Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan

Location Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is part of Cize/Garazi country which was a historical province in Lower Navarre. It includes three former parishes, sometimes counted as four groups of houses in the Middle Ages Hydrography The commune is located in the Drainage basin of the Adour, the commune lands are watered by the Laurhibar, a tributary of the Nive, and a tributary of that, the Esteneko stream. The Apatéko stream, a tributary of the Arzubiko stream also crosses the territory of Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan. Localities and hamlets • Aguerréa • Ahatsaxilo (former parish) ==Toponymy==

The commune's name in Basque is Ahatsa-Alzieta-Baskazane. • Fax (1194) • domine de ahacha (1194) Chapter of Bayonne) • Haxa and Ahaxe (1304) • Sanctus Julianus Ahaxe (1757,). Jean-Baptiste Orpustan Chapter of Bayonne) • Alçuete and Alçueta (1350)) • Alsiette (1667,) The Basque name for the people of this area is Alzietar. Titles of Pamplona) Bastida is also indicated by Raymond. Errékaldéa is mentioned with the spelling Errecaldia referring to the flowing stream of Bascassan flowing into the Laurhibar. ;Curutchet Curutchet (also called Garat) was a former fief of Ahaxe, a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre. ;Etcheverria Paul Raymond mentioned an Etcheberry, a fief located in the parish of Alciette and a vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre. ;Garatehegi The name Garatehegi appears in the forms: • Garateguia (1350) Titles of Pamplona) • Garateguy (1863) ;Libiéta Libiéta is a toponym that appears in the forms: • Libiet (1621, Martin Biscay) • Libiette (1789) ;Ligeta Ligeta is mentioned in the forms: • Lagueta (1264) • Ligueta (1307) • Liguete (1350), 1366, and 1413). The origin of this toponym could be the Latin Liger (which was equally likely to be the origin of Loire). ==History==

The Lordship of Ahaxe, also called the Lordship of Cize, was allied with the Viscounts of Arbéroue in the 11th century as well as the lordships of Guiche and to the Counts of Biscay. Ahaxe and Alciette-Bascassan were reunited on 11 June 1842. ==Heraldry==

List of Successive Mayors of Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan Inter-communality The commune belongs to seven inter-communal structures: • the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque; • the AEP union of Ahaxe-Lecumberry-Mendive; • the energy union of Pyrenees-Atlantiques; • the RPI (Intercommunal Education) union Hergaray; • the inter-communal union for the development and management of the abattoir of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port; • the joint association for the watershed of the Nive; • the union to support Basque culture. ==Population==

Economic activity is mainly agricultural. The commune is part of the zone designation of the Ossau-Iraty cheese. ==Culture and heritage==

Languages According to the Map of the Seven Basque Provinces published in 1863 by Prince Louis-Lucien Bonaparte, the Basque dialect spoken in Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan is eastern low Navarrese. Civil heritage There is a gaztelu zahar (a prehistoric fortified complex) at a place called Gaztalepo (Ahaxe), located 550 metres above sea level. There is also a lice or a fence surrounding a fortification running at 313 metres above sea level at a place called Gaztelua or Gastellia. These artifacts represent the ancient past of the commune. There are several buildings, houses, and farms in the commune that are listed as historical monuments. These are: • Houses and Farms (17th - 19th centuries) • Kapila House • Idioinea farm (17th century) • Gohonetxea farm (17th century) • Château Saint-Julien (12th century) Religious Heritage A number of churches and sites in the commune have been classified as historical monuments. These are: • Parish Church of Saint Julien of Antioch (16th century) The cemetery contains a remarkable collection of Hilarri. • Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (12th century). The chapel contains several historical objects: • Pulpit (17th century) • 2 Benches (17th & 18th century) • Main Altar, Retable and 4 Candlesticks (17th century) • Secondary Altar. Retable, 2 Candlesticks (17th century) • Baptismal fonts (17th century) • Ceiling (17th century) • Statue: Baby Jesus (18th century) • Processional Cross (18th century) • Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century) • Chapel of Saint-Saveur of Alciette (Interior Decor) • 'Former benoîterie of Bascassan' (18th century). • Former benoîterie of Bascassan garden. • Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (17th century). The church contains a number of historical objects. These are: • 2 Altars, 2 Retables, 2 Paintings, 4 Candlesticks (17th century) • Baptismal fonts (17th century) • Pulpit (17th century) • Processional Cross (18th century) • Cross: Christ on the Cross (17th century) • Bronze Bell (17th century) • Church of Saint-André-de-Bascassan (Interior and Cemetery) • Cemetery Cross of Ahaxe (1827) File:Bascassan.jpg|Church of Bascassan File:Benoiterie.jpg|Benoîterie File:Vieilles tombes Bascassan.jpg|Old Tombs File:Ahaxe Croix.jpg|Cemetery Cross of Ahaxe File:Église Saint-Sauveur d'Alciette.JPG|Church of Saint-Sauveur of Alciette ==Facilities==

The commune has a kindergarten. ==See also==