Aldudes

The village Aldudes is part of Le Pays Quint[4] (Kintoa in Basque or Quinto Real in Spanish). The commune is an area of pasture belonging to Spain but cultivated by French farmers.

It is located in the Aldudes valley on the banks of the Nive des Aldudes in the Basque province of Lower Navarre. It is on the Spanish border some 20 km southwest of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port although it can not be directly accessed from there.

Access is by the D948 road from Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry in the north, which passes through the village then continues south to Urepel. The D58 road goes from the village through the length of the commune before continuing to Spain through Urepel commune. The Spanish border of Navarre forms the southwestern and northeastern borders of the commune.[5]

The village of Esnazu.

Located in the watershed of the Adour, Aldudes is traversed by the Nive d'Aldudes with its many tributaries, such as the Urbeltch Labiaringo erreka, the Aktieltako erreka, and numerous unnamed streams. Paul Raymond mentioned[6] the Autrin, a stream which rises in Aldudes and joins the Nive des Aldudes.

Aldude sign

[11]

The commune of Aldudes participates in five intercommunal organisations:

• the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque
• the intercommunal association for the development and management of the slaughterhouse of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
• the joint association of the watershed of the Nive
• the association to support Basque culture
• the energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques

According to the Map of the Seven Basque Provinces, published in 1863 by Prince Louis-Lucien Bonaparte, the dialect of Basque spoken in Aldudes is western Lower Navarrese dialect.

In 1952 the square in front of the church and the town hall was converted into a playing field for "laxoa". This ancient game of basque pelote is played with leather gloves.

At the entrance porch of the church is the target for the game.

The commune contains a number of sites that are registered as historical monuments:

• Houses and Farms (18th-19th century)[18]
• The Menementa Farm (1827)[10]
• The Iguxkagerrea Farm (18th century)[8]
• The Joalginenborda Farm (19th century)[9]

Other sites of interest

• Cromlechs: There are three Harrespils on the Argibel site. These are great circles of stone or "menhirs" for funerary purposes, dated from the 1st millennium BC. The Harrespil are notable due to their number (over 100 registered) and their witness to knowledge of ancient burial rites.

The commune has two religious sites that are registered as historical monuments:

• The 'Chapel of the Assumption (1868) at a place called Eznazu has been listed on the Inventory of cultural heritage since 21 March 2003.[7] It contains a Retable and Statues (17th century) which are registered as historical objects.[19]
• The Parish Church of Notre-Dame (17th century)[20] has a rosary which belonged to the Emperor Maximilian.

Other religious sites of interest

• Some Hilarri in the cemetery are from the 19th century - two from 1805.

• Palombière is the property of the association of the Baigorry Valley. This hunt at 500 metres above sea level was created in 1840 by the mayor of the town, Charles Schmarsow. Reorganized in 1880, it then passed into the hands of the Ospital family who still lead the hunt. The five Filetiers use five pantières or special nets and ten beaters to direct the pigeons to the nets.

• 
  Church of Aldudes
• 
  The Church
• 
  The Bank
• 
  Salting along the Nive
• 
  The Weir on the Nive
• 
  The Roman bridge on the Nive
• 
  The Roman Bridge
• 
  The Roman Bridge
• 
  The Urepel Bridge over the Nive
• 
  The Urepel Bridge
• 
  The Urepel Valley
• 
  A Basque pig farm
• 
  The War Memorial

The commune has a private primary school (Mendi-Alde).