Baliracq-Maumusson


Baliracq-Maumusson is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
WWW baliracq.fr

Geography

Baliracq-Maumusson is located some 45 km east by north-east of Orthez and 20 km south of Aire-sur-l'Adour. Access to the commune is by the D211 road from Lannecaube in the south which passes through the length of the commune along the eastern side to join the D41 just north of the commune. Access to the village of Baliracq is by Le Moulin road branching from the D211. The commune is mixed forest and farmland.
The Lées river forms the eastern border of the commune as it flows north to join the Adour near Aire-sur-l'Adour. The Gabassot forms the northern border of the commune as it flows east into the Lées. Two other streams rise in the commune and flow into the Lées.

Places and hamlets

  • Arnathau
  • Baliracq
  • Bitaillou
  • Bouquehort
  • Bourdé
  • Campagne
  • Castéra
  • Crédey
  • Florence
  • Gayas
  • Hau
  • Hilletou
  • La Hount
  • Lafon
  • Lanne
  • Laroujat
  • Lescribau
  • Maufinet
  • Maumusson
  • Miqueu
  • Mombet
  • Moncade
  • Mounicou
  • Mourette
  • Naba
  • Pédeuboscq
  • Pédélatour
  • Pillou
  • Pourrio
  • Sansot
  • Tardan

Toponymy

According to Michel Grosclaude the name Baliracq probably came from a Latin man's name Valerus with the Gallo-Roman suffix -acum giving the "Domain of Valerus". For Maumusson he proposed a Gascon man's name: the nickname mau meaning "bad" combined with mus meaning "nose" and the suffix -on giving "unfriendly" or "sullen".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
BaliracqSaint-Félix de Balirac10th centuryRaymond20MarcaVillage
Vallirag1100Grosclaude
Valliracum1100Grosclaude
Balirag1443Raymond20Carresse
Baliracq1750Cassini
Balirac1801Ldh/EHESS/CassiniBulletin des lois
Balirac1863Raymond20
MaumussonMaumusson1750CassiniVillage
Maumussou1774Raymond110Terrier
CastéraCasterar1542Raymond44ReformationFarm

Sources:
  • Raymond:, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table.
  • Grosclaude: Toponymic Dictionary of communes, Béarn, 2006
  • Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750
  • Ldh/EHESS/Cassini:
Origins:
  • Marca: Pierre de Marca, History of Béarn.
  • Carresse:
  • Terrier: Terrier of Baliracq, E 177
  • Reformation: Reformation of Béarn

History

Paul Raymond noted on page 20 of his 1863 dictionary that Baliracq was a vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn.
The communes of Baliracq and Maumusson were merged in 1828.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToName
17921795Jean Sansot
17921796Pierre Sartou
17951797Jean Sarraille
17961797Jacques Monsegu-Castera
17971798Raymond Peyroutel
17971798Pierre Sartou
17981803Jean Sarraille
17981799Pierre Miqueu
17991805Pierre Boucahort
18031826Germain Florence
18051808Pascal Florence
18081809Jean Borie
18091811Jean Manaud
18111812Jean Borie
18121813Fils Lescriba
18131817Jean Borie
18171821Jean Manaud
18211835Jean Fils Manaud
18351837Jean Pierre Sarthou
18371840Adrien Alexandre de Malden
18411848Jean Manaud
18481882Henry Croedey
18821888Pierre Mirande
18881894Jean Sansous
18941896Bernard Castet
18961900Jean Sansous
19001925Charles Sansous
19251929Jacques Cassoulong
19291933Max Croedey

;Mayors from 1933
FromToName
19331944Jacques Cassoulong
19441944Charles Honoré
19441947Jean Barreyat
19471989Albert Sansous
19892014Yvan Duviau
20142026Sylvain Sergent

Inter-communality

The commune is part of six inter-communal structures:

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baliracois or Baliracoises in French.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
  • A Mill at Baliracq
  • A Farmhouse at Baliracq-Bouquehort
  • The Coussié House at Maumusson-Tardan
  • The Castéra House at Baliracq-Castéra
  • The Lafon House at Maumusson-Crédey
  • The Sansot House at Maumusson-Sansot
  • The Chateau de Milly at Maumusson-Florence
  • Houses and Farms
  • A Fortified Area
  • A Fortified Complex. At a place called Castera the topography has been visibly altered by the hand of man as evidenced by the presence of an ancient fortified complex with major embankments and a circular walkway which is still visible. This could be for high wooden stakes joined together because no stone remains have been found. The works could therefore date to the high Middle Ages although there could be prehistoric remains.

Religious heritage

The Parish Church of Saint Peter is registered as an historical monument. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects: