Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France.
The people of the commune are known as Ahastar.Brigitte Jobbé-Duval, Dictionary of country names - Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 2009, Ed. Archives and Culture,
Geography
Location Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is part of Cize/Garazi country which was a historical province in Lower Navarre. It includes three former parishes, sometimes counted as four groups of houses in the Middle Ages and with five toponyms: Alciette, Ahaxe, Garatehegi, Ligeta, and Bascassan located at the confluence of the Laurhibar and Esteneko streams.
Alciette is the parish farthest away to the northeast in the combination of the three parishes.
Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is located some 6 km south-east of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and can be accessed by Highway D18 running from close to there through the heart of the commune southeast to Lecumberry. The village is not on the highway and is left onto the country road Vierge-d'Ahaxe off the D18 heading southeast. There is a country road from Aincille in the west to the village of Bascassin in the commune and there are other country roads entering from the north and the southeast.Google Maps
Hydrography The commune is located in the Drainage basin of the Adour, the commune lands are watered by the Laurhibar, a tributary of the Nive, and a tributary of that, the Esteneko stream. The Apatéko stream, a tributary of the Arzubiko stream also crosses the territory of Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan.
Localities and hamlets
Aguerréa Ahatsaxilo (former parish) Ahaxamendy Ahaxe Alciette Bascassan Bastida Bernetcheko Borda Bidartéa Bordes (2 places) Buirguista Buluntza Chilinchabidéa Chilo Curutchet (or Garat) Dorrea Errékaldéa Erromatéguia (2 places) Etcheverria Garatehegi Garatéko Eyhéra Gastelua Gastalepo Haraune Harguindéguia Idioinea Irahane Iriberria Irigaraya Irustikoborda Italatzé Kapila Larluzia Libiéta Lietamendy Ligeta Olherry Orido Ospitaletchia Sagardoyguibel Seineguy Uhaïtzia Urrutia
Géoportail, IGN
Toponymy The commune's name in Basque is Ahatsa-Alzieta-Baskazane.AHATSA-ALZIETA-BASKAZANE, Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia
Ahaxe The toponym Ahaxe appears in the forms:
Hatce (1167)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Fax (1194)Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy, Ed. Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2006, , page 140 domine de ahacha (1194) Assa, Aassa, and Hassa (1249) Ahatxa (1300) Ahaxa (1302Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011, p. 3 Chapter of BayonneChapter of Bayonne - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques ) Haxa and Ahaxe (1304) Axa (1309 and 1350) Hatxa (1350) Hadssa (1366) Ahtxe (1703), Visits of BayonneManuscript of the 18th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Sanctus Julianus Ahaxe (1757, Diocese of Bayonne collectionsManuscripts from the 17th to the 18th centuries - Departmental Archives of des Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
Jean-Baptiste Orpustan indicates that the toponym comes from the Basque oronymic base of (h)aitz meaning "rock" or "height".
The people of the commune are called in Basque Ahatsar.
Alciette The toponym Alciette appears in the forms:
Alsuete (1249) La Grange Alsuete (1302,Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 4 Chapter of Bayonne) Alçueta (1305) Alzueta (1513, Titles of PamplonaTitles published by don José Yanguas y Miranda ) Alçuete and Alçueta (1350)) Alchuete (1387) Alchuette (1387) Alçueta (1621, Martin BiscayDerecho de naturaleza que la merindad de San-Juan-del-pie-del-puerto, una de las seys de Navarra, tiene en Castilla - 1622 petit in-4° ) Alsiette (1667, regulations of the States of NavarreCollection of manuscripts in 11 volumes of deliberations (1606 to 1789) - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques )
The Basque name for the people of this area is Alzietar.
According to Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, Alciette is derived from the medieval Alzueta which itself comes from the Basque alzu meaning "place where there are abundant alder trees".
Bascassan The name Bascassan appears in the forms: Bazquazen (1208) Bascaçen (1292) Bascacen (1350)) Bazcacen (1366)) Basquacen (1413)) Bazcacen (1513,Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 22 Titles of Pamplona) Vazquacen (1613) Vazcazen and Vazaçan (1621 Martin Biscay) Bascassan (1789)
Its origin is uncertain. The people of the area are called Bazkazandar in basque.
Ahaxachillo is mentioned in the 1863 dictionary.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 3 )
Bastida is also indicated by Raymond.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 23
Errékaldéa is mentioned with the spelling Errecaldia referring to the flowing stream of Bascassan flowing into the Laurhibar.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 59
Curutchet Curutchet (also called Garat) was a former fief of Ahaxe, a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 54 & 67
Etcheverria Paul Raymond mentioned an Etcheberry, a fief located in the parish of Alciette and a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 63
Garatehegi The name Garatehegi appears in the forms: Garateguia (1350) sent jullian et garateheguj (1366) la parropie de garatehegi (1413) Garatteguy (1518,Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 67 Titles of Pamplona) Garatéhéguy (1708, Regulation of the commander of IrissarryRegulations of the commandery of Irissarry - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques ) Garateguy (1863)
Garatehegi from Basque means "summit of the high country".
Gastelua Gastelua appears with the spelling Gastellu in 1863.Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 68
Libiéta Libiéta is a toponym that appears in the forms: Libiet (1621,Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, p. 101 Martin Biscay) Libiette (1789)
Ligeta Ligeta is mentioned in the forms: Lagueta (1264) Ligueta (1307) Liguete (1350), 1366, and 1413).
The origin of this toponym could be the Latin Liger (which was equally likely to be the origin of Loire).
History The Lordship of Ahaxe, also called the Lordship of Cize, was allied with the Viscounts of Arbéroue in the 11th century as well as the lordships of Guiche and to the Counts of Biscay.
Ahaxe and Alciette-Bascassan were reunited on 11 June 1842.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors of Ahaxe-Alciette-BascassanList of Mayors of France From To Name Party 1995 2008 Simone Ithurbide 2008 2026 Jean-Paul Bidart DVD
Inter-communality The commune belongs to seven inter-communal structures:Intercommunality of Pyrénées-Atlantiques , Cellule informatique préfecture 64, consulted on 9 November 2011 the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque; the AEP union of Ahaxe-Lecumberry-Mendive; the energy union of Pyrenees-Atlantiques; the RPI (Intercommunal Education) union Hergaray; the inter-communal union for the development and management of the abattoir of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port; the joint association for the watershed of the Nive; the union to support Basque culture.
Population
Economy Economic activity is mainly agricultural. The commune is part of the zone designation of the Ossau-Iraty cheese.
Culture and heritage
Languages According to the Map of the Seven Basque Provinces published in 1863 by Prince Louis-Lucien Bonaparte, the Basque dialect spoken in Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is eastern low Navarrese.
Civil heritage There is a gaztelu zahar (a prehistoric fortified complex) at a place called Gaztalepo (Ahaxe), located 550 metres above sea level. There is also a lice or a fence surrounding a fortification running at 313 metres above sea level at a place called Gaztelua or Gastellia. These artifacts represent the ancient past of the commune.
There are several buildings, houses, and farms in the commune that are listed as historical monuments. These are: Houses and Farms (17th - 19th centuries)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Kapila HouseMinistry of Culture, Mérimée Idioinea farm (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Gohonetxea farm (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Château Saint-Julien (12th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
Religious Heritage A number of churches and sites in the commune have been classified as historical monuments. These are: Parish Church of Saint Julien of Antioch (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The cemetery contains a remarkable collection of Hilarri.
Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (12th century).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The chapel contains several historical objects: Pulpit (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 2 Benches (17th & 18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Main Altar, Retable and 4 Candlesticks (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Secondary Altar. Retable, 2 Candlesticks (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Baptismal fonts (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Ceiling (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Statue: Baby Jesus (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Processional Cross (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (Interior Decor)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Former benoîterie of Bascassan (18th century).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Former benoîterie of Bascassan garden.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (17th century).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The church contains a number of historical objects. These are: 2 Altars, 2 Retables, 2 Paintings, 4 Candlesticks (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Baptismal fonts (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Pulpit (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Processional Cross (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Bronze Bell (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (Interior and Cemetery)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Cemetery Cross of Ahaxe (1827)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
Facilities The commune has a kindergarten.
See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
References
External links Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Ahaxe, Alciette, and Bascassan on the 1750 Cassini Map