Baleix

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

Baleix
Commune
The road into Baleix
Location of Baleix
Baleix
Baleix
Coordinates: 43°22′45″N 0°07′43″W
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentPyrénées-Atlantiques
ArrondissementPau
CantonPays de Morlaàs et du Montanérès
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Vincent Roustaa
Area
1
6.47 km2 (2.50 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
143
 • Density22/km2 (57/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
64089 /64460
Elevation225–354 m (738–1,161 ft)
(avg. 230 m or 750 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baleichois or Baleichoises.[2]

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.[3]

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[4]
  • La Caussade
  • Clos[5]
  • Dujardin
  • Guilhas
  • Hourpelat
  • Jeandavid[6]
  • Jouanolou
  • La Moulère
  • Noau
  • Pucheu
  • Puyo
  • Sarthou[7]
  • Tisné
  • Trémoulets[8]
  • 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".[9]

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

NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
BaleixBales11th centuryRaymond
20
LescarVillage
Balas12th centuryRaymond
20
Marca
Balestoos13th centuryRaymond
20
Fors de Béarn
Baleixs1385Raymond
20
Census
Balesie1402Raymond
20
Census
Baleyxs1538Raymond
20
Reformation
Balechs1538Raymond
20
Reformation
Balex1548Raymond
20
Reformation
Baleix1750Cassini
AbaradesAbarades1863Raymond
1
Place
AbatsAbats1863Raymond
1
Place
Les ArticsLes Articqs1769Raymond
14
TerrierPlace
La BielleLa Bielle1863Raymond
31
Place
La HailleHailhe1769Raymond
74
TerrierPlace
La LanusseLa Lanusse1863Raymond
93
Place
PeyreblanquePeyreblanque1863Raymond
134
Place
Le PimiLou Pimy1769Raymond
135
TerrierHamlet
Les PlagniusPlagniux1769Raymond
136
TerrierPlace
Le Plagniu1769Raymond
136
Terrier
RaguetteRaguet1769Raymond
141
TerrierPlace
TrémouletsLe Trémoulet1863Raymond
168
Place
Le Turocq de NaudyLe Turocq de Naudy1769Raymond
169
TerrierPlace
La TurrecolleLa Turequolle1769Raymond
170
TerrierPlace
La VignasseLa Vignasse1863Raymond
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[15]

FromToNamePartyPosition
19952001Jean Balespouey
20012008Gérard Balespouey
20082026Vincent Roustaa

(Not all data is known)

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

In 2017 the commune had 143 inhabitants.

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[16] and INSEE[17]

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)[7]
  • A House at Jean David (18th century)[6]
  • A House at Castille (1623)[4]
  • The Bourdallé House (18th century)[18]
  • The Coulomé Farmhouse (1789)[19]
  • The Bélengou House (18th century)[20]
  • The Arnautou House at Clos (19th century)[5]
  • Houses and Farms (17th-19th century)[21]

Religious heritage
The Church of Saint-Martin
  • The Parish Church of Saint-Martin (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.[22] The Church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects. For a complete list with links to descriptions (in French) click here.

See also

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

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Inhabitants of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  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. Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Baleix, EHESS. (in French)
  17. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  18. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027132 Bourdallé House (in French)
  19. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027131 Coulomé Farmhouse (in French)
  20. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027130 Bélengou House (in French)
  21. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027127 Houses and Farms (in French)
  22. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA00027128 Parish Church of Saint-Martin (in French)
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