| Nay | |
| Native Name: | Occitan (post 1500);: Nai |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason ville fr Nay (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).svg |
| Arrondissement: | Pau |
| Canton: | Ouzom, Gave et Rives du Neez |
| Insee: | 64417 |
| Postal Code: | 64800 |
| Mayor: | Bruno Bourdaa[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | Pays de Nay |
| Coordinates: | 43.1811°N -0.2611°W |
| Elevation M: | 352 |
| Elevation Min M: | 244 |
| Elevation Max M: | 402 |
| Area Km2: | 5.27 |
Nay (in French pronounced as /naj/; Occitan (post 1500);: Nai; from the) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.[2] It lies in the former province of Béarn.
The land of the commune are crossed by the Gave de Pau and one of its tributaries, the Béez.
Claracq, on the other side of the Gave de Pau, was once a separate town. Today, it is a district of Nay, along the canal.
The fortified town (Bastide) was founded in 1302, by Marguerite de Moncada, Viscountess of Béarn, after she had purchased the land from the Hôpital Sainte-Christine de Gabas. Nay had much to suffer throughout its history; the town was destroyed in 1534 by a fire, of unknown origin, which entirely consumed the city. Shortly thereafter, the religious wars followed, and in 1569, the papists plundered the town, and the Huguenots returned with vigor. Among Protestants who emigrated, Mr. Olivier, an ancestor of British actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The town was famous for other children, including De Solano, born in 1772, who became Governor of the Manila Islands. Thereafter, Nay became a very industrial city, specializing in spinning, which flourished in this area so much so, that it became nicknamed "Little Manchester".
In 1973, Nay and the nearby commune of Bourdettes merged into a single commune. They remained merged until 1 January 1997.
In 2006, the communal government had thirty-two officers and employees; this was fewer than it had been in 2001.
| Election date | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Data before 1995 is not currently available. | ||
| 1995 | Maurice Triep-Capdeville | |
| 2001 | Robert Malterre | |
| 2008 | Guy Chabrout | |
The Église Saint-Vincent (15th century) (M.H.): The west wall was built before the fortified town (which was created in 1302 by Marguerite de Moncade, viscountess of Bearn) and the bell of 1245, which still rings. The bell tower (33 m) was added in 1520.
Orgue de Busnel (1676) (M.H.): pulpit, font and leaf (16th century), Way of the Cross, statues and paintings (17th and 19th Centuries).
Chapelle Saint-Joseph (1897): stained glass (1900).
Vaulted galleries on 4 levels, stairs, frame home on the street, wooden railings, fireplaces, floors and ceilings.
Includes an exposition of Béarnais furniture from the 17th through the start of the 19th century, representing the major schools of furniture (Morlaàs, Monein, etc.) of béarnaise ethnology.
Temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.
The commune has a primary school (école du fronton[4]), a collège (collège Henri IV[5]) and a municipal swimming pool.
(Most if not all links are in French)