The Basque Country in northern Spain is one of Europe’s most distinctive regions. Bounded by the mountains of the Pyrenees, its interior is a land of steep green hillsides dotted with grazing sheep and low whitewashed farmhouses, their doors painted a dramatic oxblood red. The coastline alternates among wave-sculpted cliffs, broad beaches, pretty fishing ports and stylish resort towns. The area first became fashionable in the 19th century, and today, the region is regaining popularity thanks to a mix of cultural attractions and world-class cuisine. Bilbao, the region’s largest city, has been transformed from a dour industrial port into a popular cultural destination by Frank Gehry’s magnificent titanium-paneled Guggenheim Museum.