La Bastide-de-Besplas () is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.INSEE commune file
Geography La Bastide-de-Besplas is an old Bastide in the Massif de Plantaurel some 50 km south by south-west of Toulouse and 20 km west by north-west of Pamiers. Both the northern and southern borders of the commune are the departmental border with Haute-Garonne. Access to the commune is by the D628 from Montesquieu-Volvestre in the north-west which passes through the centre of the commune and the village and continues south-east to Daumazan-sur-Arize. The D326 branches off the D628 in the commune and goes north to join the D408 north of the commune. The commune is mostly farmland interspersed with some forest.
The Arize river flows through the centre of the commune and the village flowing from south-east to north-west where it continues to join the Garonne at Carbonne. The TaiVades stream rises in the north of the commune and flows north-west forming part of the northern border before joining the Arize on the commune border. The Ruisseau de Bergou forms the south-eastern border as it flows south-west to join the Arize. The Ruisseau d'Argain forms the southern border of the commune as it flows east to join the Arize in Daumazan-sur-Arize commune.
History La Bastide-de-Besplas appears as la Bafude de Besplas on the 1750 Cassini Map and as la Bailute on the 1790 version.
Administration
List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name 2001 2014 Jean-Pierre Bernabé 2014 2020 Nicolas Gareia 2020 2026 Dominique Antolini
Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Besplasois or Besplasoises in French.Inhabitants of Ariège
Culture and heritage
Religious heritage The Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-pont (1663) is registered as an historical monument.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
The Chapel contains many items that are registered as historical objects: A Commemorative plaque (1728)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Ceiling Mural (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statue: Christ on the Cross (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Retable (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
The Parish Church also contains many items that are registered as historical objects: A Painting: The beheading of Saint John the Baptist (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bronze Bell (1410)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statue: Saint Louis (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statue: Virgin and child (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statue: Saint John the Baptist (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chalice (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy An Offering Cross (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chalice (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Notable people linked to the commune
Louis Astre, French trade unionist, born in the commune, where his parents were teachers, and spent his early years there. Henri Cuq, French Politician Abbot Casy Rivière
See also Communes of the Ariège department
References