Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Encyclopedia
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a commune
in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
department in south-western France
. The town of Oloron-Sante-Marie is positioned at the junction of two rivers and has a population of approximately 12,000. While not spectacular, it is a pleasant looking town, with an ancient quarter, Sainte Croix, containing the oldest Romanesque church in the Bearn region. This church, the Eglise Sainte Croix, has recently been fully restored, at considerable expense, and is worth a detour for those interested in such things, as is the tenth century cathedral in the centre of the town, with its carved stone entrance which is of such quality that it has been declared a world heritage site. Economically, Oloron is sustained by a mixture of agriculture, light industry and tourism. It contains one of the largest chocolate factories in Europe, and on warm summer evenings the town is often suffused with the smell of warm chocolate. The town stands on one of the ancient routes of the Santiago de Compostela
pilgrimage, so it is a well-known stopping place for walkers and modern-day pilgrims alike. As it stands on the edge of the Pyrenees, Oloron is also a centre and portal for many activities associated with the mountains: skiing, cycling, white water rafting, canyoning and rambling. The parents of American fitness guru Jack LaLanne
emigrated from the town.
is named after the town.
Neighboring communes: Esquiule
, Moumour
, Ledeuix
, Estos
, Cardesse
, Monein
, Goès
, Précilhon
, Escout
, Herrère
, Ogeu-les-Bains
, Buziet
, Arudy
, Escot
, Asasp-Arros
, Lurbe-Saint-Christau
, Eysus
, Gurmençon
, Bidos
, Agnos
, Ance
and Féas
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
department in south-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The town of Oloron-Sante-Marie is positioned at the junction of two rivers and has a population of approximately 12,000. While not spectacular, it is a pleasant looking town, with an ancient quarter, Sainte Croix, containing the oldest Romanesque church in the Bearn region. This church, the Eglise Sainte Croix, has recently been fully restored, at considerable expense, and is worth a detour for those interested in such things, as is the tenth century cathedral in the centre of the town, with its carved stone entrance which is of such quality that it has been declared a world heritage site. Economically, Oloron is sustained by a mixture of agriculture, light industry and tourism. It contains one of the largest chocolate factories in Europe, and on warm summer evenings the town is often suffused with the smell of warm chocolate. The town stands on one of the ancient routes of the Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
pilgrimage, so it is a well-known stopping place for walkers and modern-day pilgrims alike. As it stands on the edge of the Pyrenees, Oloron is also a centre and portal for many activities associated with the mountains: skiing, cycling, white water rafting, canyoning and rambling. The parents of American fitness guru Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne
Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne was an American fitness, exercise, and nutritional expert and motivational speaker who is sometimes called "the godfather of fitness" and the "first fitness superhero." He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was 15...
emigrated from the town.
- Capital of the "Haut BéarnBéarnBéarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
". - Speciality: "le russe" (a flat cake).
- Flag: two red cows on a yellow background.
Geography
The Gave d'OloronGave d'Oloron
The Gave d'Oloron is a river of south-western France near the border with Spain. It takes its name from the city Oloron-Sainte-Marie, where it is formed from the rivers Gave d'Aspe and Gave d'Ossau.It joins the Gave de Pau in Peyrehorade...
is named after the town.
Neighboring communes: Esquiule
Esquiule
Esquiule is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Béarn. It stands out as an outpost of the Basque area of Soule, the village being historically Basque speaking...
, Moumour
Moumour
Moumour is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Ledeuix
Ledeuix
Ledeuix is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Estos
Estos
Estos is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Cardesse
Cardesse
Cardesse is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Monein
Monein
Monein is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-Neighbouring Communes:*North: Lahourcade and Pardies*West: Lucq-de-Béarn and Cardesse*South: Estialescq and Lasseube...
, Goès
Goès
Goès is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Précilhon
Précilhon
Précilhon is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Escout
Escout
Escout is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Herrère
Herrère
Herrère is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Ogeu-les-Bains
Ogeu-les-Bains
Ogeu-les-Bains is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Buziet
Buziet
Buziet is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Arudy
Arudy
Arudy is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Escot
Escot
Escot is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Asasp-Arros
Asasp-Arros
Asasp-Arros is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-Demographics:-References:*...
, Lurbe-Saint-Christau
Lurbe-Saint-Christau
Lurbe-Saint-Christau is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Eysus
Eysus
Eysus is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Gurmençon
Gurmençon
Gurmençon is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Bidos
Bidos
Bidos is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Agnos
Agnos
Agnos is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, Ance
Ance
Ance is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in Aquitaine in south-western France.-References:*...
and Féas
Féas
Féas is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
.
Notable people
Oloron-Sainte-Marie was the birthplace of:- Louis BarthouLouis BarthouJean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
(1862–1934), politician of the Third RepublicFrench Third RepublicThe French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
See also
- Oloron Cathedral
- Gave d'OloronGave d'OloronThe Gave d'Oloron is a river of south-western France near the border with Spain. It takes its name from the city Oloron-Sainte-Marie, where it is formed from the rivers Gave d'Aspe and Gave d'Ossau.It joins the Gave de Pau in Peyrehorade...
- Gave d'OssauGave d'OssauThe Gave d'Ossau is the torrential river flowing through the Ossau Valley, one of the three main valleys of the High-Béarn , in the Southwest of France....
- Gave d'AspeGave d'AspeThe Gave d'Aspe is the torrential river flowing through the Aspe Valley, one of the three main valleys of the High-Béarn , in the Southwest of France.It is formed in the Aspe Circus, below the Aspe peak ....
- Ancient Diocese of OloronAncient Diocese of OloronThe former Catholic Diocese of Oloron in south-west France was suppressed after the French Revolution, by the Concordat of 1801. It dated from the sixth century....
- Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department