Benquet

Benquet

Town hall
Benquet

Coordinates: 43°49′51″N 0°30′02″W / 43.8308°N 0.5006°W / 43.8308; -0.5006Coordinates: 43°49′51″N 0°30′02″W / 43.8308°N 0.5006°W / 43.8308; -0.5006
Country France
Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department Landes
Arrondissement Mont-de-Marsan
Canton Mont-de-Marsan-Sud
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Pierre Mallet
Area1 29.33 km2 (11.32 sq mi)
Population (2013)2 1,587
 • Density 54/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 40037 / 40280
Elevation 46–91 m (151–299 ft)
(avg. 60 m or 200 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Benquet is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Geography

Benquet is situated 5 miles (8 km) south of Mont-de-Marsan, at the confines of the Landes forest and of the agricultural region of Chalosse. It is 55 miles (89 km) from the Atlantic Ocean.

Neighboring cities are: Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, Bretagne-de-Marsan, Saint-Maurice-sur-Adour, Saint-Sever, Bas-Mauco, Haut-Mauco.

History

Benquet, belonging to the former royal province of Gascony, was under the rule of the abbey of Saint Sever. Jehan Bernard de Benquet, vassal of the prince of Navarre, had the title of Sénéchal of Marsan and of Gabardan. Fights with French Huguenots are reported here.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
17931,470—    
18001,281−12.9%
1806940−26.6%
18211,243+32.2%
18311,288+3.6%
18361,280−0.6%
18411,238−3.3%
18461,304+5.3%
18511,284−1.5%
18561,246−3.0%
18611,183−5.1%
18661,222+3.3%
18721,155−5.5%
18761,173+1.6%
18811,155−1.5%
18861,134−1.8%
18911,096−3.4%
18961,054−3.8%
19011,016−3.6%
19061,039+2.3%
19111,036−0.3%
1921907−12.5%
1926875−3.5%
1931832−4.9%
1936803−3.5%
1946801−0.2%
1954867+8.2%
1962858−1.0%
1968828−3.5%
19751,039+25.5%
19821,154+11.1%
19901,240+7.5%
19991,293+4.3%
20061,405+8.7%
20131,587+13.0%

Its inhabitants are called Benquetois.

Economy

Mostly corn-growing, breeding (ducks, geese), foie-gras making. Agri-foodstuff research center.

Twin cities

Benquet is the twin village of Muespach-le-Haut, on the German border. As a matter of fact, population from Alsace flew their region and found shelter in South-Western France when the Nazi troops arrived in the early stages of World War II.

Sights

Churches St John the Baptist (19th century) and Saint Christau (eleventh century). Benquet is a stopover on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago Compostela (route of Vézelay). Benquet boasts a the privately owned château de Laurens Castelet and a "miraculous" spring, close to the church of St Christau.

King Henri IV had an elegant home in Benquet: the Château-Vieux lodge (no longer exists).

Religion and language

People are mostly Catholic. The official language is French. The Gascon language is still spoken by some elderly people on some occasions.

Recreational activities

Hunting (woodcocks, pheasants...) and fishing are very popular + walking (pilgrims to Santiago are still to be met), cycling, basketball playing.

Events

See also

References

    External links

    Previous stop
    Saint Pierre-du-Mont     		Santiago Compostela pilgrimage

    Via Lemovicensis    		 Next stop
    Saint-Sever
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