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Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan () is a
commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...
in the
Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; eu, Pirinio Atlantiarrak or ) is a department in the southwest corner of France and of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlant ...
department in the
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Nouvelle-Aquitaine (; oc, Nòva Aquitània or ; eu, Akitania Berria; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Novéle-Aguiéne'') is the largest administrative region in France, spanning the west and southwest of the mainland. The region was created by ...
region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
in southwestern
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
. The people of the commune are known as ''Ahastar''.


Geography


Location

Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is part of ''Cize/Garazi country'' which was a historical province in
Lower Navarre Lower Navarre ( eu, Nafarroa Beherea/Baxenabarre; Gascon/Bearnese: ''Navarra Baisha''; french: Basse-Navarre ; es, Baja Navarra) is a traditional region of the present-day French ''département'' of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It corresponds to the ...
. It includes three former parishes, sometimes counted as four groups of houses in the Middle Ages and with five toponyms: Alciette,
Ahaxe Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan () is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region in southwestern France. The people of the commune are known as ''Ahas ...
, Garatehegi, Ligeta, and Bascassan located at the confluence of the Laurhibar and Esteneko streams. Alciette is the parish farthest away to the northeast in the combination of the three parishes. Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is located some 6 km south-east of
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (literally "Saint John t theFoot of hePass"; eu, Donibane Garazi; es, San Juan Pie de Puerto) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean footh ...
and can be accessed by Highway D18 running from close to there through the heart of the commune southeast to
Lecumberry Lecumberry ()LEKUNBERRI
Aincille in the west to the village of Bascassin in the commune and there are other country roads entering from the north and the southeast.Google Maps
/ref>


Hydrography

The commune is located in the
Drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
of the Adour, the commune lands are watered by the Laurhibar, a tributary of the
Nive The Nive (; eu, Errobi; oc, Niva) is a French river that flows through the French Basque Country. It is a left tributary of the river Adour. It is long. The river's source in the Pyrenees in Lower Navarre. The river Nive was made famous by t ...
, and a tributary of that, the Esteneko stream. The Apatéko stream, a tributary of the Arzubiko stream also crosses the territory of Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan.


Localities and hamlets

* Aguerréa *Ahatsaxilo (former parish) * Ahaxamendy * Ahaxe * Alciette * Bascassan * Bastida * Bernetcheko Borda * Bidartéa * Bordes (2 places) * Buirguista * Buluntza * Chilinchabidéa * Chilo *Curutchet (or Garat) *Dorrea * Errékaldéa * Erromatéguia (2 places) * Etcheverria *Garatehegi * Garatéko Eyhéra * Gastelua * Gastalepo * Haraune * Harguindéguia * Idioinea * Irahane * Iriberria * Irigaraya * Irustikoborda * Italatzé *Kapila * Larluzia * Libiéta * Lietamendy *Ligeta * Olherry * Orido * Ospitaletchia * Sagardoyguibel * Seineguy * Uhaïtzia * Urrutia Géoportail
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...


Toponymy

The commune's name in Basque is ''Ahatsa-Alzieta-Baskazane''.AHATSA-ALZIETA-BASKAZANE
Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia Pic d'Anie (Basque Auñamendi) is a mountain of the Pyrenees in France, located close to the Spanish border. It is high. The mountain boasts an almost perfect pyramidal shape and is surrounded by the spectacular karst landscape of. ''Larra'', i ...
;Ahaxe The toponym ''Ahaxe'' appears in the forms: *''Hatce'' (1167)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée *''Fax'' (1194)Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, ''New Basque Toponymy'', Ed. Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2006, , page 140 *''domine de ahacha'' (1194) *''Assa'', ''Aassa'', and ''Hassa'' (1249) *''Ahatxa'' (1300) *''Ahaxa'' (1302''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011, p. 3
Chapter of BayonneChapter of Bayonne - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques ) *''Haxa'' and ''Ahaxe'' (1304) *''Axa'' (1309 and 1350) *''Hatxa'' (1350) *''Hadssa'' (1366) *''Ahtxe'' (1703), Visits of BayonneManuscript of the 18th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques *''Sanctus Julianus Ahaxe'' (1757,
Diocese of Bayonne The Diocese of Bayonne, Lescar, and Oloron, commonly Diocese of Bayonne, (Latin: ''Dioecesis Baionensis, Lascurrensis et Oloronensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Bayonne, Lescar et Oloron''; Basque: ''Baionako, Leskarreko eta Oloroeko elizbarrutia'') ...
collectionsManuscripts from the 17th to the 18th centuries - Departmental Archives of des Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Jean-Baptiste Orpustan indicates that the toponym comes from the Basque oronymic base of ''(h)aitz'' meaning "rock" or "height". The people of the commune are called in Basque ''Ahatsar''. ;Alciette The toponym ''Alciette'' appears in the forms: *''Alsuete'' (1249) *''La Grange Alsuete'' (1302,''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 4
Chapter of Bayonne) *''Alçueta'' (1305) *''Alzueta'' (1513, Titles of
Pamplona Pamplona (; eu, Iruña or ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is also the third-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region. Lying at near above ...
''Titles'' published by don José Yanguas y Miranda ) *''Alçuete'' and ''Alçueta'' (1350)) *''Alchuete'' (1387) *''Alchuette'' (1387) *''Alçueta'' (1621, Martin Biscay''Derecho de naturaleza que la merindad de San-Juan-del-pie-del-puerto, una de las seys de Navarra, tiene en Castilla - 1622 petit in-4° ) *''Alsiette'' (1667, regulations of the States of NavarreCollection of manuscripts in 11 volumes of deliberations (1606 to 1789) - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques ) The Basque name for the people of this area is ''Alzietar''. According to Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, ''Alciette'' is derived from the medieval ''Alzueta'' which itself comes from the Basque ''alzu'' meaning "place where there are abundant alder trees". ;Bascassan The name ''Bascassan'' appears in the forms: *''Bazquazen'' (1208) *''Bascaçen'' (1292) *''Bascacen'' (1350)) *''Bazcacen'' (1366)) *''Basquacen'' (1413)) *''Bazcacen'' (1513,''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 22
Titles of
Pamplona Pamplona (; eu, Iruña or ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is also the third-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region. Lying at near above ...
) *''Vazquacen'' (1613) *''Vazcazen'' and ''Vazaçan'' (1621 Martin Biscay) *''Bascassan'' (1789) Its origin is uncertain. The people of the area are called ''Bazkazandar'' in basque. ''Ahaxachillo'' is mentioned in the 1863 dictionary.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 3
) ''Bastida'' is also indicated by Raymond.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 23
''Errékaldéa'' is mentioned with the spelling ''Errecaldia'' referring to the flowing stream of ''Bascassan'' flowing into the Laurhibar.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 59
;Curutchet ''Curutchet'' (also called ''Garat'') was a former fief of Ahaxe, a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 54 & 67
;Etcheverria Paul Raymond mentioned an ''Etcheberry'', a fief located in the parish of Alciette and a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 63
;Garatehegi The name ''Garatehegi'' appears in the forms: *''Garateguia'' (1350) *''sent jullian et garateheguj'' (1366) *''la parropie de garatehegi'' (1413) *''Garatteguy'' (1518,''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 67
Titles of Pamplona) *''Garatéhéguy'' (1708, Regulation of the commander of
Irissarry Irissarry (; eu, Irisarri) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre. See also *Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques ...
Regulations of the commandery of
Irissarry Irissarry (; eu, Irisarri) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre. See also *Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques ...
- Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
) *''Garateguy'' (1863) Garatehegi from Basque means "summit of the high country". ;Gastelua ''Gastelua'' appears with the spelling ''Gastellu'' in 1863.''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 68
;Libiéta ''Libiéta'' is a toponym that appears in the forms: *''Libiet'' (1621,''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
p. 101
Martin Biscay) *''Libiette'' (1789) ;Ligeta ''Ligeta'' is mentioned in the forms: *''Lagueta'' (1264) *''Ligueta'' (1307) *''Liguete'' (1350), 1366, and 1413). The origin of this toponym could be the
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''Liger'' (which was equally likely to be the origin of
Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...
).


History

The Lordship of Ahaxe, also called the ''Lordship of Cize'', was allied with the Viscounts of Arbéroue in the 11th century as well as the lordships of Guiche and to the Counts of
Biscay Biscay (; eu, Bizkaia ; es, Vizcaya ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao. B ...
.
Ahaxe Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan () is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region in southwestern France. The people of the commune are known as ''Ahas ...
and Alciette-Bascassan were reunited on 11 June 1842.


Heraldry


Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan


Inter-communality

The commune belongs to seven inter-communal structures: *the
Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque The communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque ( eu, Euskal Hirigune Elkargoa), is the ''communauté d'agglomération'', an intercommunal structure, centred on the cities of Bayonne and Biarritz. It is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques depa ...
; *the AEP union of Ahaxe-Lecumberry-Mendive; *the energy union of Pyrenees-Atlantiques; *the RPI (Intercommunal Education) union Hergaray; *the inter-communal union for the development and management of the abattoir of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port; *the joint association for the watershed of the Nive; *the union to support Basque culture.


Population


Economy

Economic activity is mainly agricultural. The commune is part of the zone designation of the
Ossau-Iraty Ossau-Iraty is an Occitan- Basque cheese made from sheep milk. Origin Ossau-Iraty or Esquirrou is produced in south-western France, in the Northern Basque Country and in Béarn. Its name reflects its geographical location, the Ossau Valley in B ...
cheese.


Culture and heritage


Languages

According to the ''Map of the Seven Basque Provinces'' published in 1863 by Prince
Louis-Lucien Bonaparte Louis Lucien Bonaparte (4 January 1813 – 3 November 1891) was a French philologist. The third son of Napoleon's second surviving brother, Lucien Bonaparte, he spent much of his life outside France for political reasons. After a brief politica ...
, the Basque dialect spoken in Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is eastern low Navarrese.


Civil heritage

There is a ''gaztelu zahar'' (a prehistoric fortified complex) at a place called ''Gaztalepo'' (Ahaxe), located 550 metres above sea level. There is also a ''lice'' or a fence surrounding a fortification running at 313 metres above sea level at a place called ''Gaztelua'' or ''Gastellia''. These artifacts represent the ancient past of the commune. There are several buildings, houses, and farms in the commune that are listed as historical monuments. These are: *Houses and Farms (17th - 19th centuries) *Kapila HouseMinistry of Culture, Mérimée *Idioinea farm (17th century) *Gohonetxea farm (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée *Château Saint-Julien (12th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée


Religious Heritage

A number of churches and sites in the commune have been classified as historical monuments. These are: *Parish Church of Saint Julien of Antioch (16th century) The cemetery contains a remarkable collection of
Hilarri Hilarri (from Basque ''hil'' 'dead' and ''harri'' 'stone') is the name given to disk-shaped funerary steles that are typical of the Basque Country. These funerary steles present a disc-shaped head facing the rising sun on a trapezoidal sta ...
. *Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (12th century). The chapel contains several historical objects: **Pulpit (17th century) **2 Benches (17th & 18th century) **Main
Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...
,
Retable A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate structur ...
and 4 Candlesticks (17th century) **Secondary Altar. Retable, 2 Candlesticks (17th century) **Baptismal fonts (17th century) **Ceiling (17th century) **Statue: Baby Jesus (18th century) **Processional Cross (18th century) **Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century) *Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (Interior Decor)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée *Former ''benoîterie'' of Bascassan (18th century). *Former ''benoîterie'' of Bascassan garden. *Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (17th century). The church contains a number of historical objects. These are: **2 Altars, 2 Retables, 2 Paintings, 4 Candlesticks (17th century) **Baptismal fonts (17th century) **Pulpit (17th century) **Processional Cross (18th century) **Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century) **Bronze Bell (17th century) *Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (Interior and Cemetery) *Cemetery Cross of Ahaxe (1827)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée File:Bascassan.jpg, Church of Bascassan File:Benoiterie.jpg, Benoîterie File:Vieilles tombes Bascassan.jpg, Old Tombs File:Ahaxe Croix.jpg, Cemetery Cross of Ahaxe File:Église Saint-Sauveur d'Alciette.JPG, Church of Saint-Sauveur of Alciette


Facilities

The commune has a kindergarten.


See also

*
Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department The following is a list of the 546 communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of France. The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2020):Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Ahaxe, Alciette,'' and ''Bascassan'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahaxealciettebascassan Communes of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Lower Navarre