Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Saint -Jean -le- Vieux (Basque: Donazaharre ) is a commune with 862 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Pyrénées- Atlantiques in the Aquitaine region. By location leads the GR 65, which largely follows the historical course of the French Road to Santiago Via Podiensis.
Geography
Saint -Jean -le- Vieux is located at the foot of the Pyrenees, in the extreme southwest of France and part of the French Basque country. The village lies on the small river Laurhibar, a tributary of the Nive. The nearest town is Bayonne, which can be reached in a northwesterly direction over the D22 after about 55 kilometers of road. The next major French cities are Toulouse (218 km ) to the east and Bordeaux ( 192 km) to the north.
History
The name Saint -Jean -le- Vieux evolved from the forms Sant Juan el Viejo ( 1479 ), San Juan lo - Bielh (1513 ) S- Jean -le-Vieux (1650) and Sanctus Petrus de Saint- Jean -le- Vieux (1685 ).
In Roman times, Saint -Jean -le- Vieux was a location to Astorga at the foot of the Pyrenees, on the road from Bordeaux via Pamplona station under the name Imus pyrenaeus. It is called both the directory Antonine Itinerary, as well as cards from the year 211. The route of Saint-Jean -Pied -de-Port is emerging later. In excavations the remains of Roman buildings, coins and other finds were uncovered. Before the 13th century was located in Saint -Jean -le- Vieux, the largest hospice on the road to Santiago de Compostela. The chapel of Saint -Blaise - d'Apat ospitalea was the abbey of the hospice, which was operated by the Order of St. John.
Before the French Revolution, the village belonged to the area of the Pays de Cize in the province of Lower Navarre Basque Country (French Basse- Navarre ), which included the French part of the former kingdom of Navarre.
Coat of arms
Description: In gold nine ( 3, 3, 3) red-white split balls.
Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis )
Of the numerous medieval pilgrim facilities barely find traces. Today, Saint -Jean -le- Vieux provides for a stage pilgrim hostel (French: Gîte d' étape ), a hotel and private accommodation (French: Chambre d' hôtes ). The other St. James via La Magdeleine for only four kilometers away end point of the Via Podiensis Saint -Jean -Pied -de-Port, where the Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela, with the rise in the Pyrenees, begins.
Culture, attractions and economy
- Remains of the " Roman camp " and the Roman road from the first and second centuries.
- Harriet castle from the late Middle Ages, was once the headquarters of the hospice.
- The mansion Château d' Irunberri dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.
- The Chapel of Saint -Blaise dates from the 12th century.
- The church of Saint -Pierre. The portal of the 12th century is the only surviving part of the building from this period.
- In the cemetery there are two disk-shaped Basque steles dating from the 17th century.
Approximately 23 % of the population of the canton is engaged in agriculture. For agricultural products make cheese making and wine growing focus dar. The wine is marketed under the name Irouleguy (AOC ).