Cross the border from France on the Atlantic coast and you’ll find yourself in the Spanish Basque Country. It is maybe unknown to many people outside of Spain. But I can tell you you’ll miss a hope if you haven’t been there. The capital of the Basque Country is Vitoria-Gasteiz. The other two major cities are San Sebastián and Bilbao. It has a temperate climate, cool summers, mild winters, and, thanks to the influence of the Bay of Biscay, a fair amount of rainfall. But don’t let that deter you from visiting, because you’ll love it. It may not be a state, but the Basques have a strong identity of their own.