Azet is a commune in the

Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/ Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs ; alts piɾiˈneʊs ) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. The department is bordered by Pyrénées-Atlantiques to t ...

department in the Occitanie region of south-western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Geography

Azet is located some 55 km south by south-east of

Tarbes Tarbes (; Gascon language, Gascon: ''Tarba'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of southwestern France. It is ...

and 20 km west of

Bagnères-de-Luchon Bagnères-de-Luchon (; ), also referred to as just Luchon, is a Communes of France, commune and spa town in the Haute-Garonne Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie region of south-western France. T ...

. Access to the commune is by road D225 from Estensan in the west to the village. The public square of the village is 1,172 metres above sea level at the intersection of the Aure and Louron valleys with the Col de Val Louron-Azet to the south-east. The commune is very rugged and inaccessible with extensive forests in the south.Google Maps
/ref> The ''Ruisseau de Lustau'' flows north from the ''Lustou Lake'' in the south of the commune, gathering many tributaries including the ''Ruisseau de Sarrouyes'' which flows from lakes in the south-east of the commune, and becoming the ''Mousquere'' before passing the village and continuing north to join the Neste d'Aure north of

Vielle-Aure Vielle-Aure (; ) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of the Occitanie region in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune ...

Climate

Azet has a mountain climate with high temperatures in summer.

Neighbouring communes and villages

Toponymy

The probable etymology of the name is ''Adet, adou, ados, âne, asou'', then ''Azet'' meaning a place marking the end of the terrain which could only be crossed by donkey or horse.

History

There is little evidence to trace the origin of the village except the church, which dates from the fourth quarter of the 12th century In 1887 the village had two primary schools. Village resources were mainly

pastoralism Pastoralism is a form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals (known as "livestock") are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands (pastures) for grazing, historically by nomadic people who moved around with their herds. The anim ...

with livestock farming of sheep, cows, horses, and donkeys as well as crops such as wheat, rye, meslin, barley, buckwheat, beans, peas, potatoes, turnips, flax sprouts, and hay. From the 1880s the population decreased due to the waves of

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella enterica'' serotype Typhi bacteria, also called ''Salmonella'' Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often th ...

during 1886-1887 and the

rural exodus Rural flight (also known as rural-to-urban migration, rural depopulation, or rural exodus) is the Human migration, migratory pattern of people from rural areas into urban areas. It is urbanization seen from the rural perspective. In Industriali ...

of young people.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Population

The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Azetois'' or ''Azetoises'' in French. Azet village

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of sites that are registered as historical monuments: *Houses and Farms (18th-19th century) *A Farmhouse (1865)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée ;Other sites of interest: *The Pyrenean House of Pastoralism is an educational and tourist centre on pastoralism in the mountains. The museum traces the history and development of pastoralism in France and worldwide.

Religious heritage

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.

References

External links

Azet on the old IGN website

Azet on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Azet'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{authority control Communes of Hautes-Pyrénées