Ascarat is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. The inhabitants are known as Azkaratear.

Geography

Ascarat is located in the former province of Lower Navarre in the Aldudes Valley immediately north-west of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Access to the commune is by the D918 road from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port which passes through the length of the commune on the eastern side and continues to Louhossoa. The D15 road goes north-west from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port through the southern part of the commune continuing to Irouléguy. Access to the village is by country roads - Garategana from the D15 and Learraa from the D918. There are substantial forests in the commune however about 70% of the land area is farmland. The Nive river forms the eastern border of the commune as it flows north to join the Adour at Bayonne. Three streams flow into the Nive in the commune: the Nive d'Arnéguy, the Nive de Béhérobie, the Berroko erreka, and the Pagolako erreka.

Places and hamlets

Toponymy

The name Ascarat appears in the forms: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan indicated that the name is composed of aitz ("rock") and garate ("high place"), giving "a height of rocks". Chubitoa was a hamlet in Ascarat and Anhaux, mentioned in 1863 Jauréguy was a fief, vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre, cited in the 1863 dictionary as was Larragoyen. The commune name in basque is Azkarate.

History

The parish was mentioned in 1256 and was "ravaged by soldiers" in 1396. In 1391 Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry included the modern communes of Anhaux, Ascarat, Irouléguy, and Lasse.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Inter-communality

The commune is part of nine inter-communal structures:

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 321 inhabitants.

Economy

The commune is part of the production zone of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) of Irouléguy and also of the AOC zone of Ossau-iraty. Economic activity is mainly agricultural.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

There are several houses and farms in the commune which are registered as historical monuments. These are:

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint-Julien-d'Antioche is of medieval origin was heavily rebuilt in the 18th and 19th century.

Notable people linked to the commune