Barcus (; eu, Barkoxe) 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 Atlanti ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

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 t ...

region of southwestern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

in the former province of

Soule Soule (Basque language, Basque: Zuberoa; Zuberoan/ Soule Basque: Xiberoa or Xiberua; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Sola'') is a former viscounty and France, French Provinces of France, province and part of the present-day Pyrénées-Atlantiques ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known in French as ''Barcusiens'' or ''Barcusiennes'' and in

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

as ''Barkoxtar''.Euskaltzaindia - Academy of the Basque language

Geography

Location

Barcus is located in the ''Massif des Arbailles'' in the former province of

some 25 km south by south-east of

Sauveterre-de-Béarn Sauveterre-de-Béarn (, literally ''Sauveterre of Béarn''; oc, Sauvatèrra; eu, Salbaterra Bearno) is a medieval village perched above the Gave d'Oloron and facing the Pyrenees in south-western France. It is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atl ...

and 12 km west of

Oloron-Sainte-Marie Oloron-Sainte-Marie (; oc, Auloron e Senta Maria; eu, Oloroe-Donamaria) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (before 2015: Aquitaine), southwestern France. History The town was founded by the ...

. The commune covers a complex of valleys formed by the course of the ''Joos'' and its left and right tributaries - the ''Paradis'' district, for example, is located on the ''Ibarra'' and the former hamlet of Guibelhéguiet is on a tributary of the Joos.

Access

Access to the commune is by the D24 road from Chéraute in the west which passes through the centre of the commune and continues east to

Esquiule Esquiule (; eu, Eskiula)ESKIULA

Tardets-Sorholus Tardets-Sorholus (; eu, Atharratze-Sorholüze)ATHARRATZE-SORHOLÜZE

. The D59 comes from

Saint-Goin Saint-Goin (; oc, Sent Goen; eu, Sangoine) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department References

...

in the north-east through the village and continues south down the eastern side of the commune to

Montory Montory (; eu, Montori; oc, Mondòri) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is located in the historical province of Soule (). See also *Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department The fo ...

. The D859 branches off the D59 in the north of the commune and goes north to join the D25 north of the commune. The D159 branches off the D59 halfway down the commune and goes east to join the D24 east of Esquiule. The D459 branches off the D59 in the south of the commune and goes south-east to Lanne-en-Barétous.

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, t ...

of the

Adour The Adour (; eu, Aturri; oc, Ador) is a river in southwestern France. It rises in High-Bigorre (Pyrenees), in the commune of Aspin-Aure, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay) near Bayonne. It is long, of which the uppermost ca. i ...

. The ''Joos'' river rises west of the commune and flows east across the commune then north, forming the eastern border of the commune, continuing north-east to eventually join the

Gave d'Oloron The Gave d'Oloron is a river of south-western France near the border with Spain. It takes its name from the city Oloron-Sainte-Marie, where it is formed from the rivers Gave d'Aspe and Gave d'Ossau. It joins the Gave de Pau in Peyrehorade to form ...

Préchacq-Josbaig Préchacq-Josbaig (; oc, Preishac de Geusvath; eu, Josibaia) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department The following is a list of the 546 co ...

. Many tributaries rise in the commune and flow east into the Joos including the ''Bouhatéko erreka'', the ''arréc of Etchanchu'', the ''Handia'', the ''Oyhanart erreka'', the ''arriou of Soulou'', the ''Sustaris erreka'', and the ''Ibarra'' stream (7 km long) with its tributaries, the ''Ruisseau Ibarra'' (4.4 km, which is joined in the commune by the ''Askontchilo erreka'' and the ''Athaketa'' stream) and the ''Lecheguita'' stream (also with its tributary the ''Ilharra'' stream). Paul Raymond mentioned another tributary of the Joos crossing Barcus called the ''Guibéléguiet'' with its tributary the ''Paradis''. Tributaries of the ''Lausset'', which also flows into the Gave d'Oloron, also pass through the commune such as the ''Ascania'' stream and the ''Ibarle'' stream with its tributary the ''Ambelseko erreka''. Finally the ''Ruisseau de Lacoste'', a sub-tributary of the arréc of Bitole also crosses the commune.

Places and Hamlets

There are a large number of places and hamlets in the commune: * Agaras * Agor (border) * Agorria * Aguerborda * Aguerret * Aistor * Alkkatia * Ahargo * Ainus * Alhorchar * Arambeaux * Aramburu * Aranéder * Arangaray * Arhanchet * Arthaxet * Artheguiet * Artzanüthürry * Askain * Askonobiet * Askoz * Askozborda * Athaket * Athakéta * Ayscar * Bagardikoborda * Baralegne (pass) * Barbieborda * Barbieko Eyhéra * Barcardats * Barcochbide * Barnetche * Barrenkia * Belloya * Beltchun * Beltzantzuburu * Berhaburu * Berho * Bermaillou * Betan * Beteria * Bidau * Bigne (pass) * Biscay * Bohogu * Bordabegoïty * Bordaburia * Bordacharia * Bordagay * Bordagoyhen * Bordetta * Burgia * Cabana * Cachau * Chiloua * Choko * Chourikoborro * Cocutchia * Cotabaren * Cotiart * Coyos * Coyosborda * La Croix Blanche * Curutchiga * Doronda * Duque * Eihartzéta * Elhar * Elhurdoy * Eperrape * Eperregagne * Erguillota * Errande * Errékartéa * Espel * Espelia * Estecondo * Etchahoun * Etchanchu * Etchandy * Etchartéa * Etchebarne * Etcheberriborda * Etcheberry (2 places) * Etchecopaberria * Etchegoren * Eyharche * Eyhartzet * Eyhea * Eyheregaray (2 places) * Eyhéramendy * Fabiania * Gagnéko Borda * Galharetborda * Garay * Garrat * Gastellondo * Gorostordoy * Gorrostibar * Goyheneix * Goyheski * Goyhetsia * Goytolia * Guibelhéguiet * Haritchast * Haritchelhar * Harritchilondo * Haubiga * Hégoburu * Héguiapal * Heguilla * Héguitchoussy * Ibar * Ibarrondo * Idiart * Ihitzaga * Ilharra * Itchal * Jacobia * Jaureguiberry * Lagune * Lapitz * Lapitzia * Larragorry * Larranda * Larrandabuia * Larrasquet * Larrorry * Laxague * Laxagueborda * Lecheguita (pass, 653 m) * Legegaray * Lépazka * Lescarpé * Logeborde * Lohidoy * Lohidoyborda * Lojaborda * Malobra * Maysonnave * Menusketa * Mercaptpide * Mercaptpide Borda * Mignaborda * Miranda * Mocho * Montokoaltéa * Muskogorry * Nissibart * Oholéguy * Oilher * Ondarzuhia * Ordanoulet * Ostallaborda * Oyhanart * Paradis * Pelento * Pellen * Perkain * Petchia * Petillon * Picochet * Pinka * Pordoy * Potho * Princi * Princiborda * Puchulu * Restoy * Sagardoyhégui * Salaber * Salazar * Salazarborda * Salhanka * Sapiula * Sardo * Saruborda * Seceneguiet * Sinto * Sorhotus * Suhatsola * Thias * Topet * Udoy * Uhalt * Uhaltborda * Uhart * Urrustoy * Urruty * Uthuère * Uthurralt * Uthurry * Zatzoury

Toponymy

The commune name in

is ''Barkoxe''. Jean-Baptiste Orpustan proposes a Basque etymological construction in two parts. The first element ''barr'' meaning "located inside, at the bottom" is joined to the element ''-koiz'' to approximate the Basque ''goiz'' meaning "morning or east". Barcus is located in a low valley to the east which justifies the Orpustan analysis. The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune. Barcus-chapelle

Sources: *

Raymond Raymond is a male given name. It was borrowed into English from French (older French spellings were Reimund and Raimund, whereas the modern English and French spellings are identical). It originated as the Germanic ᚱᚨᚷᛁᚾᛗᚢᚾᛞ ( ...

:''
''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 *Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan,
''New Basque Toponymy''
ref name="Orpustan">Jean-Baptiste Orpustan,
''New Basque Toponymy''
Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2006, p. 204-205, *

Bulletin des Lois The ''Bulletin des lois'' (''Bulletin of the laws'') was a publication created during the French Revolution, as an "official anthology of the laws, orders and regulations that govern" the people. It was created by the decree of 14 Frimaire of ye ...

: Origins: *Navarrenx: Notaries of

Navarrenx Navarrenx (; oc, Navarrencs, ; eu, Nabarrengose, eu, label=Zuberoan dialect, Zuberoan, Nabarrenkoxe) is a town and communes of France, commune in the departments of France, French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Béarn) and the region of ...

Notaries of Navarrenx in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques *Oloron: Notaries of

Notaries of Oloron-Sainte-Marie in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques *Ohix:'' Contracts retained by Ohix, Notary of

*Customs: Customs of

Customs of

in 1520, printed at Pau in 1760 *Luxe: Titles of Luxe *Guienne: Government General of Guienne and Guascogne and neighbouring country

History

Jean-Baptiste Orpustan noted that the commune was a former "royal town". Paul Raymond on page 21 of his 1863 dictionary noted that the commune had a

Lay Abbey Lay may refer to: Places *Lay Range, a subrange of mountains in British Columbia, Canada *Lay, Loire, a French commune * Lay (river), France * Lay, Iran, a village *Lay, Kansas, United States, an unincorporated community People * Lay (surname) ...

, vassal of the Viscounts of

. In 1790 Barcus was the capital of a Canton dependent on the District of Mauleon Licharre and made up of the communes of Barcus,

L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise (; eu, Ospitalepea)OSPITALEPEA

, and

Roquiague Roquiague (; eu, Arrokiaga)ARROKIAGA

Cassini Map The Cassini Map or Academy's Map is the first topographic and geometric map made of the Kingdom of France as a whole. It was compiled by the Cassini family, mainly César-François Cassini (Cassini III) and his son Jean-Dominique Cassini (Ca ...

and the same on the 1790 version.

Administration

List of Successive

Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities ...

Inter-communality

The commune is part of five 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 association of Pays de Soule; * the sanitation association of Pays de Soule; * the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques; * the inter-communal association to support Basque culture.

Demography

The ''Journal'' by Pierre Casalivetery, Notary at Mauléon, during 1460-1481 counted 26

fires Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are pr ...

at Barcus and 210 for the years 1540–1548, indicating a rapidly growing population. In 2017 the commune had 642 inhabitants.

Economy

Economic activity is mainly oriented towards agriculture (mixed farming and sheep farming). The commune is part of the

Appellation d'origine contrôlée An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boun ...

(AOC) zone designation of

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 Bé ...

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

*The Lamiñen ziloa ("Cave of laminak" in Basque). Laminak are small

lutin A () is a type of hobgoblin (an amusing goblin) in French folklore and fairy tales. Female lutins are called (). A ''lutin'' (varieties include the '' Nain Rouge'' or "red dwarf") plays a similar role in the folklore of Normandy to household ...

s in Basque mythology. *A treasure trove of Celtiberian currency (400-100 BC.) was discovered in 1879. Composed of 1,750 silver coins from different cities of Navarre and Aragon, the reason for their presence in Barcus remains controversial. *A gaztelu zaharA prehistoric fortified place stands at 440 metres above sea level in the Haitzhandia locality.

Religious heritage

*The Parish Church of the Ascension (

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

) is registered as an historical monument. It was largely rebuilt in the 19th century and restored in the 20th century. It contains a Bronze Bell (1689) that is registered as an historical object.

Cultural events

In 2009 Barcus organised a

Pastoral A pastoral lifestyle is that of shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. It lends its name to a genre of literature, art, and music (pastorale) that depicts ...

, a Soule traditional show mixing theatre, dancing and singing. There is a Pastoral throughout winter until April on Sundays in other villages of Soule.

Notable people linked to the commune

*Léon Urthuburu, vice-consul for France in

Guayaquil , motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America , pushpin_re ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

, originally from Barcus, he bequeathed

Floreana Island Floreana Island (Spanish: ''Isla Floreana'') is an island of the Galápagos Islands. It was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago. ...

in the

Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...

to the commune in 1860. Despite his efforts Barcus never took possession.Philippe Veyrin, ''The Basques'', p. 76, Arthaud, 20 December 1975, *Pierre Topet, alias "Etxahun", born in Barcus (1786-1862), a Basque poet. *Jean Touan, born in 1817 at Barcus, was the founder of the

Café Tortoni The Café Tortoni is a coffeehouse located at 825 Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Inaugurated in 1858 by a French immigrant whose surname was Touan, it was named ''Tortoni'' after the Parisian café of the same name located on ''Boulev ...

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

. The café was bequeathed to Célestin Curutchet in 1872, another native of Barcus. * André Chilo, French rugby player, born on 5 July 1898 at

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...

Geography

Location

Access

Hydrography

Places and Hamlets

Toponymy

History

Administration

Inter-communality

Demography

Economy

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

Religious heritage

Cultural events

Notable people linked to the commune

See also

Notes and references

Notes

References