Nay, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Nay

Town hall
Nay
Administration
Country France
Region Aquitaine
Department Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement Pau
Canton 2 cantons
Intercommunality Vath Vielha
Mayor Guy Chabrout
(2008–2012)
Statistics
Elevation 244–402 m (801–1,319 ft)
(avg. 352 m/1,155 ft)
Land area1 5.27 km2 (2.03 sq mi)
Population2 3,288  (2006)
 - Density 624 /km2 (1,620 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 64417/ 64800
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Nay (from the Latin: oppidum nayum) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.

It lies in the former province of Béarn.

Contents

Geography

The land of the commune are crossed by the Gave de Pau and one of its tributaries, the Béez

Place names

Claracq, on the other side of the Gave de Pau, was once a separate town. Today, it is a district of Nay, along the canal.

Neighboring communes

History

The fortified town (Bastide) was founded in 1302, by Marguerite de Moncada, Viscountess of Béarn, after she had purchased the land from the Hôpital Sainte-Christine de Gabas. Nay had much to suffer throughout its history; the town was destroyed in 1534 by a fire, of unknown origin, which entirely consumed the city. Shortly thereafter, the religious wars followed, and in 1569, the papists plundered the town, and the Huguenots returned with vigor. Among Protestants who emigrated, Mr. Olivier, an ancestor of British actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The town was famous for other children, including De Solano, born in 1772, who became Governor of the Manila Islands. Thereafter, Nay became a very industrial city, specializing in spinning, which flourished in this area so much so, that it became nicknamed "Little Manchester"

Heraldry

The Coat of Arms of Nay are blasoned as follows:

Azure field, two gold rams facing underneath three silver crosses, the chief gules charged with three gold stars [1].

City administration

In 1973, Nay and the nearby commune of Bourdettes merged into a single commune. They remained merged until 1 January 1997.

In 2006, the communal government had thirty-two officers and employees; this was fewer than it had been in 2001.

Mayors of Nay
Election date Name
Data before 1995 is not currently available.
1995 Maurice Triep-Capdeville
2001 Robert Malterre
2008 Guy Chabrout

Demographics

Population history
1896 1901 1926 1936 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006
3640 3670 3520 3205 3457 3444 3440 3171 3275 3294 3204 3288
INSEE figures - 1962 : Population without double-counting.

Religious heritage

The Église Saint-Vincent (15th Century) (M.H.): The west wall was built before the house and the bell of 1245, which still rings. The bell tower (33 m) was added in 1520.

Orgue de Busnel (1676) (M.H.): pulpit, font and leaf (16th Century), Way of the Cross, statues and paintings (17th and 19th Centuries).

Chappelle Saint-Joseph (1897) - stained glass (1900).

Civil heritage

Vaulted galleries on 4 levels, stairs, frame home on the street, wooden railings, fireplaces, floors and ceilings.

Includes an exposition of Béarnais furniture from the 17th through the start of the 19th century, representing the major schools of furniture (Morlaàs, Monein, etc.) of béarnaise ethnology.

Temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.

To see

Current town projects

Projects

Events

Famous persons

Equipment and education

The commune has a primary school (école du fronton[2]), a collège (collège Henri IV[3]) and a municipal swimming pool.

See also

External links

(Most if not all links are in French)

References

  1. ^ Armorial du Béarn, Volume I (1696-1701) p.165
  2. ^ Site de l'école du fronton
  3. ^ Site du collège Henri IV