Bellocq

Bellocq is a commune with 895 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Pyrénées- Atlantiques in the Aquitaine region. She is a Bastidendorf. The inhabitants are (it) called Bellocquais.

Geography

Bellocq is located in the former province of Béarn 13 km northwest of Orthez on the European road 80, also known there as Autoroute 64 or La Pyrénéenne. The Gave de Pau and the D430 traverse the municipality.

History

A settlement at Bellocq already existed in Gallo-Roman times. Around 200 AD, the Romans settled here, who brought viticulture.

The spelling of the name changed since the 12th century by Beitloc about Pulcher locus in 1286, Bégloc 1327 and later Belloc to Betloc in the year 1582. Its current name the village since 1801. The name Bellocq is the French version of the Gascon words Beth, the "beautiful" means, and LOC, which means " place ". It means " beautiful place ". In modern Occitan spelling it would have to write Belloc.

In 1250 decided Gaston VII de Béarn († 1290 ) to build a castle to protect the area around the place Orthez. In 1280 the castle was finished and a year later the Bastidendorf.

In the Middle Ages the town was very crowded because it was the Camino and very close to the post station in Puyoô. The representation of a pilgrim over the entrance of the church dates from that time.

Attractions

The quadrangular castle of Bellocq (Château de Bellocq ) was built in the late 13th century. It has seven towers. In the 14th century Gaston III had. Fébus (* April 30, 1331 in Orthez; † August 1, 1391 ) they work in the 17th century it was destroyed. Today it is partly privately owned, partly it belongs to the community. Since 1997 she has been classified as a monument historique (historic monument).