Banca, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Banca
Banca
Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region  Banca
Coordinates: 43°07′39″N 1°22′23″W / 43.1275°N 1.3731°W / 43.1275; -1.3731Coordinates: 43°07′39″N 1°22′23″W / 43.1275°N 1.3731°W / 43.1275; -1.3731
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement	Bayonne
Canton	Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Intercommunality	Garazi-Baïgorri
Government
• Mayor (2008–2020)	Michel Oçafrain
Area1	49.60 km2 (19.15 sq mi)
Population (2010)2	335
• Density	6.8/km2 (17/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Banca (Basque: Banka) is a French commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France in the former province of Lower Navarre.^[1]

Banca is part of Pays Quint (Kintoa in Basque or Quinto Real in Spanish),^[2] an area of pasture area which belongs to Spain but is cultivated by French farmers.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bankars.^[3][4]

Geography

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.^[5]

Hydrography

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.^[5]

Places and Hamlets^[6]

Neighbouring communes and villages^[5]

	Erratzu, Spain	Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry	Anhaux
	Elbete, Spain		Valcarlos
		Banca
	Aldudes	Espinal, Spain	Roncesvalles

Traditional house in the Aldudes Valley.

Toponymy

The commune name in Basque is Banka.^[4]

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.

Sources:

• Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy^[12]
• Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750^[13]
• Ldh/EHESS/Cassini: Ldh/EHESS/Cassini database (French)
• Raymond: Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. (French)^[8]

History

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

List of Successive Mayors^[14]

(Not all data is known)

Inter-communality

The commune is part of four inter-communal structures:

• the Community of communes of Garazi-Baigorri;
• 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

In 2010 the commune had 335 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.^{[Note 1]}

Economy

The Banca Mine

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

Civil heritage

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

• The Banca Mine on D948 (19th century).^[15] 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)^[16]
• 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

The Parish Church of Saint Peter.

• The Parish Church of Saint Peter (19th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[17]

Environmental heritage

• The Petechanea Gallery (0.1 hectares) is one of the locations of the regional conservatory of natural areas of the Pyrenees.
• Mountain Peaks^[6]
  • 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

The Fronton.

Facilities

Education

The commune has a primary school.

Sports

There is a Fronton traversed by a road.

See also

• Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department

Bibliography

• Mines and Metallurgical Establishments of Banca, dir. P. Machot, J&D, Biarritz, Izpegi, Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, 1995, 306 p. (French)
• Pierre Machot and Gilles Parent, "Mines and Metallurgy in the Valley of Baïgorry", in The Valley of Baïgorry, Éditions Izpegi, reprinted in 2002 (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 (French)

External links

• BANKA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (Spanish)

Notes and references

Notes

1. ↑ At the beginning of the 21st century, the methods of identification have been modified by Law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002, the so-called "law of local democracy" and in particular Title V "census operations" allows, after a transitional period running from 2004 to 2008, the annual publication of the legal population of the different French administrative districts. For communes with a population greater than 10,000 inhabitants, a sample survey is conducted annually, the entire territory of these communes is taken into account at the end of the period of five years. The first "legal population" after 1999 under this new law came into force on 1 January 2009 and was based on the census of 2006.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Banca.

Municipalities in Lower Navarre
Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan Ayherre Ainhice-Mongelos Aincille Aïcirits-Camou-Suhast Came Aldudes Amendeuix-Oneix Amorots-Succos Anhaux Arbérats-Sillègue Arbouet-Sussaute Arhansus Armendarits Arnéguy Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa Arraute-Charritte Ascarat Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry Banca La Bastide-Clairence Béhasque-Lapiste Béguios Béhorléguy Bidache Bidarray Beyrie-sur-Joyeuse Bunus Bergouey-Viellenave Bustince-Iriberry Saint-Just-Ibarre Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue Saint-Palais Saint-Jean-le-Vieux Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Saint-Esteben Bussunarits-Sarrasquette Saint-Michel Arancou Estérençuby Gabat Gamarthe Garris Hélette Hosta Jaxu Ibarrolle Iholdy Ilharre Irissarry Irouléguy Isturits Ispoure Ostabat-Asme Juxue Labets-Biscay Lacarre Lantabat Larribar-Sorhapuru Larceveau-Arros-Cibits Lasse Lecumberry Luxe-Sumberraute Masparraute Méharin Mendive Orègue Ossès Orsanco Pagolle Sames Uhart-Cize Uhart-Mixe Urepel Çaro

Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
Aast Abère Abidos Abitain Abos Accous Agnos Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan Ahetze Aïcirits-Camou-Suhast Aincille Ainharp Ainhice-Mongelos Ainhoa Alçay-Alçabéhéty-Sunharette Aldudes Alos-Sibas-Abense Amendeuix-Oneix Amorots-Succos Ance Andoins Andrein Angaïs Anglet Angous Anhaux Anos Anoye Aramits Arancou Araujuzon Araux Arbérats-Sillègue Arbonne Arbouet-Sussaute Arbus Arcangues Aren Aressy Arette Argagnon Argelos Arget Arhansus Armendarits Arnéguy Arnos Aroue-Ithorots-Olhaïby Arrast-Larrebieu Arraute-Charritte Arricau-Bordes Arrien Arros-de-Nay Arrosès Arthez-d'Asson Arthez-de-Béarn Artigueloutan Artiguelouve Artix Arudy Arzacq-Arraziguet Asasp-Arros Ascain Ascarat Assat Asson Aste-Béon Astis Athos-Aspis Aubertin Aubin Aubous Audaux Auga Auriac Aurions-Idernes Aussevielle Aussurucq Auterrive Autevielle-Saint-Martin-Bideren Aydie Aydius Ayherre Baigts-de-Béarn Balansun Baleix Baliracq-Maumusson Baliros Banca Barcus Bardos Barinque Barraute-Camu Barzun Bassillon-Vauzé Bassussarry Bastanès La Bastide-Clairence Baudreix Bayonne Bédeille Bedous Béguios Béhasque-Lapiste Béhorléguy Bellocq Bénéjacq Bentayou-Sérée Béost Bérenx Bergouey-Viellenave Bernadets Berrogain-Laruns Bescat Bésingrand Bétracq Beuste Beyrie-en-Béarn Beyrie-sur-Joyeuse Biarritz Bidache Bidarray Bidart Bidos Bielle Bilhères Billère Biriatou Biron Bizanos Boeil-Bezing Bonloc Bonnut Borce Bordères Bordes Bosdarros Boucau Boueilh-Boueilho-Lasque Bougarber Bouillon Boumourt Bourdettes Bournos Briscous Bruges-Capbis-Mifaget Bugnein Bunus Burgaronne Buros Burosse-Mendousse Bussunarits-Sarrasquette Bustince-Iriberry Buziet Buzy Cabidos Cadillon Cambo-les-Bains Came Camou-Cihigue Cardesse Caro Carrère Carresse-Cassaber Castagnède Casteide-Cami Casteide-Candau Casteide-Doat Castéra-Loubix Castet Castetbon Castétis Castetnau-Camblong Castetner Castetpugon Castillon-d'Arthez Castillon-de-Lembeye Caubios-Loos Cescau Cette-Eygun Charre Charritte-de-Bas Chéraute Ciboure Claracq Coarraze Conchez-de-Béarn Corbère-Abères Coslédaà-Lube-Boast Coublucq Crouseilles Cuqueron Denguin Diusse Doazon Dognen Domezain-Berraute Doumy Eaux-Bonnes Escos Escot Escou Escoubès Escout Escurès Eslourenties-Daban Espéchède Espelette Espès-Undurein Espiute Espoey Esquiule Estérençuby Estialescq Estos Etcharry Etchebar Etsaut Eysus Féas Fichous-Riumayou Gabaston Gabat Gamarthe Gan Garindein Garlède-Mondebat Garlin Garos Garris Gayon Gelos Ger Gerderest Gère-Bélesten Géronce Gestas Géus-d'Arzacq Geüs-d'Oloron Goès Gomer Gotein-Libarrenx Guéthary Guiche Guinarthe-Parenties Gurmençon Gurs Hagetaubin Halsou Hasparren Haut-de-Bosdarros Haux Hélette Hendaye Herrère Higuères-Souye L'Hôpital-d'Orion L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise Hosta Hours Ibarrolle Idaux-Mendy Idron Igon Iholdy Ilharre Irissarry Irouléguy Ispoure Issor Isturits Itxassou Izeste Jasses Jatxou Jaxu Jurançon Juxue Laà-Mondrans Laàs Labastide-Cézéracq Labastide-Monréjeau Labastide-Villefranche Labatmale Labatut Labets-Biscay Labeyrie Lacadée Lacarre Lacarry-Arhan-Charritte-de-Haut Lacommande Lacq Lagor Lagos Laguinge-Restoue Lahonce Lahontan Lahourcade Lalongue Lalonquette Lamayou Lanne-en-Barétous Lannecaube Lanneplaà Lantabat Larceveau-Arros-Cibits Laroin Larrau Larressore Larreule Larribar-Sorhapuru Laruns Lasclaveries Lasse Lasserre Lasseube Lasseubetat Lay-Lamidou Lecumberry Ledeuix Lée Lées-Athas Lembeye Lème Léren Lescar Lescun Lespielle Lespourcy Lestelle-Bétharram Lichans-Sunhar Lichos Licq-Athérey Limendous Livron Lohitzun-Oyhercq Lombia Lonçon Lons Loubieng Louhossoa Lourdios-Ichère Lourenties Louvie-Juzon Louvie-Soubiron Louvigny Luc-Armau Lucarré Lucgarier Lucq-de-Béarn Lurbe-Saint-Christau Lussagnet-Lusson Luxe-Sumberraute Lys Macaye Malaussanne Mascaraàs-Haron Maslacq Masparraute Maspie-Lalonquère-Juillacq Maucor Mauléon-Licharre Maure Mazères-Lezons Mazerolles Méharin Meillon Mendionde Menditte Mendive Méracq Méritein Mesplède Mialos Miossens-Lanusse Mirepeix Momas Momy Monassut-Audiracq Moncaup Moncayolle-Larrory-Mendibieu Moncla Monein Monpezat Monségur Mont Montagut Montaner Montardon Montaut Mont-Disse Montfort Montory Morlaàs Morlanne Mouguerre Mouhous Moumour Mourenx Musculdy Nabas Narcastet Narp Navailles-Angos Navarrenx Nay Noguères Nousty Ogenne-Camptort Ogeu-les-Bains Oloron-Sainte-Marie Oraàs Ordiarp Orègue Orin Orion Orriule Orsanco Orthez Os-Marsillon Ossas-Suhare Osse-en-Aspe Ossenx Osserain-Rivareyte Ossès Ostabat-Asme Ouillon Ousse Ozenx-Montestrucq Pagolle Parbayse Pardies Pardies-Piétat Pau Peyrelongue-Abos Piets-Plasence-Moustrou Poey-de-Lescar Poey-d'Oloron Pomps Ponson-Debat-Pouts Ponson-Dessus Pontacq Pontiacq-Viellepinte Portet Pouliacq Poursiugues-Boucoue Préchacq-Josbaig Préchacq-Navarrenx Précilhon Puyoô Ramous Rébénacq Ribarrouy Riupeyrous Rivehaute Rontignon Roquiague Saint-Abit Saint-Armou Saint-Boès Saint-Castin Saint-Dos Sainte-Colome Sainte-Engrâce Saint-Esteben Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry Saint-Faust Saint-Girons-en-Béarn Saint-Gladie-Arrive-Munein Saint-Goin Saint-Jammes Saint-Jean-de-Luz Saint-Jean-le-Vieux Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Saint-Jean-Poudge Saint-Just-Ibarre Saint-Laurent-Bretagne Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa Saint-Médard Saint-Michel Saint-Palais Saint-Pé-de-Léren Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle Saint-Pierre-d'Irube Saint-Vincent Salies-de-Béarn Salles-Mongiscard Sallespisse Sames Samsons-Lion Sare Sarpourenx Sarrance Saubole Saucède Sauguis-Saint-Étienne Sault-de-Navailles Sauvagnon Sauvelade Sauveterre-de-Béarn Séby Sedze-Maubecq Sedzère Séméacq-Blachon Sendets Serres-Castet Serres-Morlaàs Serres-Sainte-Marie Sévignacq Sévignacq-Meyracq Simacourbe Siros Soumoulou Souraïde Suhescun Sus Susmiou Tabaille-Usquain Tadousse-Ussau Tardets-Sorholus Taron-Sadirac-Viellenave Tarsacq Thèze Trois-Villes Uhart-Cize Uhart-Mixe Urcuit Urdès Urdos Urepel Urost Urrugne Urt Ustaritz Uzan Uzein Uzos Verdets Vialer Viellenave-d'Arthez Viellenave-de-Navarrenx Vielleségure Vignes Villefranque Viodos-Abense-de-Bas Viven