw a surge in the Southern Basque Country, crystallizing in a strong musical movement (Basque Radical Rock). Basque traditional music has come to integrate new influences and technical innovations (Tapia eta Leturia, Kepa Junkera, etc.), while many pop-rock bands have confirmed their own paths and even go international, groups as diverse as Gatibu, Barricada, Berri Txarrak, Fito y los Fitipaldis, or La Oreja de Van Gogh.

The proliferation of community centres (kultur etxeak) and private music venues have set the foundations of a vibrant music scene, complementing the existing squat circuit catering to emerging bands. In the late 90s, music festivals sprang up all over the Basque territory, events like Bilbao BBK Live (Bilbao), Euskal Herria Zuzenean (Arrosa, 40 km SE from Bayonne), Azkena Rock Festival (Vitoria-Gasteiz), as well as other smaller ones. Catering to the classical music tastes, the Quincena Musical stands out in Donostia, while jazz and folk find their best showcases in Getxo (International Folk and Jazz Festivals), Vitoria-Gasteiz (International Jazz Festival), and Donostia (Heineken Jazzaldia).

Media

Since the early 2000s, Basque‐language media have undergone a marked digital transformation, led by the Basque public broadcaster EiTB. Faced with declining viewership from 2004 onwards, EiTB reorganized its radio, television and online services under the “EITB Media” umbrella in 2020, launching mobile apps, a redesigned website and the OTT platform Primeran, announced in May 2021 and released in mid-September 2023 with over 3,000 titles of films, documentaries, sports, music and children’s programmes, aimed at younger, Basque-speaking audiences as part of its EITB 2030 strategy. Simultaneously, rising costs for paper, energy and services, alongside insufficient public subsidies, have compelled Basque media outlets to explore innovative solutions, such as AI-based subtitling and pilot projects for 2025–27, and to launch new platforms like Bikain in 2023. Beyond technological change, outlets such as Berria and EiTB remain crucial to Basque language maintenance: they provide style guides, educational platforms, digital text corpora for automatic translation and contribute to standardization efforts.

Art and cinema

In recent years, Basque art and cinema has also undergone a notable revival, both in its production and its international recognition. On 18 June 2024, the Etxepare Basque Institute released a new edition of Basque Cinema, by Joxean Fernández, as part of its twelve-book BASQUE series; this volume offers a comprehensive survey of the region’s film history, from the advent of the cinematograph in the late nineteenth century to present-day international successes, and highlights key moments such as the first Basque-language feature Gure Sor Lekua and the ten Goya Awards won by Handia in 2018. Supported by public funding and institutions like the San Sebastián International Film Festival and the Basque Film Archive, the industry has seen a resurgence of Basque-language filmmaking under figures such as Joxe Mari Goenaga and Asier Altuna, with recent works including 20,000 Species of Bees (2023) earning acclaim at major festivals. Moreover, the region’s varied landscapes and distinctive urban architecture have attracted both domestic and international productions, from the blockbuster comedy Ocho apellidos vascos (2014), Spain’s highest-grossing film at over €56 million, to Maixabel (2021) and the Netflix series Intimacy (2021), filmed in locations ranging from Getaria and Zumaia to Bilbao’s modern skyline.

Architecture

Doña Otxanda Tower (Vitoria-Gasteiz)

The concept of the house holds a special significance for the Basques, rendered as the generic etxea, one that according to tradition was indivisible and to be inherited by the eldest child. The house in the forest is the baserri or farmstead, ubiquitous across the Atlantic basin, but almost absent in the central areas of Álava and Navarre, where traditionally the prevailing type of settlement is the village dotting those areas. The southern fringes of the Basque Country follow a pattern of more scattered and larger settlements (towns). Initially the farmsteads were built all in timber, but as of the 15th century the ground floor started to be framed in stone, limiting timber for the upper floors. The slope of the roofs is not very steep except in the Pyrenean valleys (Aezkoa, Zaraitzu, Roncal, Soule), where the construction of the roofs are more vertical in order to better cope with snowfall.

In the late 19th century, new European styles left an imprint in the traditional Basque house. A blend of Art Deco and the traditional house coined a new style, especially in the French Basque Country, the neo-Basque style, best represented in the Villa Arnaga of Cambo-les-Bains (Kanbo), home to the writer Edmond Rostand. The European architectural trends expanded to the main Basque cities along with their new urban schemes, e.g. Art Deco, Romantic, Modernist, Rationalist.

The Ways of Saint James provided the channel for the penetration of civilian and especially religious architecture starting in the 12th century. The Romanesque and Gothic styles thrived in the period up to the 15th century, with its most outstanding samples found in central and southern Álava and Navarre.

Basque law

See also: Basque civil law and Basque Country (autonomous community)

Within the Basque cultural sphere, law has long been central to both communal identity and self-governance. The modern Basque legal framework is rooted in the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country (approved in 1979), which recognizes Euskadi, comprising Álava, Gipuzkoa, and Bizkaia, with the option to include Navarra, as an Autonomous Community of Spain, guarantees the co-official status of Euskera and Spanish, and entrusts regional institutions with extensive powers over education, culture, public works, health, social security, police, media, civil law, heritage protection, natural-resource regulation, and interregional agreements, while reserving defense and foreign policy to the central government.

Legislative authority resides in the Basque Parliament, elected every four years by proportional representation, whose members enjoy parliamentary inviolability and oversee the budget and government confidence; executive power lies with the Basque Government, headed by the Lendakari, which must resign upon electoral turnover, loss of parliamentary support, or the President’s departure. Judicially, the High Court of Justice stands as the apex court, with judge appointments favoring knowledge of Basque law and Euskera, and the Basque Autonomous Police serving judicial-police functions; historic territories retain exclusive jurisdiction over local governance, territorial demarcation, and elections, with an arbitration committee to resolve conflicts, and fiscal autonomy is maintained via the Economic Agreement that allocates tax-collection powers to the Basque treasury.

Underlying this statute is the medieval fueros system; charters dating from the 10th century, upheld by Castilian monarchs through the Pase Foral (“obey but not enforce”) and codified in the Old (1452) and New (1526) Statutes of Bizkaia; which established local assemblies (notably the General Assembly beneath the Tree of Gernika) and ensured flexible, democratic governance until their repeal in 1876; remnants were incorporated into the Economic Agreement, and were revitalized under the 1978 Spanish Constitution and the 1979 autonomy referendum.

Religion

Main articles: Basque mythology and Roman Catholicism

In 2018, less than 1% of the population from Basque Autonomous Community carries out religious or civil participation and collaboration activities in organizations.

Cuisine

Main article: Basque cuisine

Basque cuisine marries centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge innovation, anchoring the region’s cultural identity. An example of this is at the 2016 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where chefs Igor Ozamiz Goiriena and Igor Cantabrana presented dishes at the Ostatua Kitchen that honoured time-tested methods while embracing new techniques. Renowned for having the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita, Basque sukaldari (chefs) prize fresh, local seafood from the Bay of Biscay alongside organic produce, dairy and meats, exemplified by classics such as bacalao al pil-pil (salt cod in garlic-chili emulsion). Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, pioneers of New Basque Cuisine integrated French culinary methods without sacrificing regional character, a spirit that endured at the Basque Food Laboratory of the Escuela Superior de Hostelería Artxanda-Bilbao, where chefs experimented with modern technologies to elevate traditional ingredients.

Folklore

Main article: Basque folklore

Basque folklore is a rich blend of ancient mythology, rural traditions, and evolving social practices, deeply embedded in the region's identity. Rooted in pre-Christian beliefs, it features a pantheon of mythic figures, including Mari, the earth goddess, and various beings such as Olentzero, a gift-bearing character linked to Christmas, and Akerbeltz, the protective goat spirit. Many of these traditions, while reshaped by Christianity, persist in modern cultural expressions. The eguzkilore, a thistle-like plant, is traditionally hung on doorways to ward off evil spirits, and tales of lamiak, siren-like creatures, highlight the region's connection to natural forces. The practice of witchcraft, centered around the akelarre, and the communal dances and rituals associated with Carnival, particularly in the French Basque Country, reflect the region’s blending of the sacred and the secular. Rural sports, which originated from farming and whaling, continue in the form of regattas and pelota matches, while traditions like the pintxo-pote, where food and drink are shared in communal settings, have become vital parts of Basque life. Events like the Durango Basque Book and Record Fair, established in 1965, underscore the ongoing cultural significance of language and literature. These practices, from oral improvisation to rural sports (herri kirolak), remain vibrant, ensuring the continuity of Basque cultural heritage.

Sport

Chistera game in Bidart

Stall in support of a Basque rugby selection

Main articles: Basque rural sports and Basque Country (greater region) § Sports

Basque sport has developed along the lines of the European countries. Originating from medieval games and rural sports based on intra- and inter-community rivalry and challenges, Basque native sports have specialized and expanded up to date, with various degrees of success. Basque pelota (especially esku-huska, handball) and rowing races are highly popular, while traditional bowls or hole drilling have remained largely local, limited to occasional events and celebrations.

Like overall in Europe, football (soccer) caught on early on in time expanding from its main influence focus in Bilbao (early 20th century), after it was imported by English iron industry operators from southern England. Spanish 1st League teams include Athletic de Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and SD Eibar in the 2014–15 season. Rugby union is not played at a professional level in the Southern Basque Country, but bears witness to a loyal following and important teams in Gipuzkoa and Biscay, like, Getxo Rugby Taldea, AMPO Ordizia and more playing in the Spanish Top League. Basque rugby does hold a higher, professional profile in the French Rugby League, with the Biarritz Olympique (BO) and the Aviron Bayonnais playing in the top-flight.

Mountaineering (hill walking, trekking) is a signature Basque sport with early entrenched roots in its history. The territory numbers 40,000 plus members associated in local federate mountain clubs, one of the highest concentrations in the world, ranging from family outings to the most competitive specialities (skiing, rock climbing, high mountain trekking...). The leisurely activity took on an institutional shape in 1924 with the establishment of the Basque-Navarrese Federation at Elgeta. One of its most memorable historic feats remains the 1980 expedition to the Everest, topped by Martin Zabaleta along with the sherpa Pasang Temba (14 May 1980). Other mountaineers with worldwide recognition include Juanito Oiarzabal, Edurne Pasaban, Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, or the brothers Iñurrategi.

Festivals

See also: Basque festival, Carnivals from the Basque Country, and Basque Country (greater region)

Festivals are a central part of Basque culture, blending religious, folkloric, and communal traditions. The Basque Carnivals (Ihauteriak), held each February, feature colourful parades, lively music, and performances marking the transition from winter to spring. Key events include the "awakening of the bear" and the symbolic burning of San Pantzar, with towns like Ituren, Zubieta, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Bayonne hosting week-long celebrations.

The summer months of July and August are particularly festive, with Aste Nagusia in Bilbao (starting the Saturday after 15 August) showcasing the Marijaia figure, concerts, traditional sports, and "txosnas" (temporary bars). Other highlights include the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Tamborrada in San Sebastián, and the Geese Day (5 September) in Lekeitio. In April, the Bilbao Basque FEST celebrates Basque heritage with music, rural sports, and gastronomy, while supporting local arts and social initiatives.