#pyrenees — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #pyrenees, aggregated by home.social.
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A few photos taken on the way up to the Comtes Pond. #Merens-les-Vals #hiking #pyrenees #france #photography
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A few photos taken on the way up to the Comtes Pond. #Merens-les-Vals #hiking #pyrenees #france #photography
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Mountain stream El Ritort running through the eastern #Pyrenees town of #Camprodon.
#TravelTuesday #photography #TravelPhotography #Catalonia #Spain
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Mountain stream El Ritort running through the eastern #Pyrenees town of #Camprodon.
#TravelTuesday #photography #TravelPhotography #Catalonia #Spain
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#hikerhunger: when resupply is 70€. #zeroday at our (timewise) halfwaypoint on our #gr10 and #hrp mashup.
Pic from yesterday morning after a stormy night in a shepherds hut.
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#hikerhunger: when resupply is 70€. #zeroday at our (timewise) halfwaypoint on our #gr10 and #hrp mashup.
Pic from yesterday morning after a stormy night in a shepherds hut.
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Anthropocentric weather here in the Pyrenees isn't fucking around. The lightning storm after those Mammatus clouds went on the whole night and brought 3-4cm hailstones, wreaking havoc further inland.
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#Ax-les-thermes #hiking #photography #pyrenees #France
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#Ax-les-thermes #hiking #photography #pyrenees #France
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1999. Hiked up with a friend up to 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees, we had dinner at a hut ("refugi d'Amitges"), and then walked down in pitch darkness, a moonless night. Only a distant faint glare over the horizon betrayed Barcelona, a massive city, about 200 km away. We didn't have any torches but knew the path well. Not a cloud in sight, a feast of stars and constellations, bright enough to lit the trail apart from the brush.
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1999. Hiked up with a friend up to 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees, we had dinner at a hut ("refugi d'Amitges"), and then walked down in pitch darkness, a moonless night. Only a distant faint glare over the horizon betrayed Barcelona, a massive city, about 200 km away. We didn't have any torches but knew the path well. Not a cloud in sight, a feast of stars and constellations, bright enough to lit the trail apart from the brush.
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Just finishing up on 16 days in #Navarra, #Spain and can't recommend it more. Incredible value for money compared to #Ireland and #France. Direct ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao. #Pamplona, #Bilbao #SanSebastián, all beautiful cities and we were staying in a small village called #Olague which was centrally located in the region and just an hour from the #Pyrenees ski resorts. If your interested, drop me a message and I can give you some tips. This is the house we rented:
https://www.tuscasasrurales.com/casa-bideondo-f19460.htm -
Just finishing up on 16 days in #Navarra, #Spain and can't recommend it more. Incredible value for money compared to #Ireland and #France. Direct ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao. #Pamplona, #Bilbao #SanSebastián, all beautiful cities and we were staying in a small village called #Olague which was centrally located in the region and just an hour from the #Pyrenees ski resorts. If your interested, drop me a message and I can give you some tips. This is the house we rented:
https://www.tuscasasrurales.com/casa-bideondo-f19460.htm -
Premières #photo de mon passage en #ariege #pyrenees
Le dragon surveille sur la vallée vers #saurat tandis que le berger veille sur ses troupeaux.#photographie #photography #darktable #noiretblanc #blackandwhite
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Premières #photo de mon passage en #ariege #pyrenees
Le dragon surveille sur la vallée vers #saurat tandis que le berger veille sur ses troupeaux.#photographie #photography #darktable #noiretblanc #blackandwhite
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One of the many waterfalls along the _Camí Vell_ (the old path) between Queralbs and Núria valley in the Catalan Pyrenees. #WaterfallWednesday
#Monochrome #BlackAndWhite #LandscapePhotography #Photography #Nature #Pyrenees #Mountains
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One of the many waterfalls along the _Camí Vell_ (the old path) between Queralbs and Núria valley in the Catalan Pyrenees. #WaterfallWednesday
#Monochrome #BlackAndWhite #LandscapePhotography #Photography #Nature #Pyrenees #Mountains
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This is what happens if you are a tree and caterpillars get hungry! I am not sure but Google lens tells me this tree (from another picture with leaves and flowers) is a Prunus padus (Bird Cherry) and is infested with Bird Cherry Ermine moth caterpillars. The internet assures me that although the caterpillars look to do a lot of damage the trees typically recover quite quickly. I hope so because virtually every tree in the area had the caterpillar nests on them #Nature #Spain #Pyrenees #Insects
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This is what happens if you are a tree and caterpillars get hungry! I am not sure but Google lens tells me this tree (from another picture with leaves and flowers) is a Prunus padus (Bird Cherry) and is infested with Bird Cherry Ermine moth caterpillars. The internet assures me that although the caterpillars look to do a lot of damage the trees typically recover quite quickly. I hope so because virtually every tree in the area had the caterpillar nests on them #Nature #Spain #Pyrenees #Insects
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Clubic: Deux #randonneuses se perdent dans les #Pyrénées #France après avoir suivi un itinéraire donné par #ChatGPT
Les gars : Faites gaffe cet été...
Ne suivez pas les ours.. -
Clubic: Deux #randonneuses se perdent dans les #Pyrénées #France après avoir suivi un itinéraire donné par #ChatGPT
Les gars : Faites gaffe cet été...
Ne suivez pas les ours.. -
The Basques: Europe’s Ancient Survivors Who Refused to Disappear
Basque Shepherd Dogs (Artzain Txakurra)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardi_zakurrak.jpg
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (free to use with attribution)Dear Cherubs, if Europe were a family reunion, the Basques would be that mysterious relative who turns up speaking a language nobody else understands—and somehow has the oldest stories in the room. While empires came and went like fashion trends, the Basques simply carried on, quietly proving that survival is sometimes history’s greatest flex.
AN ANCIENT PEOPLE
The Basques are widely regarded as one of Europe’s oldest continuous cultural communities. While modern genetics shows they are not a completely isolated or “pure” people—a myth long abandoned by historians—they do preserve remarkable continuity with populations living in the western Pyrenees since prehistoric times. According to recent archaeological and genetic research, the region has been inhabited for thousands of years, with cultural continuity stretching back to the Neolithic, even as populations mixed over time.
Their language, Euskara, is the real headline act. Unlike Spanish, French, English, or almost every other European language, it belongs to no known language family. Linguists classify it as a language isolate, meaning no proven relationship has been established with any living language. That’s not just unusual—it is spectacularly rare.
For decades, the oldest known written Basque dated from Roman times. Then archaeologists uncovered the Hand of Irulegi in Navarre, a bronze artifact from around the 1st century BC bearing a Proto-Basque inscription. According to researchers, it pushed written Basque back several centuries and confirmed that the language was already established before full Romanization. It was archaeology’s version of finding an old hard drive that still boots.
EMPIRES CAME, BASQUES STAYED
The Romans conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula but never completely erased Basque identity. Instead, local communities gradually adopted aspects of Roman life while retaining their language in many mountainous regions. Later came the Visigoths, Muslim expansion into Iberia, Frankish influence, and the rise of the medieval Kingdom of Navarre. Through every political shift, Euskara survived where many other ancient European languages disappeared.
By the Middle Ages, Basque sailors were among Europe’s finest navigators. Historical records show they hunted whales in the Bay of Biscay and reached the rich cod fisheries off Newfoundland before many better-known maritime powers. They were quietly building an international reputation long before branding consultants existed.
The modern era brought fresh challenges. Following the Carlist Wars in the nineteenth century, traditional Basque self-government was significantly reduced. During Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (1939–1975), public use of Euskara was heavily restricted in Spain, and many cultural expressions were suppressed. Ironically, those policies strengthened local determination to preserve the language.
After Spain’s transition to democracy, Euskara experienced a remarkable revival. Today it is an official language in the Basque Autonomous Community and enjoys varying degrees of recognition elsewhere. Schools, universities, media outlets, and technology companies actively promote its use, although UNESCO continues to classify some Basque dialects as vulnerable.
The Basques are not “Europe’s original bloodline” in any literal biological sense. Modern populations everywhere are products of thousands of years of migration and intermarriage. What makes the Basques extraordinary is something arguably more impressive: they have maintained a unique language and cultural identity while adapting to every major political transformation Europe has experienced.
History often celebrates conquerors. The Basques remind us that sometimes the greatest achievement is simply refusing to vanish.
Sources:
The Thisclaimer logo blends a classic warning symbol with a brain icon to represent critical thinking, curiosity, and thoughtful disclaimers. #ancientBasques #ancientCivilizations #ancientEurope #ancientLanguages #archaeology #archaeologyDiscoveries #basajaun #basque #basqueCountry #basqueCulture #basqueFolklore #basqueGenetics #basqueHistory #basqueLanguage #basquePeople #basqueRevival #basqueTraditions #culturalHeritage #endangeredLanguages #europeanAncestry #europeanArchaeology #europeanCultures #europeanHistory #euskalHerria #euskara #francoDictatorship #frenchBasqueCountry #geneticsOfEurope #handOfIrulegi #historicalDiscoveries #historyFacts #humanMigration #iberianHistory #indigenousEurope #irulegiInscription #kingdomOfNavarre #languageIsolate #mariGoddess #medievalEurope #navarre #navarreHistory #preRomanEurope #prehistoricEurope #protoBasque #pyrenees #romanEmpire #spanishHistory #unescoLanguages #uniqueLanguages #worldHistory
Thisclaimer — https://thisclaimer.com
Euskaltzaindia (Royal Academy of the Basque Language) — https://www.euskaltzaindia.eus
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Basque — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Basque
National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/hand-irulegi-oldest-written-basque-language
UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages — https://en.wal.unesco.org/
Aranzadi Science Society — https://www.aranzadi.eus -
The Basques: Europe’s Ancient Survivors Who Refused to Disappear
Basque shepherd dogs in Navarre, Spain. Photo generatedDear Cherubs, if Europe were a family reunion, the Basques would be that mysterious relative who turns up speaking a language nobody else understands—and somehow has the oldest stories in the room. While empires came and went like fashion trends, the Basques simply carried on, quietly proving that survival is sometimes history’s greatest flex.
AN ANCIENT PEOPLE
The Basques are widely regarded as one of Europe’s oldest continuous cultural communities. While modern genetics shows they are not a completely isolated or “pure” people—a myth long abandoned by historians—they do preserve remarkable continuity with populations living in the western Pyrenees since prehistoric times. According to recent archaeological and genetic research, the region has been inhabited for thousands of years, with cultural continuity stretching back to the Neolithic, even as populations mixed over time.
Their language, Euskara, is the real headline act. Unlike Spanish, French, English, or almost every other European language, it belongs to no known language family. Linguists classify it as a language isolate, meaning no proven relationship has been established with any living language. That’s not just unusual—it is spectacularly rare.
For decades, the oldest known written Basque dated from Roman times. Then archaeologists uncovered the Hand of Irulegi in Navarre, a bronze artifact from around the 1st century BC bearing a Proto-Basque inscription. According to researchers, it pushed written Basque back several centuries and confirmed that the language was already established before full Romanization. It was archaeology’s version of finding an old hard drive that still boots.
EMPIRES CAME, BASQUES STAYED
The Romans conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula but never completely erased Basque identity. Instead, local communities gradually adopted aspects of Roman life while retaining their language in many mountainous regions. Later came the Visigoths, Muslim expansion into Iberia, Frankish influence, and the rise of the medieval Kingdom of Navarre. Through every political shift, Euskara survived where many other ancient European languages disappeared.
By the Middle Ages, Basque sailors were among Europe’s finest navigators. Historical records show they hunted whales in the Bay of Biscay and reached the rich cod fisheries off Newfoundland before many better-known maritime powers. They were quietly building an international reputation long before branding consultants existed.
The modern era brought fresh challenges. Following the Carlist Wars in the nineteenth century, traditional Basque self-government was significantly reduced. During Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (1939–1975), public use of Euskara was heavily restricted in Spain, and many cultural expressions were suppressed. Ironically, those policies strengthened local determination to preserve the language.
After Spain’s transition to democracy, Euskara experienced a remarkable revival. Today it is an official language in the Basque Autonomous Community and enjoys varying degrees of recognition elsewhere. Schools, universities, media outlets, and technology companies actively promote its use, although UNESCO continues to classify some Basque dialects as vulnerable.
The Basques are not “Europe’s original bloodline” in any literal biological sense. Modern populations everywhere are products of thousands of years of migration and intermarriage. What makes the Basques extraordinary is something arguably more impressive: they have maintained a unique language and cultural identity while adapting to every major political transformation Europe has experienced.
History often celebrates conquerors. The Basques remind us that sometimes the greatest achievement is simply refusing to vanish.
Sources:
The Thisclaimer logo blends a classic warning symbol with a brain icon to represent critical thinking, curiosity, and thoughtful disclaimers. #ancientBasques #ancientCivilizations #ancientEurope #ancientLanguages #archaeology #archaeologyDiscoveries #basajaun #basque #basqueCountry #basqueCulture #basqueFolklore #basqueGenetics #basqueHistory #basqueLanguage #basquePeople #basqueRevival #basqueTraditions #culturalHeritage #endangeredLanguages #europeanAncestry #europeanArchaeology #europeanCultures #europeanHistory #euskalHerria #euskara #francoDictatorship #frenchBasqueCountry #geneticsOfEurope #handOfIrulegi #historicalDiscoveries #historyFacts #humanMigration #iberianHistory #indigenousEurope #irulegiInscription #kingdomOfNavarre #languageIsolate #mariGoddess #medievalEurope #navarre #navarreHistory #preRomanEurope #prehistoricEurope #protoBasque #pyrenees #romanEmpire #spanishHistory #unescoLanguages #uniqueLanguages #worldHistory
Thisclaimer — https://thisclaimer.com
Euskaltzaindia (Royal Academy of the Basque Language) — https://www.euskaltzaindia.eus
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Basque — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Basque
National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/hand-irulegi-oldest-written-basque-language
UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages — https://en.wal.unesco.org/
Aranzadi Science Society — https://www.aranzadi.eus -
Get me, I've written another short blog post about an encounter with Kevin the Marmot and a Bearded Vulture who didn't stick around long enough to get a name. It seems to me if you find yourself on a col, hang around for a while and see what comes along! Anyway have a read and see some of the pictures.
https://www.kierstenrowland.com/kevin-and-the-bearded-vulture
#Nature #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Pyrenees #WildlifeWednesday -
Get me, I've written another short blog post about an encounter with Kevin the Marmot and a Bearded Vulture who didn't stick around long enough to get a name. It seems to me if you find yourself on a col, hang around for a while and see what comes along! Anyway have a read and see some of the pictures.
https://www.kierstenrowland.com/kevin-and-the-bearded-vulture
#Nature #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Pyrenees #WildlifeWednesday -
Pont Nou, originally built in the early 13th century, located in the town of Camprodon in the #Catalan #Pyrenees of northeastern #Spain.
#TravelTuesday #photography #TravelPhotography #bridge #Catalonia
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Pont Nou, originally built in the early 13th century, located in the town of Camprodon in the #Catalan #Pyrenees of northeastern #Spain.
#TravelTuesday #photography #TravelPhotography #bridge #Catalonia
