Welcome to Pheasant Island: It switches countries every six months!
We all love islands for their azure seas, the cool breeze and swaying palms. After all, they are a feast to our sore eyes. When you plan a visit to an island outside your country, you need a visa for its country, no matter what time of the year you are visiting it. Well, there is an island, for which the visa application country will change, depending on which half of the year you are visiting it? We are talking about the Pheasant Island, located between France and Spain, in the Bidasoa river.
The island switches its country every six months, from France to Soain! It has garnered quite a reputation because of this unusual phenomenon, even though no pheasants live here! In fact, nobody lives on Pheasant Island. It’s completely deserted and off-limits for tourists.
But why does its native country change? Let’s unravel the mystery!
The Treaty of the Pyrenees
A 350-year-old agreement called the Treaty of the Pyrenees is why the island switches countries from Spain to France every six months. A peace agreement called the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed between Spain and France on November 7, 1659 on Pheasant Island. It ended the long Franco-Spanish War that ended in 1635! The island was considered as neutral territory between them. It took three months of negotiation on the islands to reach this peace agreement! Finally, it was decided that both countries would take charge of the island alternately after every six months. To seal this agreement, a royal wedding was arranged between French king Louis XIV and the daughter of Spanish King Philip IV. With a peace treaty followed by a royal wedding, Pheasant Island has quite a history! To commemorate the treaty, a monolith (a structure made of a single giant stone) was created in the middle of Pheasant Island!
Six months French, six months Spanish!
Now, as per the treaty, the island is shared between the two countries. It is under the Spanish rule for six months every year from February 1 to July 31. For the following 6 months, it would be under the French rule. This joint control is called a condominium, a unique agreement that gives Pheasant Island a bi-national (two nations) dependency! First, the naval commander in the Spanish town of San Sebastian takes charge of the island for six months. It is followed by his French counterpart from the town of Bayonne acting as the governor of the island for the succeeding six months.
An island of royal meetings
Pheasant Island has a long history of being the meeting place for the royals since the Treaty. One of the most important historical events that took place here was the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees. A total of 24 conferences were held on the island. These meetings were organised by the Grandee of Spain, Luis de Haro and the chief minister of France, Cardinal Mazarin. This is not all! The King of France, Louis XIV, met his wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, on the Pheasant Island for the first time! When exactly this happened is not clear though! Also, in 1721, King of France Louis XV, met his intended bride, Mariana Victoria of Spain. Unfortunately, they never got married.