Ainharp

Ainharp is located some 50 km west by southwest of Pau, 15 km southeast of Saint-Palais, and 10 km north-west of Mauleon-Licharre. It is part of the former province of Soule.

The commune can be accessed by road D242 from Lohitzun-Oyhercq in the west passing through the village and continuing southeast to Mauleon-Licharre. The D344 road also goes to the north from the village through the commune then east to Espes-Undurein. The commune terrain is undulating of mixed farmland and forest.[5]

Located in the drainage basin of the Adour, the commune is the source of numerous streams including the Lagardoye which forms part of the south-eastern border, the Quihilleri which forms much of the western border, and the Lafaure which forms much of the northern border.[5]

[7]

Ainharp is a member of seven intercommunal structures:

• the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque
• the association to support Basque culture
• the intercommunal association of the Valley
• the intercommunal association for the construction and operation of the CES of Mauleon
• the AEP association for Soule Country
• the remediation association for Soule Country
• the energy association of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Ainharp Church

Old Hilarri in the churchyard

The commune has a church which dates back to the 11th century and a Calvary-Bell Tower from the 17th century. Its cemetery features Hilarri dating from the time of the bell tower.

The village is located on a secondary road of the pilgrimage to Saint Jacques de Compostela[14] which passes on the highway to Ports de Cize, the priory of Saint-Palais to Saint-Michel-le-Vieux which had a hospice for pilgrims called Benta then to L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise, Osserain, Pagolle, Roquiague, Haux, Larrau, and Ordiarp.

• AINHARBE in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (in Spanish)
• Ainharp on Lion1906
• Ainharp on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
• Ainharp on the 1750 Cassini Map