Balaguères (; oc, Balaguèras) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the Ariège

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the

Occitanie Occitanie may refer to: *Occitania, a region in southern France called ''Occitanie'' in French *Occitania (administrative region) Occitania ( ; french: Occitanie ; oc, Occitània ; ca, Occitània ) is the southernmost administrative region of ...

region of south-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Balaguérois'' or ''Balaguéroises''.

Geography

Balaguères is located some 4 km north-east of

Audressein Audressein (; oc, Audressenh) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Audressenois'' or ''Audressenoises''. Geography Audressein is situated on the ...

and 12 km south-west of Saint-Girons in the ''Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises''. The north-west border of the commune is also the departmental border between Ariège and

Haute-Garonne Haute-Garonne (; oc, Nauta Garona, ; en, Upper Garonne) is a department in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country's ...

. Access to the commune is by the D618 road from Engomer in the east which passes through the south of the commune and continues south-west to

. Access to the main village of Alas is by the D204A from Engomer and several local roads. The D204 goes north-west from the village through the hamlet of Agert to the hamlet of Balagué in the commune. The commune is farmland in the valley and forested on the mountain slopes.Google Maps
/ref> The ''Lez'' river flows through the south of the commune and the village from south-west to east and continues east then north-east to join the

Salat (, plural , romanized: or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːh, ( or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːtʰin construct state) ), also known as ( fa, نماز) and also spelled , are prayers performed by Muslims. Facing the , the direction of the Kaaba wit ...

at Saint-Girons. The ''Ruisseau de Lachein'' flows from the north-west through the commune, gathering several tributaries, to join the Lez at the village.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

Balagué, Agert, and Alas were all part of the lordship of

Aspet ''Aspet'' (, , ''Aspetes'' in contemporary Greek) was a hereditary military title of the Armenian nobility, usually found within the Bagratuni family.Toumanoff, Cyril (1963), ''Studies in Christian Caucasian History III'', pp. 202, 324-26. Georget ...

in the 12th century together with Engomer, Montgauch, Bareilles, and Mauvezin de Prat. This lordship became a powerful Barony in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

. On 12 December 1642 Guy d'Encausse, Lord of Labastide (near Rieucazé) purchased Alas-Balagué and gave it to Jean-Jacques de Solan. By decree in April 1667 King

Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Vers ...

ordered the purchase of 18 parishes that had been committed in 1642 and 1643. They all returned to the

Crown lands of France The crown lands, crown estate, royal domain or (in French) ''domaine royal'' (from demesne) of France were the lands, fiefs and rights directly possessed by the kings of France. While the term eventually came to refer to a territorial unit, ...

. Later, however, some were sold again (

Castelbiague Castelbiague (; oc, Castèthviague) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas ...

, Pointis-Inard, Alas-Agert-Balagué). Others remained in ''paréage''A feudal contract between two or more lords giving them equal rights with the king: Affis (His),

Arbas Arbas (''Arbàs'' in Occitan) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Haute-Garonne department The following is a list of the 586 communes of the French department of Haute-G ...

Ganties Ganties (; oc, Gantias) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and ...

, Mauvezin, Montastruc, and Rouède. The rest remained permanently in the hands of the king as sole lord: Aspet, Chein, Escaich, Estadens, Montgauch-Bareilles, and Saleich.

Administration

List of

Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities ...

;

from 1936

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 197 inhabitants.

Culture and heritage

Cultural distinctions

Balaguères is one of the communes that have received the

Esperanto Esperanto ( or ) is the world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Created by the Warsaw-based ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, it was intended to be a universal second language for international communi ...

Green Star, a distinction awarded to mayors of communes who identify with the speakers of the

constructed language A constructed language (sometimes called a conlang) is a language whose phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, instead of having developed naturally, are consciously devised for some purpose, which may include being devised for a work of fiction. ...

of Esperanto. Balaguères was one of the filming locations for the film: ''

The Return of Martin Guerre ''The Return of Martin Guerre'' (french: Le Retour de Martin Guerre) is a 1982 French film directed by , and starring Gérard Depardieu. It was based on a case of imposture in 16th century France, involving Martin Guerre. Synopsis The film relate ...

'' in 1982 with

Nathalie Baye Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (born 6 July 1948) is a French film, television and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for '' Every Man for Himself' ...

Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu, CQ (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor, filmmaker, businessman and vineyard owner since 1989 who is one of the most prolific thespians in film history having completed over 250 films since 1967 alm ...

, and

Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu (2 July 1949 – 27 December 2010) was a French actor. Biography Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu studied theater and film at the Sorbonne Paris III and began his career in film at the age of 25 by making appearances with accl ...

Religious heritage

*The Church of Agert contains two items that are registered as historical objects: **A Ciborium (18th century) **A

Chalice A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning. Re ...

(18th century) *The Church of Alas contains four items that are registered as historical objects: **A Ciborium (17th century) **A Framed Painting: The Virgin and child donating a rosary to Saints Dominic and Catherine of Sienna (18th century) **A

with

Paten A paten or diskos is a small plate, used during the Mass. It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Western liturgical denominations, the p ...

(17th century) **A

Confessional A confessional is a box, cabinet, booth, or stall in which the priest in some Christian churches sits to hear the confessions of penitents. It is the usual venue for the sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Churches, but sim ...

(18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy

Environmental heritage

*The Réseau Paloume, a natural cavity at more than 750 m altitude.

Notes

References

External links

Balaguères on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Balagué'', ''Agert'', and ''Alas'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balagueres Communes of Ariège (department)