Editing Pyrénées-Atlantiques

{{short description|Department of France}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Pyrénées-Atlantiques
| native_name        = {{native name|oc|Pirenèus Atlantics}}<br>{{native name|eu|Pirinio Atlantikoak}}
| native_name_lang   = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| type               = [[Departments of France|Department]]
| image_skyline      = Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (lac), 4.jpg
| image_caption      = [[Lac de Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle|Lake of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle]]
| image_flag         = Drapeau proposé pour les Pyrenees-atlantiques.svg
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Arms of the French Department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques.svg
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 64, P-A
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Pyrénées-Atlantiques-Position.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|15|N|0|50|E|region:FR_type:adm2nd_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = France
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat               = [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]
| parts_type         = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefectures]]
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Bayonne]]<br>[[Oloron-Sainte-Marie]]
| government_footnotes = 
| leader_party       = [[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
| leader_title       = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name        = Jean-Jacques Lasserre<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_footnotes     = {{ref|area|1}}
| area_total_km2     = 7645
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| population_total   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank    = [[List of French departments by population|36th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Departments of France|Department number]]
| blank_info_sec1    = 64
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissements]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Arrondissements of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department|3]]
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Cantons in France|Cantons]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = [[Cantons of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department|27]]
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Communes in France|Communes]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = [[Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department|546]]
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 64
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
| official_name      = 
}}

'''Pyrénées-Atlantiques''' ({{IPA|fr|pi.ʁe.nez‿at.lɑ̃.tik|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-GrandCelinien-Pyrénées-Atlantiques.wav}}; [[Gascon language|Gascon]] [[Occitan language|Occitan]]: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; {{langx|eu|Pirinio Atlantikoak}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] located in the [[Regions of France|region]] of [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] in the southwest corner of [[metropolitan France]]. Named after the [[Pyrenees]] mountain range and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], it covers the [[French Basque Country]] and the [[Béarn]]. It is divided in [[Arrondissements of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department|three arrondissements]] and its [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]] is [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]. In 2019, it had a population of 682,621.<ref name=pop2019>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep64.pdf Populations légales 2019: 64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques], INSEE</ref>

==History==
Originally named '''Basses-Pyrénées''', it was one of the 83 [[departments of France]] created during the [[French Revolution]], on 4 March 1790.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2X7S9G4eRsC&pg=PA128 |title=Collection générale des décrets rendus par l'Assemblée nationale |date=1790 |publisher=Baudouin |volume=11 |location=Paris |page=151 |language=fr |chapter=Décret général sur la division de la France en 83 départements}}</ref> It comprised the territories of [[Labourd]] and [[Soule]] (in the provinces of [[Guyenne]] and [[Gascony]]), as well as [[Basse-Navarre|Lower Navarre]] (still, at least nominally, part of the [[Kingdom of Navarre]]) and the Béarn.<ref>The history of the region, under the ''[[Ancien Régime]]'', can be found in the articles about those individual regions.</ref> It was initially divided in six districts, with the prefecture at [[Navarrenx]], before being moved to Pau on 14 October 1790.

[[File:Béarn - Pays Basque dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques.svg|thumb|left|[[French Basque Country]] (western side) and the [[Béarn]] (eastern side)]]
The 1790 administrative reform brought about [[End of Basque home rule in France|the end of native institutions and laws]]. All Basque estates representatives from Labourd overtly opposed the new administrative layout since it suppressed their institutions and laws. The representatives of Lower Navarre refused to vote in Paris arguing that they were not part of the [[Kingdom of France]]; those of Soule voted against. The brothers [[Dominique Joseph Garat|Garat]], representing Labourd, eventually voted yes, thinking that it would give them a say in upcoming political decisions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bolinaga |first=Iñigo |title=La alternativa Garat |publisher=Txertoa |year=2012 |isbn=978-84-7148-530-4 |page=44 |language=es}}</ref>

In 1800, during the Consulate, the six initial districts were replaced by five [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]]: Pau, Orthez, Bayonne, Mauléon and Oloron.

In 1926, as part of a vast reform launched by the government of [[Raymond Poincaré]], the arrondissements of Orthez and Mauléon were abolished, resulting in the three current arrondissements.

In the 1950s, the Basses-Pyrénées were one of the departments composing the newly created [[Regions of France|region]] of [[Aquitaine]].

In 1969, the name of the department was changed to "Pyrénées-Atlantiques", because the inhabitants of the department found the name of the Basses-Pyrénées pejorative compared to that of the [[Hautes-Pyrénées]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Décret du 10 octobre 1969 AUTORISANT LE DEPARTEMENT DES BASSES-PYRENEES A PORTER LE NOM DE PYRENEES-ATLANTIQUES |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000332059 |access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref><ref>This process occurred in almost all departments whose name included the word "bas" or "inférieur", for example Loire-Inférieure, which became Loire-Atlantique in 1957. Exception: Bas-Rhin.</ref>

On January 1, 2016, the regions of Aquitaine, [[Poitou-Charentes]] and [[Limousin]] merged to form the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

==Geography==
The southernmost department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it is bordered by the departments of [[Landes (department)|Landes]], Hautes-Pyrénées and [[Gers]] (to the north, east and northeast, respectively), by the [[Bay of Biscay]] to the west and by the Spanish provinces of [[Huesca (province)|Huesca]], [[Navarre]] and [[Gipuzkoa]] to the south. [[Lac Gentau]] is located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, as are the [[Lacs de Carnau]].

The [[Pyrenees]] mountain range crosses the department from east to west from the [[Col d'Aubisque]] to the mouth of the [[Bidasoa]] at [[Hendaye]]. The border with Spain follows the Pyrenean chain.

The highest point is at the Pic Palas ([[Communes of France|commune]] of [[Laruns]]), in the [[Balaïtous]] massif, on the Franco-Spanish border, at 2,974 meters.

The summit of [[La Rhune]] (900 m) is particularly well-known because of its proximity to the coast (about ten kilometers) and its [[Petit train de la Rhune|ancient tourist tradition]].

<gallery>
Pic Ossau Gentau.jpg|[[Pic du Midi d'Ossau]]
Vallée d'Aspe plateau de la Gentiane 2.jpg|The [[Aspe Valley]]
Colline-sainte-barbe.jpg|The French Basque Coast
</gallery>

===Principal towns===

The most populous commune is [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 11 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:<ref name=pop2019/>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2021)
|-
| [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 77,066
|-
| [[Bayonne]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 52,749
|-
| [[Anglet]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 41,153
|-
| [[Biarritz]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 25,764
|-
| [[Hendaye]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 17,796
|-
| [[Saint-Jean-de-Luz]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 14,601
|-
| [[Lons]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 13,915
|-
| [[Billère]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 13,866
|-
| [[Orthez]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,684
|-
| [[Oloron-Sainte-Marie]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,616
|-
| [[Urrugne]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,543
|}

==Demographics==
There does not seem to be a particular name to designate the inhabitants of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The western part is mainly inhabited by the [[Basques]] and the eastern part by the [[Béarn]]ais, who since the [[French Revolution|Revolution]] and the creation of the department have shared the same department. However, from 1790 to 1969, the inhabitants were called ''Bas-Pyrénéens''. The Pyrénées-Atlantiques have a fertility rate below the French average with 1.7 children per woman.

Population development since 1801:
{{historical populations|cols=2|align=none|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/64his.html|title=Historique des Pyrénées-Atlantiques|website=Le SPLAF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4176909?geo=DEP-64|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2016|publisher=INSEE}}</ref>|graph-pos=bottom
|13=1801|14=355,573|15=1811|16=383,502|17=1821|18=399,474|19=1831|20=428,401|21=1841|22=451,683|23=1851|24=446,997|25=1861|26=436,628|27=1872|28=426,700|29=1881|30=434,366|31=1891|32=425,033|33=1901|34=426,347|35=1911|36=433,318|37=1921|38=402,981|39=1931|40=422,719|41=1936|42=413,411|43=1946|44=415,797|45=1954|46=420,019|47=1962|48=466,038|49=1968|50=508,734|51=1975|52=534,748|53=1982|54=555,696|55=1990|56=578,516|57=1999|58=600,018|59=2006|60=636,845|61=2011|62=656,608|63=2016|64=673,986|65=2020|66=687,240}}

==Economy==
===Urban areas===
Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a border department, has cultivated a number of economic and cultural links with Spain.

Two urban concentrations exist in the east and west of the department: Pau, which has 145,000 inhabitants and 344,000 workers in the local area; and Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz which has 166,400 inhabitants and 235,000 workers in the local area.

===Tourism===
The department is known for its tourism industry:
<gallery>
File:Hendaye - 52496904880.jpg|[[Hendaye]]
File:L'Hôtel du Palais.jpg|[[Hôtel du Palais]] in [[Biarritz]]
File:Boulevard des Pyrénées Pau 02.jpg|The [[Boulevard des Pyrénées]] in the town of [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]
File:Gentau Pic du Midi Ossau.jpg|[[Lac Gentau]]
File:France Aquitaine Pyrenees Atlantiques Saint-Jean-de-Luz 01.JPG|The port of [[Saint-Jean-de-Luz]]
File:Ainhoa, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.jpg|[[Ainhoa, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Ainhoa]]
</gallery>

==Culture==
[[File:Pyrenees-Atlantiques topographic map-fr.jpg|thumb|300px|Topographic map of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques]]

The parts of the department that were part of Guyenne and Gascony, as well as Béarn, have a culture heavily influenced by the [[Basques]], but clearly different identities.

Both the Gascon [[Bearnese dialect|Bearnese]] variant and [[Basque language]] are indigenous to the region in their respective districts. Gascon in turn is a dialect of [[Occitan language|Occitan]], formerly the main language of southern France. It is more closely related to [[Catalan language|Catalan]] than it is to French. Basque is a [[language isolate]], not related to any known language. Today, French, the sole official language of the French Republic, is the predominant native language and is spoken by virtually all inhabitants.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including [[rugby union football]] clubs [[Aviron Bayonnais]], [[Biarritz Olympique]] and [[Section Paloise]]; basketball club [[Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez]]; and association football club [[Pau FC]].

The [[Pau Grand Prix]], an auto race first held in 1901, has hosted the [[World Touring Car Championship]], [[British Formula Three]], [[Formula 3 Euro Series]] and [[FIA European Formula 3 Championship]].

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Pyrénées-Atlantiques}}
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a stronghold of the centrist [[Democratic Movement (France)|Democratic Movement]] (MoDem). Its founder and president, [[François Bayrou]], has served as Mayor of Pau since [[2014 French municipal elections|2014]].

===Departmental politics===
The [[Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques]] has 54 seats. Its president has been Jean-Jacques Lasserre of the Democratic Movement since [[2015 French departmental elections|2015]].

===National representation===
In the [[2024 French legislative election|2024 legislative election]], Pyrénées-Atlantiques elected the following members of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 1st constituency]]
| [[Josy Poueyto]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|Democratic Movement]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Jean-Paul Mattei]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|Democratic Movement]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 3rd constituency]]
| [[David Habib]]
| [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 4th constituency]]
| [[Iñaki Echaniz]]
| [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 5th constituency]]
| [[Colette Capdevielle]]
| [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Euskal Herria Bai}}" |
| [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 6th constituency]]
| [[Peio Dufau]]
| [[Euskal Herria Bai|EH Bai]]
|}

In the [[Senate (France)|Senate]], the department is represented by [[List of senators of Pyrénées-Atlantiques|three members]]: [[Frédérique Espagnac]] (since 2011), [[Max Brisson]] (since 2017) and Denise Saint-Pé (since 2017).

==Heraldry==
[[File:Arms of the French Department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques.svg|thumb|142x142px|Coat of arms of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques]]
The [[coat of arms]] of Pyrénées-Atlantiques combines those of four traditional provinces:

# [[Lower Navarre]]
# [[Béarn]]
# [[Labourd]]
# [[Soule]]

==Twinning and cooperation==
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is twinned with:
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Misiones Province]], [[Argentina]] (since 2012)

==See also==
* [[Arrondissements of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department]]
* [[Cantons of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department]]
* [[Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Basses-Pyrénées}}

* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.le64.fr/ Departmental Council website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.pyrenees-atlantiques.gouv.fr/ Prefecture official website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://archives.le64.fr/ Archives of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.pyrenees360.fr/index.php?/category/panoramas-des-pyrenees-atlantiques Photography Panoramics 360° website]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070405114209/http://www.pyreneesguide.com/cats.asp?cID=17 Pyrenees-Atlantiques Monuments, Villages, Walks and Attractions]
* {{in lang|en}} [http://www.southaquitaine.angloinfo.com/ Information on living, working and visiting Pyrenees Atlantiques]

{{Departments of France}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyrenees-Atlantiques}}
[[Category:Pyrénées-Atlantiques| ]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Nouvelle-Aquitaine region articles needing translation from French Wikipedia]]
[[Category:France–Spain border]]
[[Category:Departments of Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1790]]