Guernica Guernica

GuernicaGuernica or or Guernica y LumoGuernica y Lumo ( (BasqueBasque Gernika-Gernika-LumoLumo, pronounced in , pronounced in IPAIPA [ger'nika]) is a small city [ger'nika]) is a small city in the in the SpanishSpanish Basque CountryBasque Country that was the that was the meeting place of the meeting place of the BiscayneBiscayne assembly under an assembly under an oakoak tree, the tree, the GernikakoGernikako ArbolaArbola, which was a , which was a symbol of traditional freedoms of the symbol of traditional freedoms of the Basque peopleBasque people. The oak tree, which had lived . The oak tree, which had lived since 1860 died in June of 2004. The sapling since 1860 died in June of 2004. The sapling which had been set to become the official which had been set to become the official Gernikako Arbola is also sick so the tree will not Gernikako Arbola is also sick so the tree will not be replaced until the earth around the site has be replaced until the earth around the site has been refreshed. A 300-year-old petrified tree been refreshed. A 300-year-old petrified tree which was the origional Arbola can still be seen in which was the origional Arbola can still be seen in its pavillion however. Later a hermitage was built its pavillion however. Later a hermitage was built besides the tree to double as an assembly place besides the tree to double as an assembly place

The Lords of Biscay, upon receiving The Lords of Biscay, upon receiving their title, would come to Guernica to their title, would come to Guernica to swear that they would respect the swear that they would respect the Biscayne freedoms. Later the Biscayne freedoms. Later the lordship became attached to the title lordship became attached to the title of of King of CastileKing of Castile..

Outside the Basque lands the city is best Outside the Basque lands the city is best known as the scene of an early instance of known as the scene of an early instance of aerial bombingaerial bombing by the by the GermanGerman LuftwaffeLuftwaffe ( (Condor LegionCondor Legion) on ) on April 26April 26, , 19371937, during , during the the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War ( (see see Bombing of Bombing of GuernicaGuernica). The Germans were attacking to ). The Germans were attacking to support the efforts of support the efforts of Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco to to overturn the overturn the Spanish RepublicanSpanish Republican government. The town was devastated, government. The town was devastated, though the Biscayne assembly and the though the Biscayne assembly and the Gernikako Arbola survived. Gernikako Arbola survived.

Pablo Picasso painted his famous Pablo Picasso painted his famous "Guernica" painting to commemorate "Guernica" painting to commemorate the horrors of the bombing. Because the horrors of the bombing. Because of its symbolic value, the current of its symbolic value, the current Autonomy Act of the Autonomy Act of the Basque CountryBasque Country was approved in Guernica and every was approved in Guernica and every Lehendakari takes his oath there. Lehendakari takes his oath there.

The Guernica estuary or Urdaibai is a The Guernica estuary or Urdaibai is a Biosphere Reserve.Biosphere Reserve.

It is also home to the Gernika Jai Alai, It is also home to the Gernika Jai Alai, one of the main courts for the jai alai one of the main courts for the jai alai sport.sport.