Bidarray

Bidarray Bidarrai
Commune
Basque pelota
Coat of arms
Location of Bidarray
Bidarray Show map of France Bidarray Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 43°16′03″N 1°20′38″W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement	Bayonne
Canton	Montagne Basque
Intercommunality	CA Pays Basque
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Michel Anchordoquy[1]
Area ^1	38.20 km^2 (14.75 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	675
• Density	18/km^2 (46/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	64124 /64780
Elevation	61–935 m (200–3,068 ft) (avg. 120 m or 390 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bidarray (French pronunciation: [bidaʁaj]; Basque: Bidarrai)^[3] is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southwestern France.^[4] It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.^[3] Bidarray-Pont-Noblia station has rail connections to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Cambo-les-Bains and Bayonne.

Located here is the Noblia bridge, a Roman bridge that spans the Nive. According to legend it was built by the Laminak or Sorginak (witches) in one night, earning it the nickname "the Bridge of Hell".

Economy

The municipality is part of the production area for the Irouléguy vineyards. The activity is mainly agricultural. Bidarray is also part of the designation area for Ossau-Iraty cheese.

The purity of the waters of the Nive River has enabled the establishment of a fish farming activity. The river also allows for the practice of whitewater sports such as kayaking or rafting. A base has been established in the commune since 1991. Navigation is of moderate difficulty because most of its course consists of a succession of rapids and flat water stretches.

See also

• Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
2. "Populations de référence 2022" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 19 December 2024.
3. BIDARRAI, Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia (in Spanish)
4. INSEE commune file