Aussurucq


Aussurucq is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
The inhabitants are known as Altzürükütar.
, facade, and steps

Geography

Aussurucq is located in the former province of Soule in the Massif des Arbailles some 30 km west by south-west of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and 25 km east of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Access to the commune is by road D147 from Idaux-Mendy in the north which passes through the village and continues south through the commune to join the D117 on the southern border of the commune. A pastoral road from Béhorléguy to Alçay and Aussurucq passes through the Col d'Aphanize and generally follows the line of the watershed along the Col de Burdin Olatzé. The commune is mostly rugged and heavily forested however there is some farmland in the north.
The Ruisseau de Guessalia rises in the south of the commune and flows north-east gathering some tributaries to join the Apouhoura north of the commune. The Arangorena forms the north-western border as it flows north-east to join the Saison near Gotein-Libarrenx. The Bidouze rises in the south of the commune and flows north to eventually join the Adour north of Bardos.

Places and Hamletshttp://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil?c=-0.9325,43.1503&z=7.92265E-5&l=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.3D$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS@aggregate(1)&l=ADMINISTRATIVEUNITS.BOUNDARIES$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS(1)&permalink=yes Géoportail, IGN">Institut géographique national">IGN

The commune name in basque is Altzürükü.
Jean-Baptiste Orpustan indicated that the name comes from the basque altzu which is explained by the position of the valley covered in alder trees. The second part of the name is more enigmatic. According to Orpustan it could be from Urru or iri giving alzu- ri-ku meaning "place in the Alder field".
The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune.
NameSpellingDateSourcePageOriginDescription
AussurucqAuçuruc1189OrpustanVillage
Auzuruc1337Orpustan
Aussuruc1385Raymond
17
Duchesne
Aussuruc1412Raymond
17
Notaries
Ausuruc1454Raymond
17
Not stated
Sent-Martin d'Auçuruc, Auserucus1471Raymond
17
Chapter
Ausuruc1520Orpustan
Dassurucq1690Orpustan
Ausuruc1690Orpustan
Aussurucq1690Orpustan
La fontaine d'AhusquyLa fontaine d'Ahusquy1863Raymond
3
Fountain
ArabéhèreArabéhère1520Raymond
7
SouleFarm
AranAran1520Raymond
7
SouleFarm
ArhansetArhanset1520Raymond
10
SouleFarm
AriadarAriadar1520Raymond
10
SouleFarm
ArsusquiArsusqui1520Raymond
13
SouleFarm
BéherégarayBéherégaray1520Raymond
26
SouleFarm
CarricaCarrica1520Raymond
42
SouleFarm
CarricartCarricart1520Raymond
42
SouleFarm
CarriquiriCarriquiri1520Raymond
42
SouleFarm
GoyenGoyen1520Raymond
73
SouleFarm
GoytiGoyti1520Raymond
73
SouleFarm
IribarneIribarne1520Raymond
83
SouleFarm
LapistoyLapitztoy1520Raymond
93
SouleFarm
MendiburuMendiburu1520Raymond
111
SouleFarm
NécolNécol1520Raymond
122
SouleFarm
SagarspeSagarspe1520Raymond
145
SouleFarm
UrruchoroUrruchoro1520Raymond
171
SouleFarm
BurunolatxéBurunolatxé1863Raymond
37
A Col between Alçay-Alçabéhéty-Sunharette and Aussurucq
EscunéEscuné1863Raymond
60
Forest

Sources:
Origins:
In the Middle Palaeolithic era Soule was already populated as remains of Neanderthal prehistoric man have been found in the Xaxixiloaga caves in Aussurucq. A tumulus was also reported at shepherd's cabins in Potxo along the D147 road.
The central part of Soule is also called the Messagerie des Arbailles between Basabürü and Pettarra.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
19831989Jean Etchebarne
19892008Jean-Baptiste Queheille
20082020Jean Carricaburu

Inter-communality

The commune is part of six inter-communal structures:
In 2010 the commune had 251 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

Economic activity is based on agriculture. The commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée zone of Ossau-iraty.

Culture and Heritage

The village features a dynamic scene related especially to Basque culture. The inhabitants of the village performed the pastoral Ürrüti Jauregiko Peirot in 2002, a play written by the son of the village Niko Etxart, an acclaimed Basque musician.

Civil heritage

The town has a church with a Trinitarian steeple or a tower surmounted by three points of nearly equal height. The church contains a processional cross which is registered as an historical object.

Environmental heritage

At the end of the 19th century, the Arbailles Forest covered parts of the communes of Aussurucq, Béhorléguy, Camou-Cihigue, Musculdy, Ordiarp, and Saint-Just-Ibarre.
A wealth of heritage in Aussurucq commune is contained in its sub-soil. Most of the territory of the commune is karstic. The environment is characterized by the presence of natural cavities in complex shapes that have not all yet been discovered or much less explored to date. Departmental cavers have undertaken the exploration, description, and publication of this heritage respecting the environment and the local population. One of the most beautiful caves in the commune is the Nébélé which has been the subject of works and regular explorations since 1972.
The peak of Ascune stands at 860 m, Echagorry is 935 m, Elsarré is 1,153 m, Sihigue is 1,193 m, and Etchecortia is 1,204 m. In the south-west of the commune, Bohorcortia is 1,214 metres high.

Amenities

The town has a primary school.

Notable people linked to the commune