Asson
Commune
View from Asson
View from Asson
Location of Asson
Asson is located in France
Asson
Asson
Asson is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Asson
Asson
Coordinates: 43°08′29″N 0°15′14″W / 43.1414°N 0.2539°W / 43.1414; -0.2539
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentPyrénées-Atlantiques
ArrondissementPau
CantonOuzom, Gave et Rives du Neez
IntercommunalityCC Pays de Nay
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Marc Canton[1]
Area
1
83.02 km2 (32.05 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2021)[2]
1,999
 • Density24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
64068 /64800
Elevation255–1,848 m (837–6,063 ft)
(avg. 330 m or 1,080 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Asson (French pronunciation: [asɔ̃]) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.

Geography

Asson is a large commune in the Ouzom Valley some 30 km south by south-east of Pau and 35 km east by south-east of Oloron-Sainte-Marie which almost completely surrounds the commune of Arthez-d'Asson. The south-eastern border of the commune is the border between the departments of Pyrenees-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées. Access to the commune is by the D 35 road from Igon in the east which passes through the village and continues west to Bruges-Capbis-Mifaget. The D 36 road comes from Nay in the north to join the D 35 just west of the village. The D 126 road goes south from the village to Arthez-d'Asson. The D 226 branches from the D 126 and goes east by a circuitous route to Lestelle-Betharram. The southern half of the commune is mountainous and heavily forested while the north is farmland with scattered small patches of forest.[3]

The Pyrénées-Atlantiques Interurban Network of buses has a stop in the commune on route 810 from Lys to Pau

Hydrography

The river Gave de Pau (Adour basin)[4] and its tributaries the Ouzoum[5] and the Béez[6] flow through the commune.

The Ouzoum is fed in Asson by the Ruisseaux of Gerse, Turonnet, de Thouet, le Goulet, d'Incamps, de Berdoulat, and the Arrieucourt which forms the eastern border of the commune (itself fed by the Ruisseau de la Fontaine Béra), and the Hèche, Hau, and Gat. Paul Raymond mentioned in the 1863 dictionary on p. 168[7] another tributary of the Ouzoum called le Touchet which rose in Asson and Arthez-d'Asson.

The Béez is joined in the commune by the Ruisseaux of Landistou, Trubés (itself fed by the Ruisseau de Marlies), Toupiette, Arrouy, Mourté, Lacot (joined in the commune by the Ruisseau de la Sègue), Jupé, Picas, Coudé, and Soulens.

Places and hamlets

  • Arnaude
  • Arrestouilh
  • Arrioucourt[7]
  • Arrouaus
  • Aubuchou
  • Ausone
  • Barrabourg
  • Bascou
  • Batailles[7]
  • Bélile
  • Bellocq (Pass - 437 metres)
  • Berdeu
  • Berdoulat
  • Berduc
  • Bernadou
  • Bernatas
  • Betbeu
  • Betcabe
  • Betpède
  • Bonnehon
  • Bourdila
  • Bourié
  • Brau
  • Brouquet
  • Brune
  • Busoc
  • Cabalou
  • Carache
  • Cassagne
  • Cassou
  • Castella
  • Castet Mauheit
  • Castet-Oussès[7]
  • Catala
  • Cayeré
  • Cotbracq
  • Cot de Hosse
  • Les Courades
  • La Courgue
  • Les Crabes
  • Crouseilles
  • Dagues
  • Donzelot
  • Douasous
  • Dourron
  • Ermitage d'Asson
  • Espagna (ruins)
  • Espoune-Carbou
  • Estradère[7]
  • Fradi
  • Gabouil
  • Galibet
  • Le Garroc Blanc
  • Gestou
  • Gourgues (vale of)
  • Grabot[7]
  • Gracié
  • Guillamasse
  • Herran
  • Hourc
  • Hourcségou
  • Hourquet
  • Labarrère (mill)
  • Labat
  • Labedays
  • Labielle
  • Lacoume
  • Lalanne[7]
  • Lamothe
  • Lanardonne
  • Larban[7]
  • Larruhat
  • Lartigue
  • Lasque
  • Latapie (bridge)
  • Loustalot
  • Luppé (château)
  • Mandrou
  • Mansiou
  • Marcadet
  • Massey
  • Matocq
  • Mesplé
  • Milhet
  • Monge
  • Montguillalou
  • Montguillet
  • Jean Moulié
  • Mounicou
  • Nabarrà
  • Naspret
  • Nérios
  • Nougué
  • L’Oustau
  • Pabine
  • Palu[7]
  • Pédeprade
  • Péré
  • Peyrade
  • Peyroutet
  • Pladepousaux
  • Pousaux
  • Pradou
  • Regourt
  • Rouby
  • Sanguinet
  • Sanguinet (pass - 512 metres)
  • Sarrailhé
  • Sarraméda
  • Sendou
  • Teich (pass - 1034 metres)
  • Teulère
  • Thou
  • Thouet
  • Touyarou
  • Trencade (pass - 1273 metres)

[8]

Neighbouring communes and villages

[3]

Toponymy

The commune name in béarnais is also Asson. Michel Grosclaude said that the name probably comes from the basque aitz/as ("rocky point") with the locative suffix -on, giving "place where there is a high point".[9]

The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.

NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
AssonAssoo11th centuryRaymond
15
Saint-PéVillage
Assonium1100Raymond
15
Titles of Mifaget
Villa quœ vocatur Asso12th centuryRaymond
15
Lescar
Assun13th centuryRaymond
15
Fors de Béarn
La vegarie d'Asson1450Raymond
15
Cour Majour
Saint-Martin d'Asson1790Raymond
15
AssonCassiniCassini Map 1750
AbèreAbera1546Raymond
2
ReformationFief
ArribabèsArribebes1675Raymond
11
ReformationHamlet
Arribabès1863Raymond
11
ArribarrouyArribarroy1675Raymond
11
ReformationHamlet
Arribarrouy1863Raymond
11
ArribebotArribebot1675Raymond
11
ReformationHamlet
ArriutouletArriutoulet1863Raymond
13
Hamlet
ArtigauxArtigaux1863Raymond
13
A Hamlet in the area of the former commune of Lestelle
ArrieucourtArrioucourtA stream that rises in Asson and Igon and joins the Ouzom
Arriucourbe1863Raymond
12
BatailleL’ariu de Bathalhes1501Raymond
24
Notaries of NayA stream having its source in Asson and flowing to the Béez
Le Bataillès1863Raymond
24
Les BenguesLes Bengues1675Raymond
27
ReformationHamlet
BrocqBrocq1863Raymond36Farm
CamiL’ostau deu Cami1385Raymond
39
CensusFarm
Cami1863Raymond
39
Castet-OussèsCastet-Ousses1863Raymond
46
The mountains between Asson and Arthez-d'Asson
ClaverieL'ostau de Claveria1538Raymond
51
ReformationFief
Claverie1863Raymond
51
Chemin de Clerguetlo cami Clargues1536Raymond
51
ReformationA path that started at Clarac, crossed Asson and Igon, and was the border between Asson and Nay
le cami Claragues1536Raymond
51
Reformation of Béarn
le grant camii aperat Clergues1547Raymond
51
Reformation
Chemin de Clerguet1863Raymond
51
Couts-Dedans et Couts-DehorsFore-Couts1547Raymond
53
ReformationHamlet
Cootz1581Raymond
53
Reformation of Béarn
Dedans-couts et Fore-Couts1675Raymond
53
Reformation
Le chemin d’EstradèreLe chemin d’Estradère1863Raymond
62
A path that went from Asson to Arthez-d’Asson over the mountain
La FourcadeLa Fourcade1863Raymond
65
Farm
GrabotMartinet de Grabaud1771Raymond
73
IntendanceIronworks
HermitageLo Castet d'Assoo1538Raymond
77
ReformationAncient mound. Isaac Vergès of Nay built a monastery (Hermitage) on the mound in the 17th century
la Bielle d'Asson1675Raymond
77
Reformation
LalanneLalanne1863Raymond
91
Hamlet
LarbanLarban1540Raymond
93
ReformationFarm
Minviellela maison noble de Mainvielle1673Raymond
113
ReformationFief of Asson, Vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn
PaluPaluu1385Raymond
131
CensusFarm
Palu1863Raymond
131
Les Pandelleslas Pandeles1443Raymond
131
Cour MajourFarm
Les Pandelles1863Raymond
131
Subercazela maison noble de Subercase1684Raymond
164
ReformationFief subject to the Viscounts of Béarn
Les Pandelles1863Raymond
164
Sources
  • Raymond: Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrénées, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. (in French)[7]
  • Grosclaude: Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, 2006 (in French)[9]
  • Saint-Pé: Cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Pé[10]
  • Reformation: Reformation of Béarn[11]
  • Lescar: Cartulary of Lescar[12]
  • Census: Census of Béarn[13]
  • Fors de Béarn[13]
  • Intendance: Intendance of Pau[14]
  • Cour Majour: Regulations of the Cour Majour[15]
  • Notaries of Nay[16]
  • Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750[17]

History

Paul Raymond[7] noted on p. 14 that before 1232 Asson was localised near the place called the Hermitage and that there was a Lay Abbey, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn.

The village signed a Charter of Emancipation on 4 January 1282[18] with the consent of Gaston VII, Viscount of Béarn.

In 1385, Asson had 57 fires and depended on the bailiwick of Nay.[7]

Asson came under the Notary of Nay as did Angaïs, Arros, Arthez-d'Asson, Baliros, Baudreix, Bénéjacq, Beuste, Boeil, Bordères, Bosdarros, Clarac, Coarraze, Igon, Lagos, Lestelle, Mirepeix, Montaut, Nay, Pardies, and Saint-Abit.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors[19]

FromToNamePartyPosition
19471989Jean LabarrèreGeneral Councillor
19892008Laurent Aubuchou-AuriouxUMP
20082014Patrick Moura
20142026Marc CantonUDI

Inter-communality

The commune is part of five inter-communal structures:[20]

  • the Communauté de communes du Pays de Nay;
  • the association for water and sanitation of Pays de Nay;
  • the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques;
  • the inter-communal association of Gave de Pau;
  • the joint association for the basin of the Gave de Pau;

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Assonais in French.[21]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 2,487—    
1800 2,179−1.87%
1806 2,318+1.04%
1821 2,527+0.58%
1831 2,582+0.22%
1836 2,564−0.14%
1841 2,515−0.39%
1846 2,599+0.66%
1851 2,594−0.04%
1856 2,661+0.51%
1861 2,626−0.26%
1866 2,600−0.20%
1872 2,406−1.28%
1876 2,550+1.46%
1881 2,541−0.07%
1886 2,554+0.10%
1891 2,406−1.19%
1896 2,521+0.94%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 2,518−0.02%
1906 2,534+0.13%
1911 2,416−0.95%
1921 1,862−2.57%
1926 1,843−0.20%
1931 1,854+0.12%
1936 1,744−1.22%
1946 1,519−1.37%
1954 1,508−0.09%
1962 1,506−0.02%
1968 1,527+0.23%
1975 1,676+1.34%
1982 1,644−0.28%
1990 1,652+0.06%
1999 1,771+0.78%
2007 1,875+0.72%
2012 2,042+1.72%
2017 2,031−0.11%
Source: EHESS[22] and INSEE[23]

Economy

The commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) zone of Ossau-iraty and has protected geographical indications (PGI) namely: Tarbais haricots, Tomme des Pyrénées, Duck foie gras of the South-west, and Bayonne ham.

Culture and heritage

The local language is occitan-gascon, called locally béarnais. A bilingual class offers courses in béarnais in the commune school from kindergarten to CM2.

Civil heritage

There is a Metallic Glasshouse[24] at Lalanne in the Asson zoo[25] built in 1900.

The owners of the Château of Abère[26] have been known since the 12th century.

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint Martin

The Church of Saint-Martin, partially dating from the 15th century,[27] contains a Triptych of the Crucifixion[28] from the 16th century.

Asson is a stage on the Chemin du piémont pyrénéen (or el cami deu pé de la coste), a secondary itinerary on the Way of St. James.[29]

Environmental heritage

The Bétharram Caves
The Grottes de Bétharram (Bétharram Caves) are a series of Caves located on the border between the departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées.
Their extent cover some of the communes of Asson and Lestelle-Bétharram in Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre in Hautes-Pyrénées. They can be explored on foot, by boat, or by a small train.
Asson Zoo
Covering five hectares, Asson zoo displays a zoological collection composed of endangered or unusual species in zoos.
Mountains

The following mountain peaks are found in the commune:[8]

  • The Castet-Ousset (718 metres)
  • The Soum de Camlong (881 metres)
  • The Céberi (891 metres)
  • The Soum d’Arangou (892 metres)
  • The Soum de la Bécole (947 metres)
  • The Pène de la Hèche (1,326 metres)
  • The Toupiettes (1,357 metres)
  • The Soum de Martî-Peyras (1,464 metres)
  • The Soume de Moulle (1,544 metres)
  • The Peak of Monbula (1,583 metres)

Facilities

Asson School

Éducation

Asson has two primary schools (The école du Bourg and the école du Pont Latapie).

Sport

Sports in Asson revolve around the Ladies Handball Championship of France, National 3.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Google Maps
  4. ↑ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - Gave de Pau (Q---0100)".
  5. ↑ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - L'Ouzom (Q48-0400)".
  6. ↑ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - Le Béez (Q50-0400)".
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrénées, Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011 (in French)
  8. 1 2 Géoportail, IGN (in French)
  9. 1 2 Michel Grosclaude, Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, Edicions reclams & Édition Cairn - 2006, 416 pages, ISBN 2 35068 005 3 (in French)
  10. ↑ Pierre de Marca, History of Béarn (in French)
  11. ↑ Manuscript from the 16th to 18th centuries - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  12. ↑ Cartulary of the Bishop of Lescar, published in the proofs of the History of Béarn by Pierre de Marca (in French)
  13. 1 2 Manuscript from the 14th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  14. ↑ Titles of the intendance of Pau - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  15. ↑ Cour Majour of Béarn, register manuscripts from the 15th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  16. ↑ Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (in French)
  17. ↑ Cassini Map 1750 - Asson
  18. ↑ Charter of Emancipation of Asson Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  19. ↑ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  20. ↑ Intercommunality of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Cellule informatique préfecture 64, consulted on 23 April 2012 (in French)
  21. ↑ Pyrénées-Atlantiques, habitants.fr
  22. ↑ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Asson, EHESS (in French).
  23. ↑ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  24. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA64000039 Metallic Glasshouse (in French)
  25. ↑ The Glasshouse on the commune website Archived June 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  26. ↑ The Château of Abère on the commune website Archived December 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  27. ↑ The Church of Saint-Martin on the commune website Archived December 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM64000056 Statue: (in French)
  29. ↑ Asson, Stage of the Chemin du Piémont on the commune website Archived December 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
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