Baleix


Baleix is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baleichois or Baleichoises.

Geography

Baleix is located in the Montanérès overlooking the Lées Valley some 26 km north-east of Pau and 10 km south of Lembeye. Access to the commune is by the D7 road from Saint-Jammes in the west which passes through the length of the commune and the village and continues east to Casteide-Doat. The D145 comes from Lespourcy in the south-west and passes through the village to continue north to Anoye. Apart from the village there is also the hamlet of Tisné north-east of the village. The commune is mostly farmland with a few scattered small forests.
The Lées flows through the east of the commune from the south and continues north to join the Adour near Aire-sur-l'Adour. The Petit Lées comes from the south and flows north-east through the commune to join the Lées.

Places and hamlets

Toponymy

said that etymologically the name comes from the Gascon Balèch meaning "plateau".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
BaleixBales11th centuryRaymond
20
LescarVillage
Balas12th centuryRaymond
20
Marca
Balestoos13th centuryRaymond
20
Fors de Béarn
Baleixs1385Raymond
20
Census
Balesie1402Raymond
20
Census
Baleyxs1538Raymond
20
Reformation
Balechs1538Raymond
20
Reformation
Balex1548Raymond
20
Reformation
Baleix1750Cassini
AbaradesAbarades1863Raymond
1
Place
AbatsAbats1863Raymond
1
Place
Les ArticsLes Articqs1769Raymond
14
TerrierPlace
La BielleLa Bielle1863Raymond
31
Place
La HailleHailhe1769Raymond
74
TerrierPlace
La LanusseLa Lanusse1863Raymond
93
Place
PeyreblanquePeyreblanque1863Raymond
134
Place
Le PimiLou Pimy1769Raymond
135
TerrierHamlet
Les PlagniusPlagniux1769Raymond
136
TerrierPlace
Le Plagniu1769Raymond
136
Terrier
RaguetteRaguet1769Raymond
141
TerrierPlace
TrémouletsLe Trémoulet1863Raymond
168
Place
Le Turocq de NaudyLe Turocq de Naudy1769Raymond
169
TerrierPlace
La TurrecolleLa Turequolle1769Raymond
170
TerrierPlace
La VignasseLa Vignasse1863Raymond
174
Place

Sources:
Origins:
noted on page 20 of his 1863 dictionary that in 1385 there were 22 fires and it depended on the bailiwick of Pau. Baleix fief was subject to the Viscounts of Béarn.
The commune has long been occupied as evidenced by the discovery of a fortified camp surrounded by a moat with visible remains of earthworks.
During the medieval period the commune was a member of the Commandery of the Order of Malta of Caubin and Morlaàs.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
19952001Jean Balespouey
20012008Gérard Balespouey
20082020Vincent Roustaa

Inter-communality

The commune is part of four inter-communal structures:
In 2010 the commune had 137 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.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

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