Auga (French pronunciation: [oɡa]; Occitan: Augar) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.

Auga
Countryside in Auga
Countryside in Auga
Location of Auga
Map
Auga is located in France
Auga
Auga
Auga is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Auga
Auga
Coordinates: 43°28′42″N 0°22′50″W / 43.4783°N 0.3806°W / 43.4783; -0.3806
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentPyrénées-Atlantiques
ArrondissementPau
CantonTerres des Luys et Coteaux du Vic-Bilh
IntercommunalityCC Luys en Béarn
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) David Legros[1]
Area
1
4.03 km2 (1.56 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
179
 • Density44/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
64077 /64450
Elevation123–258 m (404–846 ft)
(avg. 160 m or 520 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Auga is located some 20 km north of Pau and 35 km east of Orthez. Access to the commune is by the D40 road which branches off the D944 just south of Méracq and goes south through the length of the commune and the village before continuing to join the D834 near Sauvagnon in the south. The D220 road goes south from the village to Viven. The commune is mostly farmland with scattered forests.[3]

The Pyrénées-Atlantiques Interurban Network bus line has a stop in the commune on route 842 from Malaussanne to Pau.

The Luy de France flows north up the eastern side of the commune and continues north-west to join the Luy de Béarn to form the Luy north-east of Castel-Sarrazin.[3]

Places and hamlets

  • Bidot[4]
  • Bret[5]
  • Castaing
  • Cazenave
  • Claux[6]
  • Grange Haget[7]
  • Haou[8]
  • Laplante
  • Lauroua
  • Maupas
  • Méhil
  • Miraut[9]
  • Moun
  • Pargade[10]
  • Parrot
  • Pellarouy[11]
  • Péruillet

[12]

Neighbouring communes and villages

[3]

Toponymy

The commune name in béarnais is Augar. Michel Grosclaude suggested the etymology is Gascon coming from augar meaning "marshy terrain".[13]

The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.

NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
AugaAlgar11th centuryRaymond
16
Saint-PéVillage
Augar13th centuryRaymond
16
Fors de Béarn
Augaar1385Raymond
16
Census
Augaa1437Raymond
16
Homages
Sent Laurens d'Auguaa1538Raymond
16
Reformation
Augua1544Raymond
16
Reformation
AbescatAbescat1673Raymond
2
ReformationFief under the Viscounts of Béarn
BaradatBaradat1863Raymond
20
Place

Sources:

Origins:

History

Auriol Centulle, third son of Centule IV, Viscount of Béarn, and Angèle d'Oloron, was lord of Clarac, Igon, Baudreix, Boeil, and Auga.

Paul Raymond noted on page 17 of the 1863 dictionary that the commune had two Lay Abbeys, vassals of the Viscounts of Béarn: Abadie-Susan and Abadie-Jusan. In 1385, Auga had 22 fires and depended on the bailiwick of Pau. Auga was also a ruffebaronnie, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn.[14]

The fief of Abescat was also a vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn.

Administration

Auga Village

List of Successive Mayors[19]

FromToNamePartyPosition
19831995Alexis Cassoulet
19952001Michel ChéretPS
20012008Pierre Dubourdieu
20012014Pierre ChéretPSRegional Councillor
20142020Jean-Paul Lacabanne
20202026David Legros

Inter-communality

The commune is part of four inter-communal structures:

  • the Communauté de communes des Luys en Béarn;
  • the AEP association of Arzacq;
  • the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques;
  • the inter-communal association of Aubin-Auga-Doumy-Bournos;

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 153 inhabitants.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 244—    
1800 239−0.30%
1806 266+1.80%
1821 302+0.85%
1831 344+1.31%
1836 318−1.56%
1841 302−1.03%
1846 307+0.33%
1851 323+1.02%
1856 327+0.25%
1861 303−1.51%
1866 285−1.22%
1872 270−0.90%
1876 259−1.03%
1881 245−1.11%
1886 224−1.78%
1891 171−5.26%
1896 168−0.35%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 192+2.71%
1906 190−0.21%
1911 184−0.64%
1921 137−2.91%
1926 134−0.44%
1931 131−0.45%
1936 142+1.63%
1946 148+0.41%
1954 132−1.42%
1962 140+0.74%
1968 138−0.24%
1975 114−2.69%
1982 121+0.85%
1990 136+1.47%
1999 113−2.04%
2007 149+3.52%
2012 141−1.10%
2017 153+1.65%
Source: EHESS[20] and INSEE[21]

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

  • The Haou Blacksmith's House (19th century) [8]
  • A House at Haou (19th century) [22]
  • A Farmhouse at Pellarouy (17th century) [11]
  • A Farmhouse at Pargade (1733) [10]
  • A Farmhouse at Miraut (1830) [9]
  • The Maison Lacabanne Farmhouse at Bret (17th century) [5]
  • The Maison Labescat House (19th century) [23] This was one of the two Lay Abbeys mentioned by Paul Raymond which was rebuilt in the 19th century.
  • A Mill at Grange Haget (1707) [7]
  • The Maison Dubourdieu House (19th century) [24]
  • A Farmhouse at Claux (1780) [6]
  • A Farmhouse at Bidot (1801) [4]
  • The Chateau d'Auga Fourcade fortified chateau (11th century) [25]
  • Houses and Farms (17th-19th centuries) [26]

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint-Laurent

The Parish Church of Saint-Laurent (12th century) is registered as a historical monument.[27]

The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:

  • The Furniture in the Church [28]
  • The Furniture in the Church (Supplementary list) [29]
  • A Painting: Christ on the Cross between the Virgin and Saint Laurent (18th century) [30]
  • Altar, Altar seating, Tabernacle, and 2 Statues (19th century) [31]
  • The Balustrade of the gallery (18th century) [32]

Facilities

Education

Auga has no primary school as it is part of an inter-communal educational regrouping with Aubin, Bournos, and Doumy.

Sports

People from the commune play football at ESBDG (Bournos Doumy Garlède Sports Group)

See also

External links

References