Banca, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Banca (French pronunciation: [bɑ̃ka]; Basque: Banka)[3] is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.[4] It is part of the former province of Lower Navarre.[3]
Banca Banka | |
|---|---|
A general view of Banca | |
Banca Banca | |
| Coordinates: 43°07′39″N 1°22′23″W / 43.1275°N 1.3731°W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Pyrénées-Atlantiques |
| Arrondissement | Bayonne |
| Canton | Montagne Basque |
| Intercommunality | CA Pays Basque |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Michel Oçafrain[1] |
| Area 1 | 49.60 km2 (19.15 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 351 |
| • Density | 7.1/km2 (18/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 64092 /64430 |
| Elevation | 231–1,275 m (758–4,183 ft) (avg. 522 m or 1,713 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Banca is part of Pays Quint (Kintoa in Basque or Quinto Real in Spanish),[5] an area of pasture area which belongs to Spain but is cultivated by French farmers.
Geography edit
Banca is located in the Aldudes valley on the banks of the Nive des Aldudes some 15 km south-west of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The western and eastern borders of the commune are the national frontier between France and Spain. Access to the commune is by the D948 road from Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry in the north which passes through the commune and the village and continues south-west to Aldudes. There are no crossing points in the commune to Spain. The commune is mainly rugged alpine pastures.[6]
Hydrography edit
The Nive des Aldudes flows from Aldudes in the south-west, gathering tributaries such as the Antchignoko Erreka, the Ruisseau d'Hayra, the Latcharrako Erreka, and the Belechiko Erreka on the northern border, and continues north-east to join the Nive south of Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa. The Ruisseau d'Hayra rises in the south of the commune and flows north gathering tributaries such as the Lehaltzarteko Erreka, the Caminarteko Erreka, and the Legarzuko Erreka to join the Nive des Aldudes near the village.[6]
Places and Hamlets edit
- Achistoy
- Agnesto
- Amosta
- Antcharteko Borda
- Antcheigno
- Antcholako Etchola
- Antonénéa
- Apialépoa
- Ardaza
- Argaray
- Argaray (wood)
- Arrabit
- Array
- Artéko Borda
- Asundreykoborda
- Atchaurra
- Ausquiénéa
- Barberaénéa
- Barnetchia
- Basoritz
- Beguibelcha
- Behostemetaka
- Berginanto
- Berhain (pass)
- Betripeillonénéa
- Betrizina
- Bichar
- Bidabéheréa
- Bihurrieta
- Bordacharréa
- Bustanénéa
- Cardinalia
- Carminatéko Borda
- Chabukody Lépoa
- Champagne
- Chanchoénéa
- Changala[7]
- Chaochako Kaskoa
- Chasperro
- Chinta
- Chiriatéguia
- Chuhy
- Churritcheguy
- Cocagaïchto
- Colomio
- Curutcheko Kaskoa
- Curutchetako Borda
- Dartépé
- Dominé
- Ehuntzaroy (pass, 971m)[8]
- Elhorrieta (pass, 831m)[8]
- Elichaldia
- Erdizako Borda
- Erreguéréa
- Errekaénéa
- Erremerreka
- Errolako Ithurria
- Esculeguy
- Etcheberria
- Eyhérazaïna
- Eyhérazaïnako Borda>
- Fagaldénéa
- Galant
- Gathuly Béhéréa[8]
- Gathulyko Ithurria[8]
- Gnafarénéa
- Gnimigno
- Golko
- Golomio Ithurria
- Goroldi
- Gorria[9]
- Gosnaisto
- Guichonaenea[10]
- Guildeizar
- Guzmuztiko Borda
- Halzéta
- Harguintoa
- Harrigaitzeko Kaskoa
- Harrigorri
- Harzia
- Hauzay
- Hayra
- Hayra (forest)[8]
- Hayra Sar
- Hortz Zorrotz (rocks)
- Ilharragorria
- Ilharragorrikomalda
- Indiano
- Iramebako Borda
- Iramehaca
- Irausta
- Ithurrialde Béhéréa
- Ithurrialde Garaya
- Jaureguibeheréa
- Joanes Ederra
- Jokutako Lépoa
- Katchaenéa
- Labaquia
- Lechéa
- Legarzuko Borda
- Legaza (mill)
- Lehaltzarte
- Lekayoénéa
- Lepeder
- Lepobelcha
- Lezetako Lépoa
- Lindus[8][11]
- Manechénéa
- Maneixhandy
- Marieyhéra
- Maristola Ithurria
- Maritcho
- Marmaroa
- Martinbelchénéa
- Matchin Ithurria
- Meharroztegui (pass, 738m)[8]
- Mehatzé (pass, 1133m)
- Menta
- Minchendo
- Mizpira (pass, 832m)[8]
- Mizparachar (pass, 1139m)[8]
- Moroinborda
- Mutikoénéa
- Musquet
- Ohakoa
- Olapideko Etchola
- Olhaberrieta
- Ondarlako Ithurria
- Orkastia
- Otsachar
- Otsahartéa
- Otsarrapeguy
- Otsartéa
- Oyhançaro
- Pago Zelhay (pass, 888m)
- Peilloénéa
- Peilloeneko Borda
- Petanénéa
- Petechaénéa
- Premonio
- Tchipitcho Etchola
- Teylary or Nahala (pass, 932m)
- Tipitto
- Todoria
- Turitchia
- Uhaillen Borda
- Uhaldéa
- Urbaztarréa
- Urlabéhéréa
- Urlagaraya
- Urritzolahandiko Etchola
- Uzkalépoa
- Zaku
- Zakuko Borda
- Zubiarin
- Zubiarinzahar
- Zumazoko
Climate edit
| Climate data for Banca, Pyrénées-Atlantiques (1981–2010 averages, extremes 1949–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 33.0 (91.4) | 35.0 (95.0) | 36.5 (97.7) | 41.4 (106.5) | 40.9 (105.6) | 42.6 (108.7) | 37.5 (99.5) | 35.0 (95.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 24.0 (75.2) | 42.6 (108.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 12.3 (54.1) | 15.3 (59.5) | 16.9 (62.4) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.9 (75.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 23.7 (74.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 14.1 (57.4) | 11.5 (52.7) | 18.4 (65.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) | 7.6 (45.7) | 10.0 (50.0) | 11.5 (52.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 18.1 (64.6) | 20.1 (68.2) | 20.3 (68.5) | 17.7 (63.9) | 14.5 (58.1) | 9.9 (49.8) | 7.6 (45.7) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.7 (40.5) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.3 (48.7) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.3 (57.7) | 14.5 (58.1) | 11.8 (53.2) | 9.5 (49.1) | 5.7 (42.3) | 3.8 (38.8) | 8.2 (46.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.6 (9.3) | −13.0 (8.6) | −8.5 (16.7) | −2.5 (27.5) | 1.0 (33.8) | 3.0 (37.4) | 6.2 (43.2) | 3.5 (38.3) | 1.0 (33.8) | −1.5 (29.3) | −7.7 (18.1) | −9.7 (14.5) | −13.0 (8.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 187.6 (7.39) | 159.5 (6.28) | 158.6 (6.24) | 181.2 (7.13) | 131.5 (5.18) | 84.4 (3.32) | 74.9 (2.95) | 84.4 (3.32) | 115.3 (4.54) | 152.9 (6.02) | 212.5 (8.37) | 201.6 (7.94) | 1,744.4 (68.68) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.4 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 14.8 | 13.2 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 12.3 | 13.0 | 13.3 | 142.1 |
| Source: Meteo France[13] | |||||||||||||
Toponymy edit
The commune name in Basque is Banka.[3][14]
For John-Baptiste Orpustan, the origin of the name Banca can have two interpretations: one lent from the Spanish banco designating the bench on which money was exchanged (which gave the French word banque which gave the English bank) or two from bancs de pierre (stone benches).
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
| Name | Spelling | Date | Source | Page | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banca | La Fonderie | 1750 | Cassini | Village | ||
| Lafonderie | 1793 | Ldh/EHESS/Cassini | ||||
| Banca | 1832 | Orpustan | ||||
| Bihuntzeguiko erreka | Bihuncéguy | 1863 | Raymond | 31 | Stream rising in Banca and joining the Nive at Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry | |
| Churitcha | Le Col de Churitcha | 1863 | Raymond | 50 | Mountain Pass on the Spanish border | |
| Ehuntzaroy | Le Col d'Éhunsaroy | 1863 | Raymond | 58 | Mountain Pass on the Spanish border | |
| Elhorietta | Le Col d'Elhoriéta | 1863 | Raymond | 58 | Mountain Pass on the Spanish border | |
| Gathuly | Gathuly | 1863 | Raymond | 68 | Mountain on the border with Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry | |
| Forêt d'Hayra | Hayra | 1863 | Raymond | 76 | Forest shared with Urepel | |
| Lindus | Lindux | 1863 | Raymond | 102 | Mountain (1220m) on the Spanish border | |
| Meharroztegui | Le Col de Méharoztéguy | 1863 | Raymond | 111 | Mountain pass to Aldudes | |
| Mehatzé | Le Col de Méhatcé | 1863 | Raymond | 111 | Mountain pass to Spain | |
| Mizpira | Le Col de Mizpira | 1863 | Raymond | 114 | Mountain pass to Aldudes | |
| Mizpirachar | Mizpirachar | 1863 | Raymond | 114 | Mountain on the Spanish border |
Sources:
- Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy[15]
- Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750[16]
- Ldh/EHESS/Cassini: Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Banca, EHESS (in French).
- Raymond: Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. (in French)[8]
History edit
Banca owes its origin to the revival in the 18th century of the copper mines which had operated in ancient times. Banca was known as Le Fonderie (The Foundry) until the 19th century" and, under the Ancien Régime, it was a hamlet or district under the parish of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry. It was not made a commune until 1793 under the same name, then in 1874 it was renamed "Banca". The remains of a large forge, a steel foundry started in 1828 on the site of the former copper smelter, stands at the entrance of the village on the banks of the Nive des Aldudes. The most visible element is a blast furnace in good condition.
The first armed action by Iparretarrak took place in Banca on 11 December 1973.
Administration edit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2021) |
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2001 | Gratien Arambel |
| 2001 | 2008 | Dominique Etcheverry |
| 2008 | 2026 | Michel Oçafrain |
Inter-communality edit
The commune is part of four inter-communal structures:
- the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque;
- the inter-communal association for the development and management of the slaughterhouse in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port;
- the association to support Basque culture.
- the joint association for the drainage basin of the Nive;
Demography edit
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bankars.[18][14]
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| Source: EHESS[19] and INSEE[20] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Economy edit
The copper/silver mines and the associated smelter reached their peak in the middle of the 18th century and the forge, with its blast furnace, was in operation from 1828 to 1861.
Economic activity is now mainly agricultural. The town is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) zone of Ossau-iraty.
Culture and heritage edit
Civil heritage edit
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
- The Banca Mine on D948 (19th century). [21] These remains are at the northern entrance of the village including a blast furnace. The supply canal is fed by the waters of the Nive captured upstream and turn a wheel of a blower machine which injected air at the base of the blast furnace through two nozzles. The adjacent building, still dominated by the canal, housed the forge fires and hammers to make cast iron and a splitting mill for splitting iron bars.
- Houses and Farms (19th century) [22]
- The Redoubt of Lindus (1813). [11] This redoubt was used during the Franco-Spanish War 1813–1814.
- The Gorria Farmhouse (now a Stable) (18th century) [9]
- The Gixonaenea Farmhouse (1808) [10]
- The Xangala Farmhouse (19th century) [7]
Religious heritage edit
- The Parish Church of Saint Peter (19th century) is registered as an historical monument.[23]
Environmental heritage edit
- The Petechanea Gallery (0.1 hectares) is one of the locations of the regional conservatory of natural areas of the Pyrenees.
- Mountain Peaks[12]
- Mount Harrigorry 806 m
- Munhogain 853 m
- Otsamunho 901 m
- Errola 908 m
- Abraku 1003 m
- Ichtauz 1024 m
- Antchola 1119 m
- Mehatzé 1209 m
- Lindus 1220 m
- Mendimotcha 1224 m
- Aurigna 1278 m
Facilities edit
Education edit
The commune has a primary school.
Sports edit
There is a Fronton traversed by a road.
See also edit
Bibliography edit
- Mines and Metallurgical Establishments of Banca, dir. P. Machot, J&D, Biarritz, Izpegi, Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, 1995, 306 p. (in French)
- Pierre Machot and Gilles Parent, "Mines and Metallurgy in the Valley of Baïgorry", in The Valley of Baïgorry, Éditions Izpegi, reprinted in 2002 (in French)
- Gilles Parent, "The handiwork of the Copper Foundry of Banca in the 18th century" in Revue d'Histoire Industrielle des Pyrénées Occidentales, No. 2, 2007, p. 143–222, Éditions Izpegi (in French)
References edit
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b c BANKA, Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia (in Spanish)
- ^ INSEE commune file
- ^ Pays Quint on French Wikipedia (in French)
- ^ a b c Banca on Google Maps
- ^ a b Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000405 Xangala Farmhouse (in French)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, Paul Raymond, Imprimerie nationale, 1863, Digitised from Lyon Public Library 15 June 2011 (in French)
- ^ a b Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000461 Gorria Farmhouse (in French)
- ^ a b Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000460 Gixonaenea Farmhouse (in French)
- ^ a b Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000462 Redoubt of Lindus (in French)
- ^ a b Banca on the Géoportail from National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
- ^ (PDF). Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ a b Euskaltzaindia - Academy of the Basque language (in Spanish)
- ^ Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy, Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2006, ISBN 2 86781 396 4, p. 165 (in French)
- ^ la Fonderie on the 1750 Cassini Map
- ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
- ^ Pyrénées-Atlantiques, habitants.fr
- ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Banca, EHESS (in French).
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA64000003 Banca Mine (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000488 Houses and Farms (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA64000404 Parish Church of Saint Peter (in French)