Baleix is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
Geography Baleix is located in the Montanérès overlooking the Lées Valley some 26 km north-east of Pau and 10 km south of Lembeye. Access to the commune is by the D7 road from Saint-Jammes in the west which passes through the length of the commune and the village and continues east to Casteide-Doat. The D145 comes from Lespourcy in the south-west and passes through the village to continue north to Anoye. Apart from the village there is also the hamlet of Tisné north-east of the village. The commune is mostly farmland with a few scattered small forests.Google Maps
The Lées flows through the east of the commune from the south and continues north to join the Adour near Aire-sur-l'Adour. The Petit Lées comes from the south and flows north-east through the commune to join the Lées.
Places and hamlets
Balespouey Baradat Berbouly Capcazaux Capsus (land) Castille La Caussade Clos Dujardin Guilhas Hourpelat Jeandavid Jouanolou La Moulère Noau Pucheu Puyo Sarthou Tisné Trémoulets Vignau
Neighbouring communes and villages
Toponymy Michel Grosclaude said that etymologically the name comes from the Gascon Balèch meaning "plateau".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
Name Spelling Date Source Page Origin Description Baleix Bales 11th century Raymond Lescar Village Balas 12th century Raymond Marca Balestoos 13th century Raymond Fors de Béarn Baleixs 1385 Raymond Census Balesie 1402 Raymond Census Baleyxs 1538 Raymond Reformation Balechs 1538 Raymond Reformation Balex 1548 Raymond Reformation Baleix 1750 Cassini Abarades Abarades 1863 Raymond Place Abats Abats 1863 Raymond Place Les Artics Les Articqs 1769 Raymond Terrier Place La Bielle La Bielle 1863 Raymond Place La Haille Hailhe 1769 Raymond Terrier Place La Lanusse La Lanusse 1863 Raymond Place Peyreblanque Peyreblanque 1863 Raymond Place Le Pimi Lou Pimy 1769 Raymond Terrier Hamlet Les Plagnius Plagniux 1769 Raymond Terrier Place Le Plagniu 1769 Raymond Terrier Raguette Raguet 1769 Raymond Terrier Place Trémoulets Le Trémoulet 1863 Raymond Place Le Turocq de Naudy Le Turocq de Naudy 1769 Raymond Terrier Place La Turrecolle La Turequolle 1769 Raymond Terrier Place La Vignasse La Vignasse 1863 Raymond Place
Sources: 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, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011 Grosclaude: Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, 2006 Michel Grosclaude, Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, Edicions reclams & Édition Cairn - 2006, 416 pages, Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750Cassini Map 1750 – Baleix
Origins: Lescar: Cartulary of LescarCartulary of the Bishop of Lescar, published in the proofs of the History of Béarn by Pierre de Marca Marca: Pierre de Marca, History of Béarn.Pierre de Marca, Histoire de Bearn, La Veuve Jean Camusat, 1640, 850 pages Fors de BéarnManuscript from the 14th century - Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Census: Census of Béarn Terrier: The Terrier of Baleix.Manuscript from the 18th century in the Departmental Archives of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
History Paul Raymond noted on page 20 of his 1863 dictionary that in 1385 there were 22 fires and it depended on the bailiwick of Pau. Baleix fief was subject to the Viscounts of Béarn.
The commune has long been occupied as evidenced by the discovery of a fortified camp surrounded by a moat with visible remains of earthworks.
During the medieval period the commune was a member of the Commandery of the Order of Malta of Caubin and Morlaàs.
Administration
List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name 1995 2001 Jean Balespouey 2001 2008 Gérard Balespouey 2008 2026 Vincent Roustaa
Inter-communality The commune is part of four inter-communal structures: the Communauté de communes du Nord-Est Béarn; the SIVOM of the Canton of Montaner; the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques; the inter-communal association for the supply of drinking water Luy-Gabas-Lees;
Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baleichois or Baleichoises in French.Pyrénées-Atlantiques, habitants.fr
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: A Farmhouse at Sarthou (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A House at Jean David (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A House at Castille (1623)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Bourdallé House (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Coulomé Farmhouse (1789)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Bélengou House (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Arnautou House at Clos (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Houses and Farms (17th-19th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
Religious heritage
The Parish Church of Saint-Martin (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.
See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
Bibliography Archaeological Map of Gaul, Archaeological pre-inventory published under the responsibility of Michel Provost, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
References
External links
Baleix on the 1750 Cassini Map