In Spain's modern history the regions of the north have followed varying paths. Some joined the Industrial Revolution early in the 19th century, with shipbuilding, iron and steel in the Basque Country, coal mining and shipbuilding in Asturias. This also made them centres of progressive dynamism in the struggle to make Spain a modern state, while areas like Navarra and rural Galicia were known for an unchanging conservatism.
The rise of Basque nationalism also undermined faith in the status quo. Asturias was the base for a socialist revolt in 1934, and when the Spanish Civil War erupted two years later both it and the Basques resisted General Franco's right-wing army. The victorious Franco regime regarded them with intense suspicion; their rebelliousness was met with harsh repression.
The northern regions have continued to fare differently in the new Spain created since 1975, integrated into the European Union and with a system of regional self-government (Autonomías). For Spanish-speaking regions like Asturias and La Rioja the "Autonomies" have become useful arms of local government.
In Galicia, nationalism has always been quite mild, but has lately become more demanding. The Basque situation, however, has remained one of Spain's ongoing problems. The Basque government has greater powers than any other region in Europe, but a substantial proportion of Basques want total independence, and some sympathize with the militant nationalist group ETA.
However, the declaration of a ceasefire by ETA in March 2006 has generated renewed optimism and raised hopes of a permanent solution. The north's economic transformation has been almost as striking as the political one. The coal, steel and shipbuilding indusries declined rapidly in the 1980s, causing severe hardship. Fishing, too, has come under pressure from EU quotas. Recently, though, tourism and Spain's industrial diversification have opened up new possibilities. Most dramatic of all has been the revitalization of a newly stylish Bilbao.
Northern Spain is remarkable for its exceptional architectural heritage. Preserved here are the foundations of Celtic homesteads and the ruins of Roman buildings, testifying to the region's ancient history. It is also here, especially along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and in the Catalan Pyrenees, that beautiful Romanesque churches and lofty Gothic cathedrals are to be found. One of the area's most distinctive and visible features is the traditional architecture, unique to each region of Northern Spain, which reflects the terrain and traditional forms of livelihood – fishing, farming and agriculture.
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