Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

---

There is hardly a sport that unites the people of the Basque Country as much as pelota. Located on the border between France and Spain, the region still sees itself as an independent province with a common culture, language and identity. The game of pelota, in which a ball is thrown against the wall of a house, is an important part of this.

Subscribe to wocomoHUMANITY: goo.gl/CMNyXt
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/wocomo

You can play pelota with your hand or with a racket, even with a specially made glove. There are about 20 variations in total. The important thing is that there is an opposite wall that allows the thrown ball to bounce back. What sounds simple requires strength, speed and agility. In the Basque Country, this sport has been practised for centuries. It was invented here and even today children play it after school in public squares and streets.

Excerpt from the documentary "Pelota, die baskische Leidenschaft" (360° - GEO Reportage)
Click here to watch the full documentary (in German): youtu.be/pDf_DqGQAJU