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Goust

May 11, 2024

Goust is a French hamlet in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. At some point in the 19th century, folklore began to describe it as an independent Republic.[1] Noted for its centenarians, one pensioner was reported to have reached the age of 123,[2][3] although this is unconfirmed.

Goust
Hamlet
"Old houses in the village of Goust" (early 1900s postcard)
Goust
Coordinates: 42°57′N 00°27′W / 42.950°N 0.450°W / 42.950; -0.450
CountryFrance
RegionAquitaine
DepartmentPyrénées-Atlantiques
ArrondissementOloron-Sainte-Marie
CantonOloron-Sainte-Marie-2
CommuneLaruns
Area
 • Total2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)

Geography edit

 
1853 view of Goust and the Pont d'Enfer

Goust is located on the territory of the commune of Laruns. It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern (upper) end of the valley of the Gave d'Ossau in the Western Pyrenees, across the river from Eaux-Chaudes. At an elevation of 995 m/3264 ft, it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath across the Pont d'Enfer ("Bridge of Hell"). The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below.

The community is made up of 10-12 households, with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents. The traditional economy was based on animal husbandry, wool, and silk production, augmented more recently by tourism. All baptisms, weddings, and burials are performed at the Catholic Church in Laruns.[4]

Due to its isolated situation, the inhabitants of Goust evolved a curious funeral custom: the deceased was placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially-constructed chute, to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery.[5][6][7][8][9]

History edit

 
Artist's rendering of Goust and its ruined "City of the Hills" (1899)

Jean-François Samazeuilh (1858) attributes the claims of Goust's independence to an 1827 description by the former French Minister of the Interior Joseph Lainé. Samazeuilh says that Lainé was speaking metaphorically when he labeled Goust a "republic," and that other writers took this literally ("on a pris au sérieux cette fantaisie du spirituel écrivain"). He then provides a long quotation from the Album Pyrénéen which demonstrates the fallacy of this interpretation—for example, the residents of Goust pay taxes to the government in Laruns.[10] In the late 19th century however, newspapers from the United States mention Goust and goings on in the “Republic.” One of them is the story that in 1896 the authorities proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization, which led to an uprising of the citizens.[11][12][13][14]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lainé, Joseph (1827). "Lettres écrites des Eaux-Bonnes, à M. le marquis de V***; sixième lettre". Annales de la littérature et des arts. Vol. 29. Paris. pp. 15–20. Retrieved 2012-01-02. (Lainé is mentioned as "Lal***," but his name is known elsewhere, cf. Louis Lacour (1863). Annales du bibliophile: du bibliothécaire et de l'archiviste, Volumes 1-16. p. 12.)
  2. ^ Palma-Cayet, Pierre-Victor (1609). Chronologie septenaire de l'histoire de la paix entre les Roys de France et d'Espagne. Paris: Jean Richer. p. 446. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  3. ^ Batcave, Louis (1896). "Un centenaire extraordinaire de Goust". Études Historiques et Religieuses du Diocèse de Bayonne. Imprimerie Vignancour: 317. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  4. ^ "Mitkä ovat maailman pienimmät valtiot?". Päivälehti (in Finnish). No. 50. 21 February 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  5. ^ Lainé, Joseph (1827). "Lettres écrites des Eaux-Bonnes, à M. le marquis de V***; sixième lettre". Annales de la littérature et des arts. Vol. 29. Paris. p. 17. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  6. ^ "An Unknown Republic". Chambers's Edinburgh Journal. 10 (244): 165–166. Sep 2, 1848.
  7. ^ "Pinhead Republics". The Democratic Standard. April 20, 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  8. ^ Walsh, William S. (1913) A Handy Book of Curious Information, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. p. 733.
  9. ^ Robb, Graham (2007). The Discovery of France. UK: Picador. p. 19. ISBN 978-0330427609.
  10. ^ Jean-François Samazeuilh (1858). Voyage de Bayonne aux Eaux-bonnes et aux Eaux-chaudes, en passant par la Basse-Navarre et la Soule. Bayonne. pp. 210–211.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ "Smallest Republic in the World," Dallas Morning News, August 15, 1896, p 8
  12. ^ "Pinhead Republics". The Democratic Standard. April 20, 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  13. ^ Post, Louis F., ed. (Feb 3, 1900). "Little Nations Little Known". The Public. 2 (96): 15–16. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  14. ^ "Fighting for Journalism". Boston Daily Globe. July 14, 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 2011-07-15.

Further reading edit

  • Dix, Edwin Asa (1890). A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees. New York & London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 168–178.
  • Eyriès, Jean-Baptiste Benoît; Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun (1828). "Hameau de Goust, dans les Pyrénées". Nouvelles annales des voyages, v. 37. Paris: Librairie de Gide fils. pp. 109–113. (A reprint of Lainé)
  • Despourrins, Cyprien (1844), Itinéraire de Pau aux Eaux-Bonnes et aux Eaux-Chaudes. Imprimerie de È. Vignancour. pp. 426–429.
  • Moreau, Adolphe (1863), Pau, Eaux-Bonnes, Eaux-Chaudes: bains, séjour, excursions, pp. 300–304.
  • Palassou, Pierre Bernard (1815), Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des Pyrénées et des pays adjacents, p. 22.
  • Perret, Paul (1882), Les Pyrénées françaises, vol. 2: Le Pays Basque et la Basse-Navarre, pp. 390–391.
  • Robb, Graham (2007), The Discovery of France, pp. 19–21.
  • "An Unknown Republic". Chambers's Edinburgh Journal. 10 (244): 165–166. Sep 2, 1848.
  • Vivien de Saint-Martin, Louis (1875 ff), Nouveau Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle, vol 2, p. 511.
  • Walsh, William S. (1913) A Handy Book of Curious Information, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. pp. 732–733.

External links edit

  • Scenic photos of Goust and the Ossau Valley

May 11, 2024
goust, french, hamlet, pyrénées, atlantiques, department, southwestern, france, some, point, 19th, century, folklore, began, describe, independent, republic, noted, centenarians, pensioner, reported, have, reached, although, this, unconfirmed, hamlet, houses, . Goust is a French hamlet in the Pyrenees Atlantiques department of southwestern France At some point in the 19th century folklore began to describe it as an independent Republic 1 Noted for its centenarians one pensioner was reported to have reached the age of 123 2 3 although this is unconfirmed GoustHamlet Old houses in the village of Goust early 1900s postcard GoustCoordinates 42 57 N 00 27 W 42 950 N 0 450 W 42 950 0 450CountryFranceRegionAquitaineDepartmentPyrenees AtlantiquesArrondissementOloron Sainte MarieCantonOloron Sainte Marie 2CommuneLarunsArea Total2 5 km2 1 0 sq mi Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Further reading 5 External linksGeography edit nbsp 1853 view of Goust and the Pont d Enfer Goust is located on the territory of the commune of Laruns It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern upper end of the valley of the Gave d Ossau in the Western Pyrenees across the river from Eaux Chaudes At an elevation of 995 m 3264 ft it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath across the Pont d Enfer Bridge of Hell The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below The community is made up of 10 12 households with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents The traditional economy was based on animal husbandry wool and silk production augmented more recently by tourism All baptisms weddings and burials are performed at the Catholic Church in Laruns 4 Due to its isolated situation the inhabitants of Goust evolved a curious funeral custom the deceased was placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially constructed chute to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery 5 6 7 8 9 History edit nbsp Artist s rendering of Goust and its ruined City of the Hills 1899 Jean Francois Samazeuilh 1858 attributes the claims of Goust s independence to an 1827 description by the former French Minister of the Interior Joseph Laine Samazeuilh says that Laine was speaking metaphorically when he labeled Goust a republic and that other writers took this literally on a pris au serieux cette fantaisie du spirituel ecrivain He then provides a long quotation from the Album Pyreneen which demonstrates the fallacy of this interpretation for example the residents of Goust pay taxes to the government in Laruns 10 In the late 19th century however newspapers from the United States mention Goust and goings on in the Republic One of them is the story that in 1896 the authorities proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization which led to an uprising of the citizens 11 12 13 14 See also editLongevity claimsReferences edit Laine Joseph 1827 Lettres ecrites des Eaux Bonnes a M le marquis de V sixieme lettre Annales de la litterature et des arts Vol 29 Paris pp 15 20 Retrieved 2012 01 02 Laine is mentioned as Lal but his name is known elsewhere cf Louis Lacour 1863 Annales du bibliophile du bibliothecaire et de l archiviste Volumes 1 16 p 12 Palma Cayet Pierre Victor 1609 Chronologie septenaire de l histoire de la paix entre les Roys de France et d Espagne Paris Jean Richer p 446 Retrieved 2023 01 30 Batcave Louis 1896 Un centenaire extraordinaire de Goust Etudes Historiques et Religieuses du Diocese de Bayonne Imprimerie Vignancour 317 Retrieved 2012 01 02 Mitka ovat maailman pienimmat valtiot Paivalehti in Finnish No 50 21 February 1897 p 4 Retrieved 17 July 2014 Laine Joseph 1827 Lettres ecrites des Eaux Bonnes a M le marquis de V sixieme lettre Annales de la litterature et des arts Vol 29 Paris p 17 Retrieved 22 July 2023 An Unknown Republic Chambers s Edinburgh Journal 10 244 165 166 Sep 2 1848 Pinhead Republics The Democratic Standard April 20 1894 p 3 Retrieved 22 July 2023 Walsh William S 1913 A Handy Book of Curious Information J B Lippincott Company Philadelphia p 733 Robb Graham 2007 The Discovery of France UK Picador p 19 ISBN 978 0330427609 Jean Francois Samazeuilh 1858 Voyage de Bayonne aux Eaux bonnes et aux Eaux chaudes en passant par la Basse Navarre et la Soule Bayonne pp 210 211 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Smallest Republic in the World Dallas Morning News August 15 1896 p 8 Pinhead Republics The Democratic Standard April 20 1894 p 3 Retrieved 2011 07 15 Post Louis F ed Feb 3 1900 Little Nations Little Known The Public 2 96 15 16 Retrieved 2011 02 18 Fighting for Journalism Boston Daily Globe July 14 1896 p 8 Retrieved 2011 07 15 Further reading edit Dix Edwin Asa 1890 A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees New York amp London G P Putnam s Sons pp 168 178 Eyries Jean Baptiste Benoit Victor Adolphe Malte Brun 1828 Hameau de Goust dans les Pyrenees Nouvelles annales des voyages v 37 Paris Librairie de Gide fils pp 109 113 A reprint of Laine Despourrins Cyprien 1844 Itineraire de Pau aux Eaux Bonnes et aux Eaux Chaudes Imprimerie de E Vignancour pp 426 429 Moreau Adolphe 1863 Pau Eaux Bonnes Eaux Chaudes bains sejour excursions pp 300 304 Palassou Pierre Bernard 1815 Memoires pour servir a l histoire naturelle des Pyrenees et des pays adjacents p 22 Perret Paul 1882 Les Pyrenees francaises vol 2 Le Pays Basque et la Basse Navarre pp 390 391 Robb Graham 2007 The Discovery of France pp 19 21 An Unknown Republic Chambers s Edinburgh Journal 10 244 165 166 Sep 2 1848 Vivien de Saint Martin Louis 1875 ff Nouveau Dictionnaire de Geographie Universelle vol 2 p 511 Walsh William S 1913 A Handy Book of Curious Information J B Lippincott Company Philadelphia pp 732 733 External links editScenic photos of Goust and the Ossau Valley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Goust amp oldid 1176825813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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