Fairies, goblins, witches, giants, dragons… so many fantastic and legendary creatures that you can meet in the mountains, caves and rivers of the Basque Country!
Basajaun, the Basque yeti
The Basajaun (meaning “Lord of the Forest” in Basque) is a legendary creature of Basque mythology. Legend has it that he lives in the Iraty forest and mountains of the Basque Country. He takes on the appearance of a humanoid creature, tall and covered in hair, similar to the American bigfoot.
Shepherds fear him, even though he protects their flocks from wolf attacks in the summer pastures. On his nocturnal outings, the invisible guardian of the forest sometimes visits the shepherds’ huts to steal their food. Basajaun ‘s wife is called Basandere (the Lady of the Forest). She also lives in the mountains of the Basque Country, near caves, caverns and fountains.
The Laminak, half-fairies, half-lutins
Originating in Basque mythology and popular beliefs, laminak are fantastic beings who enjoy a good relationship with humans. They take on the appearance of teasing elves in the provinces of Soule and Basse-Navarre, or pretty young women with long hair and animal feet in the more western regions.
Essentially nocturnal creatures, laminak live underground, in caves, near water sources and streams. In Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, they are said to be hiding under the old Utsalea bridge. The laminak are also said to have hidden large quantities of gold on the Gaztelu hill, more specifically in the prehistoric caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya.
The goddess Mari
A central figure in Basque mythology, Mari is considered the mother goddess of all the divinities that populate the world. According to legend, she lives underground, in a cave high in the mountains. Associated with her are witches, called “sorginak”, who perform rituals in her honor, and Sugaar, “the male dragon”, god of storms and lightning.
Herensuge, the seven-headed serpent
Herensugue is also one of the most famous mythological creatures in Basque culture. He is a gigantic seven-headed serpent, protector of the Basajaunak. Thanks to its powerful breath, it sucks in herds that pass within its reach, and sometimes their shepherds as well. It is said to lurk beneath the Rhune massif, the sacred mountain of the Basques. Nothing could be further from the truth, as legend has it that the scale-covered monster was struck down by the knight Gaston de Belzunce in the 15th century.
Giants, bogeymen, cyclops and other fantastic creatures of the Basque Country
Even more mysterious and fascinating creatures haunt the mountains, forests and rivers of the inland Basque country. These include Sugulna, a three-headed hydra; Tartaro, a cruel, anthropophagous Cyclops; the bogeyman Gaueko, who punishes unwary travelers who venture into the mountains at night; the Gentiles (“Jentilak” in Basque), a people of giants who are said to have built the dolmens and cromlechs of the Basque Country; and Olentzero, the Basque equivalent of Santa Claus.
Discover Basque culture
To find out more, the Musée Basque in Bayonne is devoting a storytelling tour to discovering some of the characters of Basque mythology through various objects: the dolmens of the Gentils, the combs of the Lamina, the kaiku (milk jug) of the Basajaun…
