Arancou
Encyclopedia
Arancou is a commune
in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
department in south-western France
. Its demonym
is Arancòi (or Arangoar in Basque.)
It is located in the former province
of Lower Navarre
.
, and the Baniou, a tributary of the Gave de Pau
,]] cross this commune.
name is Erango.
The name Arancou appears in the forms Arranque (1119-1136), Arancoen (13th century), Arancoey, Arancoenh (around1360), Arrancoeynh, Arancoinh (1372), Aranquoen (1403, titles of Came
), and Aranco (1584, alienation of the diocese of Dax
).
The name of Arancou comes from the Basque arangoien, for "higher valley".
era, one of the later cultures of the Upper Paleolithic
era of Western Europe, were found in the Bourrouillan cave in the territory of Arancou. Several thousand bones from hunted animals were found in the cave, as well as thousands of flint and bone tools.
, and Viellenave-sur-Bidouze were joined together. On 15 November, 1977, Arancou regained its independent status, while Bergouey and Viellenave-sur-Bidouze remained together.
. Arancou was also mentioned by Eugène Goyheneche towards the end of the Middle Ages. He wrote that "because of the Gramont's power, [the situation of the neighboring parishes, including Arancou] is ambiguous."
However, starting with the modern age, no evidence of Arancou's allegiance to the Kingdom of Navarre
can be found. Nor is there evidence of any links to the dukedom of Gramont or of the sovereign principality of Bidache. The chapter of the collegiate Saint-Jacques de Bidache was the lord of the lands; the parish was situated in France in the administrative district of Lannes, where it came under the control of the administrative region of Hastingues.
Although Arancou falls without a doubt within modern districting, it is nonetheless included in a list of the communes of Basse-Navarre. While presenting the town in 2009 on his website, the mayor, Alexandre Bordes, did not take sides. Rather, he emphasized the "mix of deep-rooted cultures" and the "location of the town at the boarders of Gascogne, Béarn, Basque Country, and the Navarre." His website describes the town as "basquo-béarnais."
(a French regional certification) of the cheese, Ossau-Iraty
.
There is a limestone quarry in Arancou. Until 1993 it provided the stone for the cemetery, Ciments de l'Adour, in Boucau
. The stone was carried in barges down the Bidouze and Adour rivers.
(a disk-shaped funeral stele
) from Labets-Biscay
, and
different furnishings registered in the inventory of the Minister of Culture (a tabernacle, font, and cross.) The church also has a registered stained glass window.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
department in south-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Its demonym
Demonym
A demonym , also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality. A demonym is usually – though not always – derived from the name of the locality; thus, the demonym for the people of England is English, and the demonym for the people of Italy is Italian, yet, in english, the one...
is Arancòi (or Arangoar in Basque.)
It is located in the former province
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
of Lower Navarre
Lower Navarre
Lower Navarre is a part of the present day Pyrénées Atlantiques département of France. Along with Navarre of Spain, it was once ruled by the Kings of Navarre. Lower Navarre was historically one of the kingdoms of Navarre. Its capital were Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Saint-Palais...
.
Hydrography
The Lauhirasse, a tributary of the BidouzeBidouze
The Bidouze, is a left tributary of the Adour, in the French Basque Country , in the Southwest of France.- Geography :The Bidouze rises at the base of Eltzarreko Ordokia in the Arbailles massif....
, and the Baniou, a tributary of the Gave de Pau
Gave de Pau
The Gave de Pau is a river of south-western France and a left tributary of the Adour. It takes its name from the city Pau, through which it flows. The river is in length, and its source is at the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees mountains....
,]] cross this commune.
Bordering Communes
- CameCame, Pyrénées-AtlantiquesCame is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:* Information available in Spanish...
to the Northwest - Labastide-VillefrancheLabastide-VillefrancheLabastide-Villefranche is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
to the East - Bergouey-ViellenaveBergouey-ViellenaveBergouey-Viellenave is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...
to the Southwest
Toponymy
The Gascon name for "Arancou" is Arancon; the BasqueBasque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
name is Erango.
The name Arancou appears in the forms Arranque (1119-1136), Arancoen (13th century), Arancoey, Arancoenh (around1360), Arrancoeynh, Arancoinh (1372), Aranquoen (1403, titles of Came
Came
A came is a divider bar used between small pieces of glass to make a larger glazing panel, sometimes referred to as leaded glass. This process is then referred to as "leading". Cames are mostly made of soft metals such as lead, zinc, copper or brass. They generally have an H-shaped cross section,...
), and Aranco (1584, alienation of the diocese of Dax
Dax
Dax may refer to:In French geography:* Arrondissement of Dax, an arrondissement of the Landes département of France* Town of Dax, Landes, FranceIn Star Trek:...
).
The name of Arancou comes from the Basque arangoien, for "higher valley".
Prehistory
Tools from the MagdalenianMagdalenian
The Magdalenian , refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Paleolithic in western Europe, dating from around 17,000 BP to 9,000 BP...
era, one of the later cultures of the Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
era of Western Europe, were found in the Bourrouillan cave in the territory of Arancou. Several thousand bones from hunted animals were found in the cave, as well as thousands of flint and bone tools.
Modern History
On January 1, 1973, the communes of Arancou, BergoueyBergouey
Bergouey is a commune in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France....
, and Viellenave-sur-Bidouze were joined together. On 15 November, 1977, Arancou regained its independent status, while Bergouey and Viellenave-sur-Bidouze remained together.
Arancou and Basque Country
Jean-Baptiste Orpustan mentions Arancou in 1309 in a list of parishes paying dues to the royal power in NavarrenxNavarrenx
Navarrenx is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department...
. Arancou was also mentioned by Eugène Goyheneche towards the end of the Middle Ages. He wrote that "because of the Gramont's power, [the situation of the neighboring parishes, including Arancou] is ambiguous."
However, starting with the modern age, no evidence of Arancou's allegiance to the Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
can be found. Nor is there evidence of any links to the dukedom of Gramont or of the sovereign principality of Bidache. The chapter of the collegiate Saint-Jacques de Bidache was the lord of the lands; the parish was situated in France in the administrative district of Lannes, where it came under the control of the administrative region of Hastingues.
Although Arancou falls without a doubt within modern districting, it is nonetheless included in a list of the communes of Basse-Navarre. While presenting the town in 2009 on his website, the mayor, Alexandre Bordes, did not take sides. Rather, he emphasized the "mix of deep-rooted cultures" and the "location of the town at the boarders of Gascogne, Béarn, Basque Country, and the Navarre." His website describes the town as "basquo-béarnais."
Administration
List of Mayors| Elected | End of term | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2001 | Alexandre Bordes |
| 2001 | 2008 | Alexandre Bordes |
| 2008 | 2014 | Alexandre Bordes |
Consolodated Cit-County
Arancou belongs to four different intercommunal territories:- The Collection of Communities in Pays de Bidache, Bidaxungo lurraldea in Basque, lo païs de Bidàishen in Gascon.
- The Adour Syndicate
- Syndicate AEP of Arancou - Bergouey-Viellenave - Bidache - Labastide-Villefranche
- Syndicate for the department of electricity
Demographics
Economy
Arancou's economy is primarily agricultural. Arancou is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôléeAppellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(a French regional certification) of the cheese, Ossau-Iraty
Ossau-Iraty
-Origin:Ossau-Iraty is produced in south-western France, in the Northern Basque Country and in Béarn. Its name reflects its geographical location, the Ossau Valley in Béarn and the Iraty Valley in the Northern Basque Country.-AOC status:...
.
There is a limestone quarry in Arancou. Until 1993 it provided the stone for the cemetery, Ciments de l'Adour, in Boucau
Boucau
Boucau is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the province of Labourd.-References:* -External links:...
. The stone was carried in barges down the Bidouze and Adour rivers.
Civil Heritage
- Farms and houses from the 17th and 18th centuries,
- A house from the 18th century in the lieu-dit Chabay,
- The well, wash-house, and fountain of Garay.
Religious Heritage
The church of l'Assomption-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie from the 8th century is listed as an historical monument. The Gothic cathedral is located on the road, Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle (Via Turonensis). A wellspring runs underneath the church, feeding a washing-place in the basement. A Madonna called Notre-Dam-d'Arancou can be found in the church, as well as an hilarriHilarri
Hilarri 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 stand...
(a disk-shaped funeral stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
) from Labets-Biscay
Labets-Biscay
Labets-Biscay is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...
, and
different furnishings registered in the inventory of the Minister of Culture (a tabernacle, font, and cross.) The church also has a registered stained glass window.