Benquet


Benquet is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Geography

Benquet is situated south of Mont-de-Marsan, at the confines of the Landes forest and of the agricultural region of Chalosse. It is from the Atlantic Ocean.
Neighboring cities are: Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, Bretagne-de-Marsan, Saint-Maurice-sur-Adour, Saint-Sever, Bas-Mauco, Haut-Mauco.

History

Benquet, belonging to the former royal province of Gascony, was under the rule of the abbey of Saint Sever. Jehan Bernard de Benquet, vassal of the prince of Navarre, had the title of Sénéchal of Marsan and of Gabardan. Fights with French Huguenots are reported here.

Population

Its inhabitants are called Benquetois.

Economy

Mostly corn-growing, breeding, foie-gras making. Agri-foodstuff research center.

Twin cities

Benquet is the twin village of Muespach-le-Haut, on the German border. As a matter of fact, population from Alsace flew their region and found shelter in South-Western France when the Nazi troops arrived in the early stages of World War II.

Sights

Churches St John the Baptist and Saint Christau. Benquet is a stopover on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago Compostela. Benquet boasts a the privately owned château de Laurens Castelet and a "miraculous" spring, close to the church of St Christau.
King Henri IV had an elegant home in Benquet: the Château-Vieux lodge.

Religion and language

People are mostly Catholic. The official language is French. The Gascon language is still spoken by some elderly people on some occasions.

Recreational activities

Hunting and fishing are very popular + walking, cycling, basketball playing.

Events