Baliracq-Maumusson (; oc, Valirac e Maumosson) 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 ...

of 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 of south-western

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

Geography

Baliracq-Maumusson is located some 45 km east by north-east of

Orthez Orthez (; eu, Ortheze; oc, Ortès, ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, and region of New Aquitaine, southwestern France. It lies 40 km NW of Pau on the Southern railway to Bayonne. The town also encompasses the sm ...

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
/ref> 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 Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...

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 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 *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 Pierre de Marca (24 January 1594 – 29 June 1662) was a French bishop and historian, born at Gan in Béarn of a family distinguished in the magistracy. His family was known among judicial circles in the 16th century, and maintained the ...

, ''History of Béarn''.

,
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 viscounts of Béarn (Basque: ''Bearno'', Gascon: ''Bearn'' or ''Biarn'') were the rulers of the viscounty of Béarn, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque province ...

. The communes of Baliracq and Maumusson were merged in 1828.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors Mairie de Baliracq

; 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 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 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

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 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 ...

Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle ( he, מִשְׁכַּן, mīškān, residence, dwelling place), also known as the Tent of the Congregation ( he, link=no, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ’ōhel mō‘ēḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), ...

, and Statue (19th century) *2 Statues: Saints Felix and Peter (18th century) *A

(17th century) *An Altar Painting: Remission of the keys to Saint Peter (19th century) *An

and

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 ...

(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 thurible (via Old French from Medieval Latin ) is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in Christian churches including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of th ...

*A Celebrant's Chair (18th century) *A

Stoup A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churches ...

(1822) *A Pulpit (18th century) *A

Confessional A confessional is a box, cabinet, booth, or stall in which the priest in some Christian churches sits to hear the confessions of penitents. It is the usual venue for the sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Churches, but si ...

(18th century) *The Choir Enclosure (1840)Ministry of Culture, Palissy