Lavedan

The Lavedan (in Gascon lo Labedan , /lu laβedã/) is an area of Gascogne, and more particularly of the Bigorre, in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Etymology

The name of Lavedan is documented in the old forms: in pago Lavetanense (v. 860), Levitanensis vicecomes (v. 980), vicecomites Levitanicæ vallis (v. 1060), Ramundus de Levitania (1095), homines Baredgie and Levitani (v. 1110), A. of Laueda (1114), Vinestock Garsie de Lavedan (1283), terram of Lavedaa (1285).

It is consisted of the Latin suffix - etan, - itan typical in particular of the Iberian names of people. The radical is Lau-/Leu-.

Geography

Lavedan corresponds to the basin of the Gave of Pau upstream of Lourdes with in particular the valleys of the Gave de Gavarnie, the Gave de Cauterets and the Gave d' Azun. Lavedan communicates with the Vallée of Campan (valley of the Adour) by the Col of Tourmalet and with the Vallée of Ossau by the Cirque of Litor (in the east of the Col of Aubisque; indeed the left bank of high the Vallée of Ouzom is Ossalois E whereas the Right Bank is attached to the Val of Azun). The Franco-Spanish, passable border by many port S, separates it from the Aragon.

Principal cities

The principal cities are Argelès-Gazost, Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Saver, Gèdre and Gavarnie.

Hydrography

(G) Affluent left bank ; (D) Affluent Right Bank ; (=) principal Course (synonymous) .

Linguistic situation

Lavedan is included in the linguistic field Gascon.

Principal sites

Lavedan gives access in particular to many sites of mountains of the central Pyrenees:

Vignemale
Peak of Néouvielle ( Neuvielha )
Circus of Gavarnie
Lake Gaube
bridge of Spain

On the slopes of the Peak of the South of Bigorre and Collar of Tourmalet, the station of Barèges it Mongie offers the greatest skiable field the French Pyrenees. The ski stations of Cauterets, Luz-Ardiden and Gavarnie are also among most famous of the Pyrenees.

History

Lavedan was composed of 7 valleys, which formed entitées relatively self-sufficing and autonomous (one indicated them names of beats , arribère “valley” or d' estrém “valley offset”) : ; Surguère Beats (or Batsurguère): A small valley left bank at the entry of the lavedan which gathers the communes of Ségus, Aspin, Ossen, Omex, Viger. ; The estrem of Castelloubon: Corresponding to the basin of the Néez, it owes its name with the Casteth Louboû (old a Castrum Lupi “strong castle of the wolves”) with Cheust and gathers the communes of Juncalas, Geu, Ger, Lugagnan, Saint-Créac (which included today Antalos and Justous), Ousté, Berbérust-Lias, Warped-Cotdoussan, Germs-on-the Oussouet, Cheust, Gazost, Ourdon. ; The estrem of Rooms: Argelès (in the past Ourout and Vieuzac , become Argelès-Gazost in 1897), Ayzac-Ost, Agos-Vidalos, Ouzous, Rooms, Sère-in-Lavedan, Gez. ; The Valley of Azun: composed of the valleys of Arrens, of Estaing but also of grounds in the valley of Bergons and Right Bank of the high valley of the Ouzoum, it gathers the villages of Arrens, Marsous, No, Gaillagos, Arcizans-Top, Arras, Sireix, Bun, Estaing, Arbéost, Ferrières (including Hougarou). ; TheAcute one (or Dabantaygue): It corresponds to Eastern bank of the Gave of Lavedan and gathers the communes of Préchac, Boô-Silhen (including Asmets), Saint-Pastous (including Senta-Maria ), Ayros-Arbouix, Vier-Border, Artalens-Souin, Beaucens, Villelongue (including Ortiac), Saint-Orens. ; The arribère of Feels-Sabĩ or River of Saint-Savin: Saint-Savin, Lau-Balagnas, Adast, Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Soulom, Uz, Cauterets, Arcizans-Before. ; The valley of Barège known as “Country Toy”: Luz-Saint-Saver, Sassis, Sazos, Grust, Saligos, Chèze, Viscos, Vizos, Esquièze-Sère, Esterre, Viella, Betpouey, Barèges, Serve, Viey, Saint Martin's day, Gèdre, Gavarnie.

10th century at the 18th century, a Viscount of Lavedan was creates by a count de Bigorre with the profit of one of his sons but it did not cover the arribère of Saint-Savin or the valley of Barège

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