Nay, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Encyclopedia
Nay is a commune
in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
department in south-western France
.
It lies in the former province
of Béarn
.
and one of its tributaries, the Béez
"
merged into a single commune. They remained merged until 1 January 1997.
In 2006, the communal government had thirty-two officers and employees; this was fewer than it had been in 2001.
Orgue de Busnel (1676) (M.H.): pulpit, font and leaf (16th Century), Way of the Cross, statues and paintings (17th and 19th Centuries).
Chappelle Saint-Joseph (1897) - stained glass (1900).
Vaulted galleries on 4 levels, stairs, frame home on the street, wooden railings, fireplaces, floors and ceilings.
Includes an exposition of Béarnais furniture from the 17th through the start of the 19th century, representing the major schools of furniture (Morlaàs, Monein, etc.) of béarnaise ethnology.
Temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.
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...
.
It lies 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Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces.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 Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
.
Geography
The land of the commune are crossed by the Gave de PauGave 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....
and one of its tributaries, the Béez
Béez
The Béez, is a left tributary of the Gave de Pau, in Béarn , in the Southwest of France. It flows into the gave upstream from Pau, between the Ouzoum and the Luz.- Name :...
Place names
Claracq, on the other side of the Gave de Pau, was once a separate town. Today, it is a district of Nay, along the canal.Neighboring communes
- BourdettesBourdettesBourdettes is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
and MirepeixMirepeixMirepeix is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, to the north. - Arros-de-NayArros-de-NayArros-de-Nay is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, to the west. - AssonAssonAsson is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, to the south. - IgonIgonIgon is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
and CoarrazeCoarrazeCoarraze is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It lies in the former province of Béarn.Due to its proximity to the town of Nay it is often normally referred to with the double barreled name "Coarraze-Nay" -References:*...
, to the east.
History
The fortified town (Bastide) was founded in 1302, by Marguerite de Moncada, Viscountess of Béarn, after she had purchased the land from the Hôpital Sainte-Christine de Gabas. Nay had much to suffer throughout its history; the town was destroyed in 1534 by a fire, of unknown origin, which entirely consumed the city. Shortly thereafter, the religious wars followed, and in 1569, the papists plundered the town, and the Huguenots returned with vigor. Among Protestants who emigrated, Mr. Olivier, an ancestor of British actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The town was famous for other children, including De Solano, born in 1772, who became Governor of the Manila Islands. Thereafter, Nay became a very industrial city, specializing in spinning, which flourished in this area so much so, that it became nicknamed "Little ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
"
Heraldry
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The Coat of Arms of Nay are blasoned as follows: Azure field, two gold rams facing underneath three silver crosses, the chief gules charged with three gold stars . |
City administration
In 1973, Nay and the nearby commune of BourdettesBourdettes
Bourdettes is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
merged into a single commune. They remained merged until 1 January 1997.
In 2006, the communal government had thirty-two officers and employees; this was fewer than it had been in 2001.
| Election date | Name |
|---|---|
| Data before 1995 is not currently available. | |
| 1995 | Maurice Triep-Capdeville |
| 2001 | Robert Malterre |
| 2008 | Guy Chabrout |
Demographics
| 1896 | 1901 | 1926 | 1936 | 1954 | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3640 | 3670 | 3520 | 3205 | 3457 | 3444 | 3440 | 3171 | 3275 | 3294 | 3204 | 3288 |
| INSEE figures - 1962 : Population without double-counting. | |||||||||||
Religious heritage
The Église Saint-Vincent (15th Century) (M.H.): The west wall was built before the house and the bell of 1245, which still rings. The bell tower (33 m) was added in 1520.Orgue de Busnel (1676) (M.H.): pulpit, font and leaf (16th Century), Way of the Cross, statues and paintings (17th and 19th Centuries).
Chappelle Saint-Joseph (1897) - stained glass (1900).
Civil heritage
- Maison Carrée de Jeanne d'Albret (16th Century) (MH), home built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The Maison is organized around its courtyard and garden, testifying to the properites due to the textile industry.
Vaulted galleries on 4 levels, stairs, frame home on the street, wooden railings, fireplaces, floors and ceilings.
Includes an exposition of Béarnais furniture from the 17th through the start of the 19th century, representing the major schools of furniture (Morlaàs, Monein, etc.) of béarnaise ethnology.
Temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.
To see
- Le musée du béret (Museum of the Beret)
- The making of bells
- La Minoterie (Contemporary art expositions)
- The town market (Tuesday and Saturday mornings)
- The Maison Carrée de Jeanne d'Albret (Said to be the birthplace of King Henri IV)
Projects
- A portion of downtown Nay has been renovated. The first step was the burial of networks and upgrading of roads, pavements and street furniture (benches, etc.) on Rue Gambetta (completed), Rue Clémenceau (completed), Rue Saint-Vincent (completed) and Rue Notre Dame (in progress). The renovation of Allées Chanzy is the second installment. These aisles have wider sidewalks, lined with stone slabs, with modern street furniture, as well as new planting (medlar and palms). Finally, the renovation of the City Square, Place de la République, will complete the phase of work in the city center.
- Transfer of the public retirement home in the way of Chemin de Montreuil (work in progress, structural work completed).
- Construction of a new intermunicipal pool between Chemin de Montjoie and Chemin de Laclaü (formally opened).
- Construction of a new parking lot, to replace la place de la République, which will disappear (Mayor's current draft plans).
Events
- Les fêtes de Nay (Festival of Nay) - a five day festival approximately falling on 24 August. Numerous festivities occur, including fireworks, during the festival.
- The Cancé Tournement (International Tournament of Rugby Cadets at Corraze-Nay) - Rugby tournament occurring at the Stadium of Nay during Easter weekend.
Famous persons
- Damien Traille, rugby player
- Jacques Abbadie, Protestant theologian, born 1654
- Raymond Mastrotto, professional cyclist from 1958 to 1968, nicknamed "le tareau de Nay" (the bull from Nay)
- Pierre Triep-Capdeville, rugby player