Arhansus

Arhansus is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arhantsusiar or Arhantsusitar.

Geography

Arhansus is located in the [Provinces of France|former Basque language|basque province] of Lower Navarre some 10 km south of Saint-Palais and 8 km north-east of Larceveau-Arros-Cibits. Access to the commune is solely by country roads with at least two country roads connecting the village to the D933 road from Larceveau-Arros-Cibrits to Uhart-Mixe which passes outside and parallel to the western border of the commune. The commune consists almost entirely of farmland with a few small patches of forest.
The Bidouze river forms the western border of the commune flowing north with two small streams rising in the commune and joining it. One stream is the northern border of the commune.

Places and Hamlets

Aguerrengoyhenko Borda
Bidartia
Bordaberria
Carricondoa
Castellu Cahara or Gastelusare
Charcoa
Cuçuluteguia
Elgartia
Etchessaria
Eyhera
Eyheraberria
Goyhenetchea
Haramberria
Harispouria
Hirrundoya
Inchaurrague
Ithurbidia
Larrondoa
Lastapia
Mendionda
Olieta
Portasanse
Solaquia
Uligainia

Toponymy

The commune's name in basque is Arhantsusi. The name is based on the basque radical Arhan-, Arran- from where Arhantz is derived but the etymology "where blackthorn abounds" is uncertain.
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.

Name	Spelling	Date	Source	Page	Origin	Description
Arhansus	Sanctus stephanus de aranchiis	1160	Orpustan	93		Village
	Aranchus	1160	Orpustan	93
	Arhanssus	1291	Orpustan	93
	Eransus	1305	Orpustan	93
	Aransus	1305	Orpustan	93
	Arhansus	1365	Orpustan	93
	Arhansus	1413	Orpustan	93
	Aransus	1513	Raymond	10	Pamplona
	Aransusi	1621	Orpustan	93

L'Eldurne	L'Eldurne	1863	Raymond	58		Stream, tributary of the Bidouze crossing Arhansus

Etchepare	Etchepare	1863	Raymond	63		Fief, under the Kingdom of Navarre

Etcheverry	Etcheverry	1863	Raymond	63		Fief, under the Kingdom of Navarre

Gaztelu Zahar	Gastellusahar	1750	Cassini			Mountain between Arhansus and Juxue
	Gastelluçar	1863	Raymond	68

Sources:

Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan,
Raymond:, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table.
Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750

Origins:

Pamplona: Titles of Pamplona

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

From	To	Name
2001	2014	Marc Arrachou
2014	2026	Christine Erdozaincy-Etchart

Inter-communality

Arhansus is part of seven inter-communal structures:

the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque;
the AEP association of Ostabaret;
the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques;
the inter-communal association for the single purpose of Oztibarre Garbi;
the inter-communal association for the development and management of the slaughterhouse at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port;
the association for the operation of schools in Ostibarret;
the association to support Basque culture.

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 74 inhabitants.

Economy

Economic activity is mainly agricultural. the commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée zone of Ossau-iraty.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

Several sites in Arhansus are registered as historical monuments:

The Protohistoric Camp at Castellu Cahara at an altitude of 361m
A second Protohistoric Camp at Portasanse.
'''Houses and Farms'''

Religious heritage

The Parish Church of Saint-Étienne is registered as an historical monument.
;The Church