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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Baleix

Baleix is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.

Geography

Baleix is located in the Montanérès overlooking the Lées Valley some 26 km north-east of Pau and 10 km south of Lembeye. Access to the commune is by the D7 road from Saint-Jammes in the west which passes through the length of the commune and the village and continues east to Casteide-Doat. The D145 comes from Lespourcy in the south-west and passes through the village to continue north to Anoye. Apart from the village there is also the hamlet of Tisné north-east of the village. The commune is mostly farmland with a few scattered small forests.

The Lées flows through the east of the commune from the south and continues north to join the Adour near Aire-sur-l'Adour. The Petit Lées comes from the south and flows north-east through the commune to join the Lées.

Places and hamlets

  • Balespouey
  • Baradat
  • Berbouly
  • Capcazaux
  • Capsus (land)
  • Castille
  • La Caussade
  • Clos
  • Dujardin
  • Guilhas
  • Hourpelat
  • Jeandavid
  • Jouanolou
  • La Moulère
  • Noau
  • Pucheu
  • Puyo
  • Sarthou
  • Tisné
  • Trémoulets
  • Vignau

Neighbouring communes and villages

Baleix Village
In Baleix Village
Baleix Landscape

Toponymy

Michel Grosclaude said that etymologically the name comes from the Gascon Balèch meaning "plateau".

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

Name Spelling Date Source Page Origin Description
Baleix Bales 11th century Raymond
20
Lescar Village
Balas 12th century Raymond
20
Marca
Balestoos 13th century Raymond
20
Fors de Béarn
Baleixs 1385 Raymond
20
Census
Balesie 1402 Raymond
20
Census
Baleyxs 1538 Raymond
20
Reformation
Balechs 1538 Raymond
20
Reformation
Balex 1548 Raymond
20
Reformation
Baleix 1750 Cassini
Abarades Abarades 1863 Raymond
1
Place
Abats Abats 1863 Raymond
1
Place
Les Artics Les Articqs 1769 Raymond
14
Terrier Place
La Bielle La Bielle 1863 Raymond
31
Place
La Haille Hailhe 1769 Raymond
74
Terrier Place
La Lanusse La Lanusse 1863 Raymond
93
Place
Peyreblanque Peyreblanque 1863 Raymond
134
Place
Le Pimi Lou Pimy 1769 Raymond
135
Terrier Hamlet
Les Plagnius Plagniux 1769 Raymond
136
Terrier Place
Le Plagniu 1769 Raymond
136
Terrier
Raguette Raguet 1769 Raymond
141
Terrier Place
Trémoulets Le Trémoulet 1863 Raymond
168
Place
Le Turocq de Naudy Le Turocq de Naudy 1769 Raymond
169
Terrier Place
La Turrecolle La Turequolle 1769 Raymond
170
Terrier Place
La Vignasse La Vignasse 1863 Raymond
174
Place

Sources:

Origins:

History

Paul Raymond noted on page 20 of his 1863 dictionary that in 1385 there were 22 fires and it depended on the bailiwick of Pau. Baleix fief was subject to the Viscounts of Béarn.

The commune has long been occupied as evidenced by the discovery of a fortified camp surrounded by a moat with visible remains of earthworks.

During the medieval period the commune was a member of the Commandery of the Order of Malta of Caubin and Morlaàs.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

From To Name
1995 2001 Jean Balespouey
2001 2008 Gérard Balespouey
2008 2026 Vincent Roustaa

Inter-communality

The commune is part of four inter-communal structures:

  • the Communauté de communes du Nord-Est Béarn;
  • the SIVOM of the Canton of Montaner;
  • the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques;
  • the inter-communal association for the supply of drinking water Luy-Gabas-Lees;

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baleichois or Baleichoises in French.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 301—    
1800 290−0.53%
1806 348+3.09%
1821 358+0.19%
1831 428+1.80%
1836 413−0.71%
1841 451+1.78%
1846 450−0.04%
1851 443−0.31%
1856 432−0.50%
1861 388−2.13%
1866 396+0.41%
1872 372−1.04%
1876 368−0.27%
1881 375+0.38%
1886 328−2.64%
1891 320−0.49%
1896 282−2.50%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 280−0.14%
1906 270−0.72%
1911 251−1.45%
1921 202−2.15%
1926 201−0.10%
1931 194−0.71%
1936 176−1.93%
1946 158−1.07%
1954 156−0.16%
1962 152−0.32%
1968 141−1.24%
1975 150+0.89%
1982 126−2.46%
1990 122−0.40%
1999 120−0.18%
2007 123+0.31%
2012 147+3.63%
2017 143−0.55%
Source: EHESS and INSEE

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

  • A Farmhouse at Sarthou (18th century)
  • A House at Jean David (18th century)
  • A House at Castille (1623)
  • The Bourdallé House (18th century)
  • The Coulomé Farmhouse (1789)
  • The Bélengou House (18th century)
  • The Arnautou House at Clos (19th century)
  • Houses and Farms (17th-19th century)

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint-Martin
  • The Parish Church of Saint-Martin (12th century) is registered as an historical monument. The Church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.

See also

Bibliography

  • Archaeological Map of Gaul, Archaeological pre-inventory published under the responsibility of Michel Provost, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Google Maps
  4. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027133 House at Castiulle (in French)
  5. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027129 Arnautou House at Clos (in French)
  6. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027134 House at Jean David (in French)
  7. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027135 Farmhouse at Sarthou (in French)
  8. ^ Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011 (in French)
  9. ^ Michel Grosclaude, Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, Edicions reclams & Édition Cairn - 2006, 416 pages, ISBN 2-35068-005-3(in French)
  10. ^ Cassini Map 1750 – Baleix
  11. ^ Cartulary of the Bishop of Lescar, published in the proofs of the History of Béarn by Pierre de Marca (in French)
  12. ^ Pierre de Marca, Histoire de Bearn, La Veuve Jean Camusat, 1640, 850 pages (in French)
  13. ^ Manuscript from the 14th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  14. ^ Manuscript from the 18th century in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  15. ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  16. ^ Pyrénées-Atlantiques, habitants.fr
  17. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Baleix, EHESS (in French).
  18. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  19. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027132 Bourdallé House (in French)
  20. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027131 Coulomé Farmhouse (in French)
  21. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027130 Bélengou House (in French)
  22. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027127 Houses and Farms (in French)
  23. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027128 Parish Church of Saint-Martin (in French)