Baigts-de-Béarn


Baigts-de-Béarn 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 Batchois or Batchoises.

Geography

Baigts-de-Béarn is located some 6 km north-west of Orthez and 23 km east of Peyrehorade. The western part of the northern border of the commune is also the departmental border between Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Landes. Access to the commune is by road D817 from Puyoô in the west which passes through the south of the commune and the village and continues south-east to Orthez. The D415 branches from the D817 west of the commune and passes through the village before continuing east to Orthez. The D315 goes north from the village then east to Saint-Boès. The D915 goes north from the D315 to Saint-Girons-en-Béarn. The A64 autoroute passes through the southern tip of the commune but there is no exit with the nearest exit being Exit some 3 km west of the commune. The commune is mostly farmland with scattered forests.
The Gave de Pau forms the southern border of the commune as it flows west to join the Gave d'Oloron at Peyrehorade. Numerous streams rise in the commune and flow south to join the Gave de Pau including the Ruisseau de Montlong. The Ruisseau de Lataillade forms the northern border of the commune as it flows west and forms part of the departmental border with Landes before joining the Gave de Pau west of Puyoô. The Arriou de Bardj rises in the north of the commune and flows west then south to join the Gave de Pau east of Ramous.

Places and hamlets

Toponymy

The commune name in béarnais is Vaths de Bearn.
The name Baigts means "valley" in Gascon but, according to Michel Grosclaude that meaning is to be avoided. According to him Baigts comes from the Gascon vaths which is derived from vallis meaning "hollow" or "depression" or from vallum meaning "palisade" or "entrenchment". In the old village there is a Rue de l'Embarrat meaning "fortified redoubt".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
BaigtsBaigs13th centuryRaymond
19
Fors de BéarnVillage
Baigx1318Raymond
19
Béarn
Bags1343Raymond
19
Béarn
Bachs1505Raymond
19
Garos
Batz1540Raymond
19
Reformation
Vagtz1548Raymond
19
Reformation
Baitz1582Raymond
19
Alienations
Baigts1750Cassini
BaziartBessiart1540Raymond
25
ReformationFarm
BrauLo Brau1540Raymond
36
ReformationFarm
Braü1863Raymond
36
CastillonCastelhoo-Susoo1385Raymond
46
CensusFief, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn
Castilhon1682Raymond
46
Reformation
LabasseLa Basse1540Raymond
87
ReformationFarm
LacoumayouCau-Mayor1385Raymond
89
CensusFarm
La Caumayo1540RaymondReformation
Le Petit-HameauLe Petit-Hameau1863Raymond
75
Hamlet
PortesPortes1385Raymond
138
CensusFief, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn and dependent on the bailiwick of Rivière-Gave
Portas de Bags1538Raymond
138
Reformation
Turon de CastéraLe Touron de Castéra1675Raymond
169
ReformationMoor

Sources:
Origins:
noted on page 19 of his 1863 dictionary that the commune depended on the Diocese of Dax and was the capital of the Notary of Rivière-Gave, the name of an arch-priesthood of the diocese of Dax which gave its name to the Gave de Pau. In 1385 the commune had 59 fires.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
19952014Christian Palette
20142020Guy Pemartin

Inter-communality

The commune is part of three inter-communal structures:
In 2010 the commune had 811 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

In addition to an economy focused on agriculture, the commune has a hydroelectric plant.
The commune is part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée zone of Béarn.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a primary school.