We are spending 5 days in the Basque region in early June, wondering if a visit to Gernika is worthwhile since all of the original city is gone.

thanks

You have to decide what is "worthwhile" to you. Like KZ-Gedenkstätte in Europe, one has decide what is the take away from visiting these kind of sites. You can go there as a site mentioned in guide books. You can also learn about the historical consequences of nationalism and xenophobia, in this case of two countries.

You can visit the Gernika Peace Museum.

26 April this year marks the 80th anniversity of the bombing of Gernika-Lumo. Visiting will depend on your interest. It is the center of Basque history, culture and politics, and where you will find the famed Tree of Gernika. As you noted, there isn't much left from the original village after the destruction by Hitler's Condor Legion, but a few things survived, including the sprit of the people and their culture. The city it self was rebuilt, and makes for a good time to spend the morning if you happen to be staying in Bilbao or Donostia. There's also some excellent Txakoli vineyards nearby, including Bodegas Itasmendi (www.bodegasitsasmendi.com).

You should visit the Peace Museum (www.museodelapaz.org) by all means, and if you happen to be there on a Monday, check out the market. And don't forgete Casa de Juntas, the Assembly House, built in the 1800s, and the Alegría Palace, which dates from the early 1700s, and houses the museum of Basque history. If you want to have lunch, Zallo Berri is a good option.

You'll find more information at: www.maribelsguides.com/mg_urdaibai_2016.pdf

Here is excellent info about Gernika/Guernica: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...rnica-tourism/

thank you. have read both fiction and non-fiction about the area and the massacre. so might be a stop for a short time. the freedom tree is still there i believe.

Yes, the Gernikako Arbola, or tree of Gernika, is still there, or at least it's 4th replacement. The current tree is from a sappling from the original tree of Gernika. There is also one planted at the National Mall in D.C.

"When a sapling from the tree of Gernika is planted on the National Mall in Washington D.C. it will close a circle that opened with John Adams’ visit to the Country of the Basques. It will also serve as an acknowledgement of the will power and work of generations of Basques in helping to build the United States."

https://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/20...tes-this-june/

There is an apocryphal story about Gernika. Supposedly Nazi soldiers entered Picasso's studio while he was painting Gernika. A German officer asked, "Did you do this?" To which Picasso answered, "No, you did."

If you are looking for a place to stay near there, I can recommend a small rural hotel very close by.



http://www.urunehotela.com/en/slow-l...runes-history/

Just been there today. One of the highlights of my guests, they love it...it´s not the city, it´s what it represents. The Parliament, one of the oldest in the world, the Tree, the swearing of Basque Liberties by the Lords and Kings of Spain...so symbolic, so important for us Basques. And so close to the beautiful Urdaibai area...Mundaka, Bermeo, San Juan de GAztelugatxe, Elantxobe...a must-see.

This article appeared in the Guardian newspaper today:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...ng-peace#img-1