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- Destinations
- Europe
- France
- Basque Country
Basque Country
France's three Basque provinces are in the southwest corner of
the country near the Spanish border, and are steeped in folklore
and ancient customs. Unlike their Spanish counterparts, the French
Basque people do not harbour radical separatist views, but they do
cling to their identity, unique languages and traditional way of
life, which offers an interesting diversion for tourists who visit
the area. Men can still be seen in the traditional costume of a
beret and cummerbund, towns and villages all have concrete courts
for the playing of the national ball-game,
pelota,and bull fighting is a popular spectator sport.
Most visitors head for the Atlantic coast to the popular resort
towns of Biarritz and St-Jean-de-Luz, or to explore the Basque
capital, Bayonne. Hikers and nature lovers are drawn to the grand
Pyrenees mountains to fish for fat trout, wander the trails, dunk
in warm mineral pools, marvel at the glaciers or climb challenging
peaks. Another great attraction in the Bigorre region, close to
Basque country, is the Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes, where the
Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a peasant girl in the
mid-19th century. Millions of believers have since made a
pilgrimage to the Lourdes grotto in the hope of miracle cures for
ailments and afflictions.
Information & Facts
Climate
The Atlantic influences the climate of the coastal areas like
Biarritz, creating mild and temperate weather year round. Winters
record the highest temperatures in France and summers are warm with
cool sea breezes. Rain usually occurs in short downpours and is
distributed throughout the year.
Language
French is the official language.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can
be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels,
though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major
credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques,
particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not
accepted.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and
last Sunday in October).