Which island changes countries twice a year?


	July 10, 2025

Original photo by Oleksii/ Adobe Stock

A tiny European island changes its nationality every six months.

Pheasant Island is an uninhabited landmass located on the Bidasoa river separating France and Spain. Those two countries split control of the 1.69-acre island, with stewardship alternating every six months: Pheasant Island falls under Spanish rule from February 1 through July 31 and French control from August 1 through January 31 each year. This makes the island the world's smallest "condominium" — a term that denotes any territory governed by multiple sovereign entities without being divided into separate national zones. It's also the only condominium where control alternates rather than being shared simultaneously.

This unusual agreement dates back to the mid-17th century. In 1648, the island served as a neutral site for France and Spain to discuss peace in the wake of the Thirty Years' War. More than a decade later, Louis XIV of France and Philip IV of Spain returned to sign the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which formally ended the Franco-Spanish War. In 1660, Pheasant Island was the site of a ceremony wherein Philip's daughter, Maria Theresa, crossed the island from Spain into France before marrying Louis XIV to symbolize becoming part of the French royal family.

Those events helped establish Pheasant Island as a symbol of peace, and it was decided that the countries would jointly administer it as a gesture of goodwill; this arrangement was formalized as part of the 1856 Treaty of Bayonne. Today, access to the island is largely forbidden, though ceremonies are held biannually to hand over control. Thus far, the island has exchanged hands between France and Spain more than 700 times.

Wipe Out High Interest Until Nearly 2027

If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. FinanceBuzz's credit card experts identified top credit cards that are perfect for anyone looking to pay down debt and not add to it. Click through to see what all the hype is about.

Learn More

*This content is brought to you by our sponsor which helps keep our content free.

		Numbers Don't Lie

Amazing: These Cards Help Hit Pause on High Interest

Did you know some credit cards could actually help you get out of debt faster? Yes, it sounds crazy. But it's true. The secret: Find a card with a 0% intro APR period for balance transfers. Then, transfer your debt balance and pay it down as much as possible during the intro period. No interest means you could pay off the debt faster. This card does just that with no annual fee!

Learn More

*This content is brought to you by our sponsor which helps keep our content free.

The president of France also serves as co-prince of Andorra.

In addition to their duties governing France, the incumbent French president serves as co-prince of an entirely different country: Andorra, a microstate nestled between France and Spain. The princely position is shared with the Bishop of Urgell (Urgell is a county located in the Catalonia region of Spain), thus making Andorra the world's only co-principality. This odd arrangement can be traced back to a treaty signed in 1278, though the role was redefined in 1993, when Andorra unveiled a new national constitution. Today, the co-prince role is largely ceremonial, but either prince can technically enact or veto legislation if they wish. This unique diarchic position has been held by French President Emmanuel Macron since 2017 and Bishop Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat since 2025.

Today's edition of Interesting Facts was written by Bennett Kleinman and edited by Brooke Robinson.