Barcus (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France in the Provinces of France, former province of Soule.

Geography

Location

Barcus is located in the ''Massif des Arbailles'' in the former province of Soule some 25 km south by south-east of Sauveterre-de-Béarn and 12 km west of Oloron-Sainte-Marie. The commune covers a complex of valleys formed by the course of the ''Joos'' and its left and right tributaries - the ''Paradis'' district, for example, is located on the ''Ibarra'' and the former hamlet of Guibelhéguiet is on a tributary of the Joos.

Access

Access to the commune is by the D24 road from Chéraute in the west which passes through the centre of the commune and continues east to Esquiule. The D347 branches from the D26 west of the village and goes south to Tardets-Sorholus. The D59 comes from Saint-Goin in the north-east through the village and continues south down the eastern side of the commune to Montory. The D859 branches off the D59 in the north of the commune and goes north to join the D25 north of the commune. The D159 branches off the D59 halfway down the commune and goes east to join the D24 east of Esquiule. The D459 branches off the D59 in the south of the commune and goes south-east to Lanne-en-Barétous.

Hydrography

The commune is located in the drainage basin of the Adour. The ''Joos'' river rises west of the commune and flows east across the commune then north, forming the eastern border of the commune, continuing north-east to eventually join the Gave d'Oloron at Préchacq-Josbaig. Many tributaries rise in the commune and flow east into the Joos including the ''Bouhatéko erreka'', the ''arréc of Etchanchu'', the ''Handia'', the ''Oyhanart erreka'', the ''arriou of Soulou'', the ''Sustaris erreka'', and the ''Ibarra'' stream (7 km long) with its tributaries, the ''Ruisseau Ibarra'' (4.4 km, which is joined in the commune by the ''Askontchilo erreka'' and the ''Athaketa'' stream) and the ''Lecheguita'' stream (also with its tributary the ''Ilharra'' stream). Paul Raymond (archivist), Paul Raymond mentioned another tributary of the Joos crossing Barcus called the ''Guibéléguiet'' with its tributary the ''Paradis''. Tributaries of the ''Lausset'', which also flows into the Gave d'Oloron, also pass through the commune such as the ''Ascania'' stream and the ''Ibarle'' stream with its tributary the ''Ambelseko erreka''. Finally the ''Ruisseau de Lacoste'', a sub-tributary of the arréc of Bitole also crosses the commune.

Places and Hamlets

There are a large number of places and hamlets in the commune: * Agaras * Agor (border) * Agorria * Aguerborda * Aguerret * Aistor * Alkkatia * Ahargo * Ainus * Alhorchar * Arambeaux * Aramburu * Aranéder * Arangaray * Arhanchet * Arthaxet * Artheguiet * Artzanüthürry * Askain * Askonobiet * Askoz * Askozborda * Athaket * Athakéta * Ayscar * Bagardikoborda * Baralegne (pass) * Barbieborda * Barbieko Eyhéra * Barcardats * Barcochbide * Barnetche * Barrenkia * Belloya * Beltchun * Beltzantzuburu * Berhaburu * Berho * Bermaillou * Betan * Beteria * Bidau * Bigne (pass) * Biscay * Bohogu * Bordabegoïty * Bordaburia * Bordacharia * Bordagay * Bordagoyhen * Bordetta * Burgia * Cabana * Cachau * Chiloua * Choko * Chourikoborro * Cocutchia * Cotabaren * Cotiart * Coyos * Coyosborda * La Croix Blanche * Curutchiga * Doronda * Duque * Eihartzéta * Elhar * Elhurdoy * Eperrape * Eperregagne * Erguillota * Errande * Errékartéa * Espel * Espelia * Estecondo * Etchahoun * Etchanchu * Etchandy * Etchartéa * Etchebarne * Etcheberriborda * Etcheberry (2 places) * Etchecopaberria * Etchegoren * Eyharche * Eyhartzet * Eyhea * Eyheregaray (2 places) * Eyhéramendy * Fabiania * Gagnéko Borda * Galharetborda * Garay * Garrat * Gastellondo * Gorostordoy * Gorrostibar * Goyheneix * Goyheski * Goyhetsia * Goytolia * Guibelhéguiet * Haritchast * Haritchelhar * Harritchilondo * Haubiga * Hégoburu * Héguiapal * Heguilla * Héguitchoussy * Ibar * Ibarrondo * Idiart * Ihitzaga * Ilharra * Itchal * Jacobia * Jaureguiberry * Lagune * Lapitz * Lapitzia * Larragorry * Larranda * Larrandabuia * Larrasquet * Larrorry * Laxague * Laxagueborda * Lecheguita (pass, 653 m) * Legegaray * Lépazka * Lescarpé * Logeborde * Lohidoy * Lohidoyborda * Lojaborda * Malobra * Maysonnave * Menusketa * Mercaptpide * Mercaptpide Borda * Mignaborda * Miranda * Mocho * Montokoaltéa * Muskogorry * Nissibart * Oholéguy * Oilher * Ondarzuhia * Ordanoulet * Ostallaborda * Oyhanart * Paradis * Pelento * Pellen * Perkain * Petchia * Petillon * Picochet * Pinka * Pordoy * Potho * Princi * Princiborda * Puchulu * Restoy * Sagardoyhégui * Salaber * Salazar * Salazarborda * Salhanka * Sapiula * Sardo * Saruborda * Seceneguiet * Sinto * Sorhotus * Suhatsola * Thias * Topet * Udoy * Uhalt * Uhaltborda * Uhart * Urrustoy * Urruty * Uthuère * Uthurralt * Uthurry * Zatzoury

Toponymy

The commune name in Basque language, Basque is ''Barkoxe''. Jean-Baptiste Orpustan proposes a Basque etymological construction in two parts. The first element ''barr'' meaning "located inside, at the bottom" is joined to the element ''-koiz'' to approximate the Basque ''goiz'' meaning "morning or east". Barcus is located in a low valley to the east which justifies the Orpustan analysis. The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune. Barcus-chapelle

Sources: *Paul Raymond (archivist), Raymond:''
''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. ''Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees''
Paul Raymond (archivist), Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011 *Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan,
''New Basque Toponymy''
ref name="Orpustan">Jean-Baptiste Orpustan,
''New Basque Toponymy''
Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2006, p. 204-205, *Bulletin des Lois: Origins: *Navarrenx: Notaries of NavarrenxNotaries of Navarrenx in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques *Oloron: Notaries of Oloron-Sainte-MarieNotaries of Oloron-Sainte-Marie in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques *Ohix:'' Contracts retained by Ohix, Notary of Soule *Customs: Customs of SouleCustoms of Soule in 1520, printed at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pau in 1760 *Luxe: Titles of Luxe-Sumberraute, Luxe *Guienne: Government General of Guienne and Guascogne and neighbouring country

History

Jean-Baptiste Orpustan noted that the commune was a former "royal town". Paul Raymond (archivist), Paul Raymond on page 21 of his 1863 dictionary noted that the commune had a Lay Abbey, vassal of the Viscounts of Soule. In 1790 Barcus was the capital of a Canton dependent on the District of Mauleon Licharre and made up of the communes of Barcus, L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise, and Roquiague. Barcus appears as ''Barcux'' on the 1750 French cartography#Cassini maps, Cassini Map and the same on the 1790 version.

Administration

List of Successive Mayor (France), Mayors

Inter-communality

The commune is part of five inter-communal structures: * the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque; * the AEP association of Pays de Soule; * the sanitation association of Pays de Soule; * the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques; * the inter-communal association to support Basque culture.

Demography

The ''Journal'' by Pierre Casalivetery, Notary at Mauléon-Licharre, Mauléon, during 1460-1481 counted 26 feu fiscal, fires at Barcus and 210 for the years 1540–1548, indicating a rapidly growing population. The inhabitants of the commune are known in French as ''Barcusiens'' or ''Barcusiennes'' and in Basque language, Basque as ''Barkoxtar''.Euskaltzaindia - Academy of the Basque language

Economy

Economic activity is mainly oriented towards agriculture (mixed farming and sheep farming). The commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) zone designation of Ossau-iraty.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

*The Lamiñen ziloa ("Cave of Lamia (Basque mythology), laminak" in Basque). Laminak are small lutins in Basque mythology. *A treasure trove of Celtiberians, Celtiberian currency (400-100 BC.) was discovered in 1879. Composed of 1,750 silver coins from different cities of Navarre and Aragon, the reason for their presence in Barcus remains controversial. *A gaztelu zaharA prehistoric fortified place stands at 440 metres above sea level in the Haitzhandia locality.

Religious heritage

*The Parish Church of the Ascension (Middle Ages) is registered as an historical monument. It was largely rebuilt in the 19th century and restored in the 20th century. It contains a Bronze Bell (1689) that is registered as an historical object.

Cultural events

In 2009 Barcus organised a Pastoral (theatre of Soule), Pastoral, a Soule traditional show mixing theatre, dancing and singing. There is a Pastoral throughout winter until April on Sundays in other villages of Soule.

Notable people linked to the commune

*Léon Urthuburu, vice-consul for France in Guayaquil, Ecuador, originally from Barcus, he bequeathed Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands to the commune in 1860. Despite his efforts Barcus never took possession.Philippe Veyrin, ''The Basques'', p. 76, Arthaud, 20 December 1975, *Pierre Topet, alias "Etxahun", born in Barcus (1786-1862), a Bertsolari, Basque poet. *Jean Touan, born in 1817 at Barcus, was the founder of the Café Tortoni in Buenos Aires. The café was bequeathed to Célestin Curutchet in 1872, another native of Barcus. *André Chilo, French rugby player, born on 5 July 1898 at Bordeaux and died on 3 November 1982 at Barcus.

Notes and references

Notes

References

{{authority control Communes of Pyrénées-Atlantiques