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19-629: Defined as a natural region , Astarac is located in Gascony , south of the department of Gers and north of the department of Hautes-Pyrénées . Bordering on the Lannemezan plateau , it is a very hilly region with clay soil , crossed by several rivers including the Baïse , Arrats and Gers , which have led to the formation of artificial lakes such as the Lac de l'Astarac . Astarac borders Armagnac to

38-506: A natural region ( French : région naturelle ), traditionally called a " pays ", is a territory of often limited extent (at most a few hundred square kilometers) with homogeneous physical characteristics ( geomorphology , geology, climate, soils, water resources) associated with a human occupation that shares a distinct cultural identity (perception and management of land that develop specific landscapes). In some cases, traditional "pays" are subdivided into smaller territories; for example,

57-569: A Gallo-Roman domain name based on the local name Aster ( Uciando Aster , Dato Aster , Sancio Aster , Atton Aster are documented personal names, the first three in Bigorre , the fourth in Lézat-sur-Lèze ). The village of Asté, near Beaucens , is an ancient Aster . Linguist Joan Coromines likens this name to the biscayan word: azterren , meaning 'root' or 'foundation'. Dates should be approached with extreme caution. Usually

76-425: Is located in the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté of eastern France . The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne (or louhannaise ), which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire , and Bresse , which is located in the department of Ain . The corresponding adjective is bressan , and the inhabitants are Bressans . Bresse extends from

95-466: Is noted for the 1,200,000 chickens per year which are raised primarily outdoors by 330 stockbreeders, with a minimum of 10 square metres per bird. They are sold at an average of 10 euros per kilo. The chickens of Bresse, formerly ranging freely, were the first animals to have an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée . Bresse chickens are noted as the best quality chicken for cooking. The Bleu de Bresse cheese originates here. A chiefly rural region, Bresse

114-565: Is the main form of economic output in this region. Astarac is in the area of influence of the Gascon language . The arms of Astarac county are blazoned as follows: quartered sections of Or (gold/yellow) and Gules (red). This coat of arms is also used by the House of Astarac . Astarac (in the Middle Ages : Asteriacum , Asteirac ) is a priori , like its homonym Estirac, for

133-572: The Bresse region is divided into Bresse bourguignonne (including Bresse louhannaise and Bresse chalonnaise ), Bresse savoyarde , and Bresse comtoise . In Corsica , the term microrégion is used, with the island being divided into about fifteen such regions. The word "pays" derives from the Latin " pagus ". Many natural regions in France have historically corresponded to political boundaries from

152-605: The Dombes on the south to the river Doubs on the north, and from the Saône eastwards to the Jura mountains , measuring some 60 miles (97 km) in the former, and 20 miles (32 km) in the latter direction. It is a plain varying from 600–800 feet (180–240 m) above the sea, with few eminences and a slight inclination westwards. Heaths and coppice alternate with pastures and arable land; pools and marshes are numerous, especially in

171-487: The House of Savoy in 1272. It was not until the first half of the 15th century that the province, with Bourg as its capital, was founded as such. In 1601 it was ceded to France by the Treaty of Lyon , after which it formed (together with the province of Bugey / Bugê ) first a separate government and later part of the government of Burgundy . Initially, Bâgé was the principal city of the province. But its location, close to

190-673: The Middle Ages , inherited from the Gallo-Roman pagi , and sometimes, through them, the territory of a Gallic people or the influence of a city on its hinterland (such as Vendômois ). The definition of a natural region may stem from the work of a local scholarly society, local scholars (for example, the Chinonais studied by the Amis du Vieux Chinon or the Lochois described in the works of local scholar Jacques-Marie Rougé and illustrated by

209-628: The borders of France, encouraged the emergence of Bourg-en-Bresse , which became the capital. The province was coveted by the King of France, who wanted to increase his territory. The flat nature of Bresse was difficult to defend. Finally, the sovereigns of Savoy ( Savouè ) agreed to relocate to the Alpine part of the Duchy and to give up Bresse and Bugey in exchange for Château-Dauphin in Piedmont . Bresse

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228-493: The exact dates of accession and death are unknown and only floruit dates can be provided. Further, the sources do not always give the same dates. 43°31′N 0°24′E  /  43.51°N 0.40°E  / 43.51; 0.40 This article related to geography of France is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This French history –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Natural regions of France In France ,

247-728: The north. Its chief rivers are the Veyle , the Reyssouze and the Seille , all tributaries of the Saône . The soil is gravelly clay but moderately fertile, and cattle-raising is largely carried on. The region is, however, more especially celebrated for its table poultry. The region's name derives from the Gallo-Roman name Bricius (Brice). During the Middle Ages Bresse belonged to the lords of Bâgé , from whom it passed to

266-553: The northwest, the Rivière-Basse and Bigorre to the west, the Magnoac  [ fr ] to the southeast, and Comminges to the east. Its principal cities are Mirande , Masseube , Miélan , Tournay , Pavie , Idrac-Respaillès , Castelnau-Barbarens , Berdoues , Ponsampère , Mont-d'Astarac , Miramont-d'Astarac , Laas d'Astarac , and Fontrailles . Astarac is a region of scattered settlements. Livestock farming

285-429: The other hand, identifies 426 with 1800 natural units. The relatively vague notion of traditional "pays" or natural regions limits the possibility of establishing a precise list. Different entities, each equally relevant but based on different criteria or perspectives, may overlap in the same geographic area. Bresse Bresse ( French pronunciation: [bʁɛs] ) is a former French province . It

304-595: The present, and are appreciated by the population, seeing them as a way of maintaining social bonds. These festivals generally take place between January and March. The people gather at a large banquet during which traditional " rigodon " music is played by two musicians, on clarinet and drum . The banquet is entirely organized by 20-year-old people, who make it a point of honour to personally invite each guest to visit their home. They are then given rosettes, in distinctive designs corresponding to their age. The conscripts' festivals coincide with patron saints' days. Those are

323-697: The terroir museum in Loches ), or ancient rural identities, particularly since the 16th century. Over time, natural regions, conflated with the political power that administered them, may have given their names to much larger entities. This sometimes leads to confusion, as the same name often designates very different areas, sometimes unrelated to the original regions bearing that name (the natural region, its more or less enduring historical zone of influence, and its possible administrative forms). There are many examples: Bénédicte and Jean-Jacques Fénié list 546 "pays" from Pays d'Ach to Pays d'Yveline. Frédéric Zégierman, on

342-516: The women, a wide-brim hat, in the shape of a plate, topped by a black cone. For men, they comprise a blue tunic, a long bonnet, long trousers and shoes. The "conscripts' festival" ( la fête des conscrits ) is a ceremony for young people, 20 years of age. It has its roots in the period of " conscription " founded by General Jourdan in 1798, who required that every man between 20 and 25 years could be called to national service. The people organized festivals before their departure. The ceremonies survive to

361-466: Was historically organized around an agricultural economy. The countryside is bocage (woodlands), resulting in independent individuals within the community, organized around the parish and the commune . Social structures, then, are defined by a mixture of conservatism, attachment to ancestral values, and direct democratic participation in community life. The traditional festival costumes of Bresse are preserved by historical societies. They include, for

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