Pheasant Island, the unique place that changes nationality every six months.
At the mouth of the Bidasoa River, Pheasant Island has been shared between France and Spain since the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
Each country takes turns looking after the island for half of the year.
The island used to belong to Hondarribia but is now shared by the towns of Irun and Hendaye. It covers just 2,000 square metres and has been protected and stabilised through careful work.
It has several names. In French, it is often called “Île de l’hôpital” (Hospital Island), while in Spanish it is known as La Isla de los Faisanes (Pheasant Island), likely due to a translation mistake. In Basque, it’s sometimes called “Konpantzia,” a name linked to the many meetings held there in the 1600s.
One of the island’s most important moments was the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. After 24 meetings between French and Spanish officials, the treaty was agreed upon by Louis XIV and Infanta Maria Teresa.
Today, a monolith on the island marks this event. Over the years, the island has also been the site of prisoner exchanges and royal weddings. It is the smallest shared territory in the world.
The island is no longer open to visitors, but can be easily seen from the banks of the Joncaux, on the Bay Path.
