The almost impossible to visit European island that switches countries | World | News
Looking at a maps of Western Europe over the past decades and you might not think the borders between countries moved much at all.
The last major noticeable change was the reunification of Germany in 1990 following the collapse of the Berlin Wall the previous year.
Indeed, with most borders in Western Europe now covered by the Schengan Agreement – largely eliminating border posts – they may seem less important than ever before.
However, a small section border between two of the region’s largest nations continues to change hands every six months between them.Spain.
Pheasant Island sits on the Bidasoa River that separates France andÂ
On one side of the river sits the Spanish town of Irun, while over on the French side is Hendaye.
Following the Treaty of the Pyrennes in 1659, the island became a condominium, a status it retains to this day.
Between February 1 and July 31 each year the island is under the governance of the Spanish naval commanders in San Sebastian.
For the rest of the year, between August 1 and January 31, it is governed from France.
None of this makes much of a difference since the tiny island – around 660 feet long and 130 feet wide – is completely unhabited and, despite what the name suggests, there are not even any pheasants.
There is a monolith on the island marking the treaty that was signed on it – however it is not one that attracts throngs of tourists like you might find in other areas of the two countries.
Although the island is sometimes technically accessible on foot from the Spanish side during low tide, access is generally strictly forbidden.
With the exception of rare heritage days, only council staff from the neighbouring towns on both sides of the river may visit to monitor, clean and maintain the site.
Indeed, it seems that Pheasant Island may be the area of Spain least likely to see the sorts of protests against overtourism seen elsewhere in the country in recent months.
