Goust | |
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— Hamlet — | |
Artist's rendering of Goust and its ruined "City of the Hills" (1899). | |
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Coordinates: 42°57′N 00°27′E / 42.95°N 0.45°ECoordinates: 42°57′N 00°27′E / 42.95°N 0.45°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Aquitaine |
Department | Pyrénées-Atlantiques |
Arrondissement | Oloron-Sainte-Marie |
Canton | Laruns |
Commune | Laruns |
Area | |
- Total | 2.5 km2 (1 sq mi) |
Postal Code |
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Goust is a hamlet in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. For centuries it was governed as an independent republic,[1] and was never formally annexed by France. Noted for its centenarians, one pensioner was reported to have reached the age of 123.[2]
Contents |
Geography
Goust is located on the territory of the commune of Laruns. It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern (upper) end of the valley of the Gave d'Ossau in the Western Pyrenees, across the river from Eaux-Chaudes. At an elevation of 995 m/3264 ft, it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath across the Pont d'Enfer ("Bridge of Hell"). The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below.
The community is made up of 10-12 households, with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents. The traditional economy was based on animal husbandry, wool, and silk production, augmented more recently by tourism. All baptisms, weddings, and burials are performed at the Catholic Church in Laruns.
Due to its isolated situation, the inhabitants of Goust have evolved a curious funeral custom: the deceased is placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially-constructed chute, to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery.
History
Although self-governing for centuries, Goust's independence was recognized by France and Spain only in 1648. The government consisted of a Council of Ancients composed of three to twelve citizens, who elected a President for a term of five years.[3][4][5]
In 1896 the president proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization, which led to an uprising of the citizens.[6]
Although never formally annexed, Goust has not recently asserted its claim to independence, so is generally considered a part of France.
See also
- List of extinct states
- List of historical unrecognized countries
- Former countries in Europe after 1815
- Longevity claims
References
- ^ Eyriès, Jean Baptiste Benoît; Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun (1828). "Hameau de Goust, dans les Pyrénées". Nouvelles annales des voyages, v. 37. Paris: Librairie de Gide fils. p. 109. http://books.google.com/books?id=BdUBAAAAYAAJ&pg=109. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ Palma-Cayet, Pierre-Victor (1609). Chronologie septenaire de l'histoire de la paix entre les Roys de France et d'Espagne. Paris: Jean Richer. p. 445. http://books.google.com/books?id=RUtBAAAAcAAJ&pg=445. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ "Smallest Republic in the World," Dallas Morning News, August 15, 1896, p 8
- ^ "Pinhead Republics," Idaho Daily Statesman, May 9, 1894, p 5
- ^ Post, Louis F., ed (Feb. 3, 1900). "Little Nations Little Known". The Public: A journal of democracy 2 (96): 15-16. http://books.google.com/books?id=azLmAAAAMAAJ&pg=687. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
- ^ "Fighting for Journalism," Boston Daily Globe, July 14, 1896, p 8
Further reading
- Dix, Edwin Asa (1828). A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees. New York & London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 168-178. http://books.google.com/books?id=PEIbAAAAYAAJ&pg=168.
- Eyriès, Jean Baptiste Benoît; Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun (1828). "Hameau de Goust, dans les Pyrénées". Nouvelles annales des voyages, v. 37. Paris: Librairie de Gide fils. pp. 109-113. http://books.google.com/books?id=BdUBAAAAYAAJ&pg=109.
- Despourrins, Cyprien (1844), Itinéraire de Pau aux Eaux-Bonnes et aux Eaux-Chaudes. Imprimerie de È. Vignancour.
- Moreau, Adolphe (1863), Pau, Eaux-Bonnes, Eaux-Chaudes: bains, séjour, excursions, pp. 300–304.
- Palassou, Pierre Bernard (1815), Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des Pyrénées et des pays adjacents, p. 22.
- Perret, Paul (1882), Les Pyrénées françaises, vol. 2: Le Pays Basque et la Basse-Navarre, pp. 390–391.
- Robb, Graham (2007), The Discovery of France, pp. 19–21.
- Samazeuilh, Jean-François (1858). Voyage de Bayonne aux Eaux-bonnes et aux Eaux-chaudes, en passant par la Basse-Navarre et la Soule. Bayonne. pp. 210-211. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1032078.
- "An Unknown Republic". Chambers's Edinburgh Journal 10 (244): 165–166. Sep 2, 1848. http://books.google.com/books?id=1EgFAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA165.
- Vivien de Saint-Martin, Louis (1875 ff), Nouveau Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle, vol 2, p. 511.
- Walsh, William S. (1913) A Handy Book of Curious Information, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. pp. 732–733.