Soccer, the king of sports
In Spain, soccer is the king of sports. And while La Roja, the national team, is considered one of the best in the world, the region is above all passionate about its clubs. And the first of these, Athletic Bilbao, unleashes the passions. This singular club is unique in that its players are either of Basque origin (including the French Basque Country and Navarre) or trained in the region. A unique case in the age of business soccer ! And like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, Athletic is a sports association owned by its socios (members). Its San Mamés stadium can accommodate over 50,000 spectators. When, in April 2024, Athletic won the Copa del Rey against Palma de Mallorca in Seville (the King's Cup, i.e. the Spanish Cup), a human tide flooded Bilbao city center to welcome the victorious team back from Andalusia. Some figures put the number of spectators at over one million!
Real Sociedad, the San Sebastian-based club and Athletic's historic rivals, also play in the Spanish top flight (La Liga), at the 39,500-seat Anoeta stadium. Finally, Osasuna are based in Pamplona and represent Navarre in La Liga. In La Rioja, even though soccer is a popular sport, local teams don't get off the ground in the lower divisions.
At the foot of the Pyrenees, cycling of course
Cycling is very popular in the Basque Country and Navarre, and became so in the 1980s. In Spain, the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) dates back to 1935 and usually takes place in September, while the Tour of the Basque Country is part of the world tour (the UCI World Tour, the highest professional level). Spanish cyclists are very successful, and the rider of the 1990s Miguel Indurain, from Navarre, is considered a legend of international cycling. At that time, and in the early 2000s, the Euskatel-Euskadi team, which raced only Basque cyclists, was part of the world tour. In more recent times, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde have both been flying the Spanish flag.
Very popular traditional sports
Games of strength. While pelota is the most famous of the local traditional sports, jeu de force is also one of the region's epinal images and an integral part of its culture. They liven up village festivals by pitting several teams against each other in a series of events. Comprising a total of 16 disciplines, these games are often inherited from the old days of agricultural work, such as lasto altxari, which involves hoisting a 45 kg bale of straw to the end of a rope and repeating this movement as many times as possible; aizkolariak, where the participant has to cut thick trunks as quickly as possible with an axe; or lokotxa, a corn-cob-picking contest. But of all these events, the Harri altxatzea (stone lifting) is undoubtedly the most spectacular. Each participant has to hoist a stone weighing between 250 and 300 kg onto his or her shoulder. Last but not least, the soka tira is the famous tug-of-war between two teams of eight men.
Trawler regattas. Also very popular in the Basque Country, this traditional sport has its origins in the region's maritime past, when these rowing boats were used for fishing and whaling. A dragnet crew is made up of 13 rowers and a coxswain. Teams compete in major events, the most famous of which is the Bandera de La Concha, held every year in San Sebastian.
Hiking, the main activity
The paths of Navarre are a hiker's paradise. As the starting point of the famous Camino francés to Santiago de Compostela, Navarre attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, who cover 170 km of trails. Navarre's "greenways", built along former railroad lines, also allow visitors to discover sumptuous landscapes on foot or by bike, such as the Lumbier Gorge, the banks of the Bidasoa or the Queiles and Leitzaran valleys. A must!
In Rioja, long-distance hiking trails cross the sierras, while the GR 38, known as the "Wine and Fish Route", follows the old mule paths between the Rioja Alavesa region and the Biscayan coast.
In the Basque Country, don't miss the Flysch route, which follows the imposing cliffs of Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia, witness to 60 million years of history inscribed in the rock. Hiking enthusiasts can also follow the Camino del Norte (Northern Route) of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, which skirts the Basque coastline via San Sebastian and Bilbao. There are also two long-distance footpaths, the GR 38, which crosses the Basque Country from south to north, from the vineyards of Oyón to the port of Bermeo, and the GR 120, known as the Route of the Three Temples, which runs from the Loyola sanctuary to the sanctuary of Arantzazu, via the hermitage of Santa María La Antigua in Zumarraga.
Gliding and sensations guaranteed!
Surfing. Less well known than those on the French side, the beaches on the Spanish Basque coast nonetheless offer excellent conditions and are very popular with local surfers. Among the best spots are San Sebastian's Zurriola beach and the renowned waves of Sopelana, Zarautz and Mundaka. There are numerous surf schools all along the coast, offering beginners the chance to discover the joys of this sport.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Navarrese Pyrenees offer excellent conditions for Nordic skiing. The resorts of Larra-Belagua (Roncal valley) and Abodi (Salazar valley) are benchmarks for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Finally, mountaineering and rock-climbing enthusiasts have a multitude of options in the Navarrese Pyrenees.
Canyoning and rafting. As soon as the snow melts, these same spots become popular for canyoning and rafting. You can also have a blast in the Urbasa-Andía nature park. Thrills guaranteed!
