Basque Country Tourist Guide

THE BASQUE COUNTRY

culture

The Basque Country in the world

b egin by deciding what you prefer and get ready, because the choice of museums in the Basque Country is long and of the highest quality. In Bilbao a superb collection of contemporary art is displayed in the Guggenheim Bilbao, while the holdings of the Bellas Artes Museum includes works from the 13th century to the present. You can also opt for the Archaeological Museum or the Euskal Museoa ethnological museum among others. The Peace Museum in Gernika-Lumo is indispensable, as is the la Ferrería de El Pobal (a smithy) in Muskiz , and the Minería Museum (mining museum) in Gallarta .

F I N E A RT S ( V I T O R I A - G A S T E I Z )

The San Telmo Museum in San Sebastian shows the development of Basque society through its exhibits. The Aquarium is nothing less than spectacular. The Photomuseum, in Zarautz is a temple for photographers. And if you are a devotee of high fashion the Cristóbal Balenciaga in Getaria shows the work of this brilliant designer. Vitoria-Gasteiz boasts the Bellas Artes Museum (fine arts), the "Artium" (the Basque Centre-Museum of Contemporary Art), the natural History Museum and Bibat, home of the Naipes (playing cards) Museum and Archaeology. The same province is home to the Alfar- ería Vasca Museum (Basque pottery) in Ollerias and the Ethnographic Museum in Artziniega .

Key Basque cultural events in the world of music, dance or theatre such as the Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastian International Jazz Festivals know no borders. In Getxo there are folk, blues and jazz festivals. The Basque Symphony Orchestra's Euskalduna opera season and the BBK Live macro-festival take place in Bilbao. In San Sebastian you have Zinemaldi, the Film Festival, the Musical Fortnight, the Fantasy and Horror Film Week, the bertsolaris (song improvisers) festivals… In Araba/Álava the Early Music Week, the Dantzan Maiatza festival (dance), the International Games Festival Magialdia, the Television and Radio Contest and the Azkena Rock Festival stand out…

s a n t e l mo MU S E UM ( S a n S e b a s t i a n )

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