Balaguères (; ) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.
Geography Balaguères is located some 4 km north-east of Audressein 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. 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 Audressein. 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
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 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 in the 12th century together with Engomer, Montgauch, Bareilles, and Mauvezin de Prat. This lordship became a powerful Barony in the Middle Ages. 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 ordered the purchase of 18 parishes that had been committed in 1642 and 1643. They all returned to the Crown lands of France. Later, however, some were sold again (Castelbiague, Pointis-Inard, Alas-Agert-Balagué). Others remained in paréageA feudal contract between two or more lords giving them equal rights with the king: Affis (His), Arbas, Ganties, 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 MayorsList of Mayors of France
From To Name 1792 1793 François Antras 1793 1795 Joseph Anglade 1795 1798 Raymond Cheil 1798 1800 François Cazale 1800 1815 Joseph de Castet 1815 1818 Raymond Cheil 1818 1821 Raymond Roque 1821 1822 Joseph de Castet 1822 1830 Guillaume Joseph de Castet 1830 1835 Joseph Charles Arnaudi 1835 1837 Joseph Loze 1837 1840 Raymond Arasse 1840 1848 Antoine Cabau 1848 1853 Jean Saint-Martin 1853 1861 Raymond Roque 1861 1908 Maurice Morere 1908 1912 Raymond Anere 1912 1914 Henry Morere 1914 1919 François Gradit 1919 1920 Henry Morere 1920 1925 François Gradit 1925 1929 Pierre Lafont 1929 1936 Joseph Anglade
Mayors from 1936
From To Name 1936 1944 Jean Arasse 1944 1966 Pierre Founeau 1966 1977 Joseph Tignous 1977 2020 Henri Anrieu 2020 2026 Jean-Claude Roques
Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balaguérois or Balaguéroises in French.Le nom des habitants du 09 - Ariège, habitants.fr
Culture and heritage
Cultural distinctions Balaguères is one of the communes that have received the Esperanto Green Star, a distinction awarded to mayors of communes who identify with the speakers of the constructed language of Esperanto.
Balaguères was one of the filming locations for the film: The Return of Martin Guerre in 1982 with Nathalie Baye, Gérard Depardieu, and Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu.
Religious heritage The Church of Agert contains two items that are registered as historical objects: A Ciborium (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chalice (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Church of Alas contains four items that are registered as historical objects: A Ciborium (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Framed Painting: The Virgin and child donating a rosary to Saints Dominic and Catherine of Sienna (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chalice with Paten (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Confessional (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Environmental heritage The Réseau Paloume, a natural cavity at more than 750 m altitude.
See also Communes of the Ariège department
Notes
References
External links Balaguères on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Balagué, Agert, and Alas on the 1750 Cassini Map