| Benquet | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Arrondissement: | Mont-de-Marsan |
| Canton: | Mont-de-Marsan-2 |
| Insee: | 40037 |
| Postal Code: | 40280 |
| Mayor: | Pierre Mallet[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | Mont-de-Marsan Agglomération |
| Coordinates: | 43.8308°N -0.5006°W |
| Elevation M: | 60 |
| Elevation Min M: | 46 |
| Elevation Max M: | 91 |
| Area Km2: | 29.33 |
Benquet (in French pronounced as /bɛ̃kɛ/) is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.[2]
Benquet is situated 5miles south of Mont-de-Marsan, at the confines of the Landes forest and of the agricultural region of Chalosse. It is 55miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
Neighboring cities are: Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, Bretagne-de-Marsan, Saint-Maurice-sur-Adour, Saint-Sever, Bas-Mauco, Haut-Mauco.
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.
Its inhabitants are called Benquetois in French.
Mostly corn-growing, breeding (ducks, geese), foie-gras making. Agri-foodstuff research center.
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.
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).
People are mostly Catholic. The official language is French. The Gascon language is still spoken by some elderly people on some occasions.
Hunting (woodcocks, pheasants...) and fishing are very popular + walking (pilgrims to Santiago are still to be met), cycling, basketball playing.
| Previous stop Saint Pierre-du-Mont | Santiago Compostela pilgrimage Via Lemovicensis | Next stop Saint-Sever |