Arudy


Arudy 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 Arudyens or Arudyennes.
The commune has been awarded one flower by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.

Geography

Arudy is located in the Ossau Valley on a bend on the Gave d'Ossau some 20 km south-east of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and 16 km south of Gan. Access to the commune is by the D920 road from Buzy in the north passing through the commune just west of the town and continuing to Louvie-Juzon in the south. Access to the town is by the D53 connecting to the D920. The D287 also goes east from the town to join the D934 going north to Sévignacq-Meyracq. The D918 branches west from the D920 near the town and continues west through the north of the commune to Lurbe-Saint-Christau.
The SNCF railway line from Buzy-en-Béarn - Laruns which passed through the commune was closed to traffic for passengers on 2 March 1969. A bus connection remained in place until 1 September 2009. Freight traffic between Buzy-en-Béarn and Arudy survived until 2003. The facilities have now been dismantled.
The western hills of the commune are heavily forested with farmland in the valleys. The east of the commune in the Ossau Valley is mainly residential with some farmland.

Hydrography

Located in the Drainage basin of the Adour, the Gave d'Ossau forms the eastern border as it curves around the town and continues west, forming the northern border of the commune, to join the Gave d'Aspe to form the Gave d'Oloron at Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Many tributaries rise in the south of the commune and flow north to join the Gave d'Ossau including the Lamisou, the Arrec de Baycabe, the Ruisseau du Bois de Nougué, the Arrec de Lacerbelle, and the Ruisseau du Termy which forms the western border of the commune.

Places and Hamlets

Toponymy

The commune name in béarnais is Arudi.
According to Michel Grosclaude the name comes from the basque harr and uri.
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
ArudyEruri1270Raymond
14
OssauVillage
Aruri1286GrosclaudeArudy/Iseste spoiled deed
Aruri1328GrosclaudeOssau-Val Treaty of Tena
Aruri1343Raymond
14
Pardies
Arury1368GrosclaudeChéronnet
Arudy1375Raymond
14
Luntz
Aruri1386GrosclaudeChéronnet
Aruri1399GrosclaudeManumission of Serfdom
Aruri1442GrosclaudeChéronnet
Aruri1466GrosclaudeChéronnet
Aruri1486GrosclaudeChéronnet
Erudi1487Raymond
14
Ossau
Arudi1538Raymond
14
Reformation
Saint-Germain d'Arudy1607Raymond
14
Insinuations
Arudy1750Cassini
AnglasAnglès1538Raymond
6
ReformationFief, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn
Anglès1863Raymond
6
BagetBaget1863Raymond
19
Hamlet
BareillesBarelhes1385Raymond
21
CensusFarm
Caillabèrela Caillabère1863Raymond
39
Mountain
CastetCastet1096Raymond
45
MarcaCastet had a Lay Abbey, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn. In 1385 it depended on the bailiwick of Ossau and had 45 fires. Castet took its name from the Chateau of Castetgelos which was built in its territory.
Castellum1154Raymond
45
Marca
Casteg1385Raymond
45
Census
Sent Policarpe de Casteig1621Raymond
45
Insinuations
CaubiosCaubios1538Raymond
47
ReformationFief, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn
Col de Houn-BarradeLe Col de la Houn-Barade1863Raymond
79
Mountain pass between Arudy and Izeste
LanneLane1385Raymond
92
CensusFarm
MartouréMartouré1675Raymond
109
ReformationHillock where the old Château of Arudy stood and where the fires for the Festival of Saint-Jean were lit
MurMeur1675Raymond
120
ReformationA Group of rocks which were the destination for processions and another place where fires for the Festival of Saint-Jean were lit.
PoutsPotz1385Raymond
139
CensusFarm
Sacase de SiotSciot1675Raymond
145
ReformationFief, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn

Sources:
Origins:
The first traces of civilisation in the commune date to Prehistory or more precisely to the Magdalenian period. Excavations in four caves in the commune uncovered bones, tools, and many snail shells.
The village of Eruri or Aruri was mentioned at the beginning of the 13th century. It was from the beginning of that time that the Ossau Union was created which permitted relative independence for the communes in the valley until the French Revolution.
Paul Raymond noted on page 14 of his 1863 dictionary that the commune had a Lay Abbey, vassal of the Viscounts of Béarn, with 86 fires and depended on the bailiwick of Ossau.
It was in the 19th century that economic growth started in the commune. Sawmills and Marble quarries were created which provided a living to several hundred people. One quarry still operates today.
On 29 February 1980 Arudy was the epicentre of an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale and 7.5 on the MSK scale which damaged many buildings in the town. The college had to be rebuilt.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
19952014Gérard Cambot
20142020Claude AussantDVG

Inter-communality

The commune is part of six inter-communal structures:
In 2010 the commune had 2,230 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 towns that have a sample survey every year.

Economy

Arudy has diverse economic activities:

Civil heritage

The Hôtel Pouts is registered as an historical monument. It is an ancient Lay Abbey which later became a police station. The building was renovated in 1971 to house a museum: the Maison d'Ossau.
The Maison d'Ossau museum in the Hôtel Pouts displays regional archaeological collections, specimens of flora and fauna of the Pyrenees, and local costumes.
Arudy has 16th and 17th century houses, a bridge said to be Roman, and Lavoirs from the 19th century.

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint-Germain contains several items classified as historical objects:
The interior of the chapel of Saint-Michel is decorated with paintings by Pierre Martinez.

Environmental heritage

The Abétat peaks at 1204 metres, the Gerbadure at 1254m, the Soum Counée at 1361m, the Bersaut at 1368m, the Hourquettes de Baygrand at 1386m, the Senzouens at 1392m, and the Pic d'Escurets at 1440m.

Amenities

Education

The town has a public college, and one primary school. Another private primary school has been closed since the beginning of September 2011.

Sports and sports facilities