Ainharp


Ainharp is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ainharbars. or Ainharbear.

Geography

Location

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.

Access

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.

Hydrography

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.

Localities and hamletshttp://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil?c=-0.9292,43.2614&z=7.92265E-5&l=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.3D$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS@aggregate(1)&l=ADMINISTRATIVEUNITS.BOUNDARIES$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS(1)&permalink=yes Géoportail, IGN">Institut géographique national">IGN

The commune name in Basque is Ainharbe.
Jean-Baptiste Orpustan proposed two etymological interpretations:
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
AinharpAyharp1472Raymond
4
NotariesVillage
Ainharp1479Orpustan
224
L'Espitau d'Anharp1479Raymond
4
Ohix
Aynharp1479Raymond
4
Ohix
Aignharp1608Raymond
4
Insinuations
Ayharp1690Orpustan
224
CarricaburuCarricaburue1479Raymond
42
Farm
HabiagueHabiague1476Raymond
74
OhixFarm
LafaureLa Phaura1538Raymond
135
ReformationStream on the northern border
La Phaure1863Raymond
135
Lambarelo bedat de Lambarre1476Raymond
91
OhixHamlet and Wood
Chemin Mercadieulo cami Mercadieu1479Raymond
112
OhixFarm
le cami deu Mercat1479Raymond
112

Sources:
Origins:
noted on page 4 of his 1863 dictionary that the commune was a former priory in the diocese of Oloron and that there was a hospital for pilgrims.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Ainharp
FromToNamePartyPosition
17941807Bernard Aguerreberry
18071820Armand Oyhenburu
18201848Jean Etchart
18481852Martin Salamendy
18521854Jean Etchart
18541855Alexandre Bente
18551858Pierre Mercabide
18581871Bernard Etchart
18711874Echeberry
18741880Marc Iratchet
18801884Marc Barneche
18841885Joseph Armagnague
18851888Roch Guiresse
18881892Marc Barneche
18921908St. Jean Etchart
19081929Francois Barneche

;Mayors from 1929
FromToNamePartyPosition
19291950Jean Guiresse
19501959François Elissiry
19591971Jean-Pierre Aguer
19711983Jean Lascaray
19832020Jean-Pierre Arhanchiague

Inter-communality

Ainharp is a member of seven intercommunal structures:

Economy

The activity is mainly agricultural. The town is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée zone of Ossau-iraty.

Culture and heritage

Religious Heritage

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 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.

Facilities

The commune has a primary school.