Original Poster - Pays Basque, by A. Durel - 1964

Created by A. Durel in 1964 and published by the SNCF, this original travel poster pays tribute to the powerful landscapes and vibrant traditions of the Basque Country. Like an expressionist painting, it captures the warmth of a typical southwestern village, framed by rolling hills, a swirling sky, and half-timbered houses topped with brick-red roofs.

Durel’s brushwork brings life to a lively street scene, where strolling figures are silhouetted against a bridge in the foreground. The houses, painted in bold blocks of color with bright white accents, shimmer under the southern light, while the church tower stands firm - a symbol of a deeply rooted culture of faith, celebration, and pride. The composition evokes a Basque Country that is both picturesque and lived-in, far from static clichés.

Printed in offset by Draeger, this poster is linen-backed, measures 39 x 24.2 inches, and is in A+ condition. It is a compelling testament to the regionalist momentum behind SNCF’s mid-century tourism campaigns, and will appeal to collectors of vintage railway posters as well as lovers of Basque heritage.