Ossès
Encyclopedia : O : OS : OSS : Ossès
| Ossès | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Région | Aquitaine |
| Départment | Pyrénées-Atlantiques |
| Arrondissement | Bayonne |
| Canton | Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry |
| INSEE | 64436 |
| Postal Code | 64780 |
| Mayor Current Term | Martin Elgue 2001-2008 |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes de Garazi-Baïgorri |
| Longitude | 01° 17' 01" W |
| Latitude | 43° 14' 34" N |
| Altitudes | average : 282 m minimum : 101 m maximum : 892 m |
| Area | 42 km² |
| Population without double-counting | 694 inhab. (1999) |
| Population Density | 16 inhab./km² |
Ossès (Basque: Ortzaize) is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département of southwestern France, in the traditional Basque province of Nafarroa Beherea.
Geography
Ossès is located some 13km north west of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is surrounded by low hills in the Ossès valley, a part of the valley of the river Nive, home of the pottok, the wild Basque horse. The surrounding countryside is considered very beautiful, with several trails, long-distance walks and picnic sites. The air was described as coming 'straight from heaven' by a local poet.
Nearest places
History
The village was under the authority of the Dukes of Gascogne, then of Aquitaine, but was passed to the Kingdom of Navarre with the marriage of Princess Berengaria of Navarre, daughter of King Sancho the Wise, to Richard the Lionheart in 1191.
Ossès had the status of a county but lost this after the French Revolution.
Sights
The village has a splendid 16th century church, St-Julien, with a unique heptagonal tower, a famous altarpiece and a pelota fronton forming one of its walls. The graveyard has a small number of stone Basque crosses. There are several traditional Basque houses around the square, characterised by their pink sandstone lintels and half-timbers, including the 1628 Maison Sastriarena, where the Bishops of Bayonne were entertained, and the Maison Harizmendi, where the prelate who married Louis XIV and Maria Theresa stayed in 1660 on his way to the wedding party. The old laundry building has also been preserved.
Economy
The well-known Irouléguy wine and Ossau-Iraty cheese are produced in the area, with tourism, crafts and agriculture key parts of the local economy.
Transportation
Ossès-Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa is a station on the railway line between Bayonne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with several services each day. It is 1km from the village. A bus to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry connects with the rail service.
Miscellaneous
The village festival is on the second Sunday in September.
External link
- [ORTZAIZE in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)] (in Spanish)
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