Southern Basque Country

The Spanish Basque Country or Hegoalde pictured in deep green as related to the entire Basque Country. The internal borders are shown of the three provinces which comprise the Basque Autonomous Community (to the west) and Navarre (to the east)

The Southern Basque Country (Basque: Hegoalde or Hego Euskal Herria; Spanish: Hegoalde, País Vasco y Navarra or País Vasco peninsular) is a term used to refer to the Basque territories within Spain as a unified whole.

It does not exist as a political unit but includes the three provinces (Álava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa) and two enclaves (Enclave of Treviño and Valle de Villaverde) of the Basque Autonomous Community in the west, as well as the Chartered Community of Navarre to the east.

The historically Basque 4 provinces on Spanish soil had a status of self-empowerment up to the 2nd Carlist War in the late 19th century (Charters abolished). A political stir ensued and failed attempts were made to re-establish a new single political status for the Basque territories in Spain (Statute of Estella, 1932). After Franco's death, this possibility was again explored and provided for in the late 1970s, but strong political objections both in the Spanish establishment and Navarre (Unión del Pueblo Navarro party founded, swing in Spanish Socialist Workers' Party's position) drew the project to a stalemate.

Spanish Basque Country can refer to this same territory, but is ambiguous as it may or may not include Navarre; whereas the Basque-derived term "Southern Basque Country" invariably includes Navarre and the enclaves.

See also

• Basque Country (greater region)