Ayherre


Ayherre is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aihertars.

Geography

Ayherre is located in the Arberoue Valley in the former province of Lower Navarre some 23 km east by south-east of Bayonne and immediately east of Hasparren. Access to the commune is by the D10 road from Hasparren which passes through the west of the commune and continues north to La Bastide-Clairence. The D251 branches east off the D10 in the commune and goes to the village then continues east to Isturits. The D314 goes south-west from the village to Bonloc. The D14 from Bonloc to Saint-Esteben passes through the south of the commune. The commune is mainly farmland with scattered forests.
The commune is located in the drainage basin of the Adour with a dense network of streams covering the commune, mostly flowing north-westwards, and including the Joyeuse, which forms part of the western border of the commune. The Arbéroue rises in the south of the commune and flows north gathering many tributaries before joining the Lihoury to the north.

Places and hamlets

The commune name in basque is Aiherra. According to Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, the name comes from the basque ailherr, giving the meaning "place on a slope".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
AyherreSancti petri de ilarre1236OrpustanVillage
San Per de Aiherre1321Raymond
18
Camara
ayherra1344Orpustan
ayheRe1350Orpustan
Ajarra1513Raymond
18
Pamplona
Ahyerie1754Raymond
18
Collations
Aiherre1750Cassini
L'AhounbiscardéguyL'Ahunbiscardéguy1863Raymond
3
Stream
ApairiApahiri1863Raymond
7
Hamlet
ApharaApara1621Raymond
7
BiscayFarm
Aphara1863Raymond
7
***Bildarraitzbeldarais1249OrpustanHamlet
bildarays1350Orpustan
bildarraiz1413Orpustan
Bildariz1513Raymond
31
Pamplona
Bildarraïts1863Raymond
31
BelzunceBelçunze1384Raymond
27
DuchesneChateau, fief of the Kingdom of Navarre
Belzunce1384Raymond
27
Duchesne
Velçunce1621Raymond
27
Biscay
Balzunze1621Raymond
27
Biscay
Belsunce1863Raymond
27
BerhoaLe Berho1863Raymond
28
Stream
ChapitalbordaChapitel1621Raymond
48
BiscayFarm
Chapital1863Raymond
48
ErquétaErquéta1863Raymond
59
Hamlet
EtchebarniaEchabarne1435Raymond
63
PamplonaFarm
Etchebarnia1863Raymond
63
EtchebéhèreEchevehere1435Raymond
63
PamplonaFarm
Etchebéhère1863Raymond
63
Hergaitzla croix d'Ergaïts1863Raymond
59
Place of Pilgrimage
LondaïtzLondayz1621Raymond
103
BiscayFarm
Londaïts1863Raymond
103
LukuaLe Lucu1863Raymond
106
Stream
MendigorriaMendigorria1621Raymond
111
BiscayFarm
Mendigorry1863Raymond
111
La PlaceLa Place1863Raymond
135
Hamlet
L'UharteaL'Uhartea1863Raymond
170
Stream

Sources:
Origins:
On 18 March 1450, Labourd returned to the French crown after the signing of a peace treaty at the Château of Belzunce in Ayherre which marked the end of English influence in the region. On that the representatives of Labourd made their submission and, upon payment of 2,000 gold écus secured by the retention of 10 hostages, retained their privileges.

Heraldry

Administration

List of successive mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
19952014Jean Paul Basterretche
20142020Arnaud Gastambide

Inter-communality

The commune is part of six inter-communal structures:
The declaration of rights in 1749 counted 162 fires in Ayherre.
In 2010 the commune had 987 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.

Economy

Economic activity in the commune is mainly agricultural. The commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée zone of Ossau-iraty.
The Lauak company is located in the industrial zone of Ayherre.
The Uhagun Mill on the Aran dates to the 19th century and has been converted into a hydro-electric plant.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has three sites that are registered as historical monuments:
The Parish Church of Saint Pierre is registered as an historical monument.

Education

The commune has two primary schools: one in the town and one private school of the Immaculate Conception.

Notable people linked to the commune