Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques (
Gascon:
Pirenèus-Atlantics;
Basque:
Pirinio-Atlantiarrak or
Pirinio-Atlantikoak) is a
département in the southwest of
France which takes its name from the
Pyrenees mountains and the
Atlantic Ocean.
Basses-Pyrénées was one of the original 83 départements created during the
French Revolution, on
March 4,
1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of
Guyenne,
Béarn, and
Gascony and included the three traditional provinces of the northern
Basque Country:
Labourd,
Soule and
Basse-Navarre.
The previous history of the region, under the
Ancien Régime, can be found at those individual articles.
On
October 10,
1969, Basses-Pyrénées was renamed
Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is part of the
Aquitaine région of Southwest France.It is bordered by the
Landes,
Hautes-Pyrénées ,
Gers département and the
Atlantic Ocean .
Principal settlements include
Pau,
Biarritz,
Bayonne,
Anglet and
St-Jean-de-Luz.
The parts of the department that were part of Guyenne and Béarn have a culture heavily influenced by the
Basques.
Both the
Gascon language and the
Basque language are indigenous languages.
*
Cantons of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département*
Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département*
Arrondissements of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département*
Prefecture website (in French)
*
Conseil Général website (In French)
