Baliracq-Maumusson

Baliracq-Maumusson (; oc, Valirac e Maumosson) is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Baliracois'' or ''Baliracoises''.

Geography

Baliracq-Maumusson is located some 45 km east by north-east of Orthez and 20 km south of Aire-sur-l'Adour. Access to the commune is by the D211 road from Lannecaube in the south which passes through the length of the commune along the eastern side to join the D41 just north of the commune. Access to the village of ''Baliracq'' is by ''Le Moulin'' road branching from the D211. The commune is mixed forest and farmland.Google Maps
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The Lées river forms the eastern border of the commune as it flows north to join the Adour near Aire-sur-l'Adour. The ''Gabassot'' forms the northern border of the commune as it flows east into the Lées. Two other streams rise in the commune and flow into the Lées.

Places and hamlets

* Arnathau
* Baliracq
* Bitaillou
* Bouquehort
* Bourdé
* Campagne
* Castéra
* Crédey
* Florence
* Gayas
* Hau
* Hilletou
* La Hount
* Lafon
* Lanne
* Laroujat
* Lescribau
* Maufinet
* Maumusson
* Miqueu
* Mombet
* Moncade
* Mounicou
* Mourette
* Naba
* Pédeuboscq
* Pédélatour
* Pillou
* Pourrio
* Sansot
* Tardan

Géoportail
IGN

Neighbouring communes and villages

Toponymy

According to Michel Grosclaude the name ''Baliracq'' probably came from a Latin man's name ''Valerus'' with the Gallo-Roman suffix ''-acum'' giving the "Domain of Valerus". For ''Maumusson'' he proposed a Gascon man's name: the nickname ''mau'' meaning "bad" combined with ''mus'' meaning "nose" and the suffix ''-on'' giving "unfriendly" or "sullen".

The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.

Sources:
*Raymond:''
''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. ''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011
*Grosclaude: ''Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn'', 2006 Michel Grosclaude, ''Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn'', Edicions reclams & Édition Cairn - 2006, 416 pages, p. 99 & 106,
*Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750Cassini Map 1750 – Baliracq-Maumusson
/ref>
*Ldh/EHESS/Cassini:

Origins:
*Marca: Pierre de Marca, ''History of Béarn''. Pierre de Marca,
Histoire de Bearn
', La Veuve Jean Camusat, 1640, 850 pages
*Carresse:
*Terrier: Terrier of Baliracq, E 177
*Reformation: Reformation of BéarnManuscript from the 16th to 18th centuries - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques

History

Paul Raymond noted on page 20 of his 1863 dictionary that Baliracq was a vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn.

The communes of Baliracq and Maumusson were merged in 1828.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

;Mayors from 1933

Inter-communality

The commune is part of six inter-communal structures:
* the Communauté de communes des Luys en Béarn;
* the SIVU for roads in the Garlin region;
* the SIVU for the Lées and its tributaries;
* the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques;
* the inter-communal association for the supply of drinking water for Luy-Gabas-Lées;
* the inter-communal association of Five Rivers;

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 122 inhabitants.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*A Mill at Baliracq (1764)
*A Farmhouse at Baliracq-Bouquehort (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*The Coussié House at Maumusson-Tardan (1742)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*The Castéra House at Baliracq-Castéra (1742)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*The Lafon House at Maumusson-Crédey (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*The Sansot House at Maumusson-Sansot (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*The Chateau de Milly at Maumusson-Florence (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
*Houses and Farms (18th-19th century)
*A Fortified Area (Middle Ages)
*A Fortified Complex (Prehistoric). At a place called ''Castera'' the topography has been visibly altered by the hand of man as evidenced by the presence of an ancient fortified complex with major embankments and a circular walkway which is still visible. This could be for high wooden stakes joined together because no stone remains have been found. The works could therefore date to the high Middle Ages although there could be prehistoric remains.

Religious heritage

The Parish Church of Saint Peter (11th century) is registered as an historical monument. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:

*An Altar, Tabernacle, and Statue (19th century)
*2 Statues: Saints Felix and Peter (18th century)
*A Tabernacle (17th century)
*An Altar Painting: Remission of the keys to Saint Peter (19th century)
*An Altar and Retable (1844)
*Wood Panelling (1844)
*A Wayside Cross (19th century)
*An Altar Vase (20th century)
*A Monstrance (18th century)
*An Altar Candlestick (19th century)
*6 Altar Candlesticks (18th century)
*A Thurible
*A Celebrant's Chair (18th century)
*A Stoup (1822)
*A Pulpit (18th century)
*A Confessional (18th century)
*The Choir Enclosure (1840)Ministry of Culture, Palissy

See also

* Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department

References

External links

Baliracq-Maumusson on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Baliracq'' and Maumußon'' on the 1750 Cassini Map

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baliracqmaumusson
Communes of Pyrénées-Atlantiques