Trie-sur-Baïse

Trie-sur-Baïse
Trie cloister
Coat of arms
Trie-sur-Baïse
Location within Midi-Pyrénées region Trie-sur-Baïse
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Hautes-Pyrénées
Arrondissement	Arrondissement of Tarbes
Canton	Canton of Trie-sur-Baïse
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Pays de Trie
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Maryse Maumus
Area1	11.2 km2 (4.3 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	1,128
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	65452 / 65220
Elevation	224–360 m (735–1,181 ft) (avg. 242 m or 794 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Trie-sur-Baïse is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. It is the administrative center in a "canton" comprising 22 villages. It is famous for its annual pig festival known as "La Pourcailhade".

Origin of name

Trie-sur-Baïse is named after Jean de Trie, Lord of Toulouse.

Geography

Trie-sur-Baïse is a crossing point of five roads going to Castelnau-Magnoac (towards Toulouse), Lannemezan, Miélan, Mirande and Tarbes.

Timeline

• 1323 - Foundation of the bastide (a walled town)
• 1325 - Inauguration of a weekly market.
• 1355 - Siege and destruction of the town by the Black Prince.
• 1360-1362 - Town invaded and pillaged by the English four times.
• 1363 - Reconstruction by the inhabitants.
• 1849 - Modernisation of the town which takes on its current form.

Main sights

The Parish Church

The legend

In August 1355, the early inhabitants of Trie assembled to decide where the church should be built. Snow began to fall and covered the ground except for one spot in the shape of a cross. This is where they built the first chapel dedicated to our "Lady of the snow", who is, to this day, the protector of the town. The anniversary on the first Sunday of August is still a date for important local worship and rejoicing.

The Carmes monastery

The Carmes monastery

The Carmes monastery was founded in 1365. In 1659, arson destroyed the main buildings and only the church could be partly saved from complete destruction. The monastery was only rebuilt 60 to 70 years later.

The church was fully restored in 1992 and has today become a center of cultural activities. A typical example of meridional gothic architecture, the church is the centerpoint of local historical interest and its cloister has been reconstructed stone by stone in New York.

Economy

In Trie-sur-Baïse, there are shops to satisfy everyday requirements. In addition, every Tuesday, there is the traditional market.

From December to February, the special "marché au gras" (goose and duck produce) takes place on Sundays.

Also at the end of August is the "foire aux broutards", where over 3500 calves are sold.

Festivals

La Grande Pourcailhade

Main article: La Pourcailhade

The festival, called "La Grande Pourcailhade", was based around the theme of the pig and was traditionally held at the beginning of August. However, due to a lack of volunteers, notably for the pig-squealing contest, it was decided by the festival's organisers, the town's Office de Tourisme, that the festival would be cancelled for 2012 and thereafter until a more convenient date could be agreed upon (Office de Tourisme). August is a poor month due to it being the region's hottest month of the year and the time of year most French people, and therefore potential volunteers, take their annual holidays.

During the day, pigs and pork were the subject of various events, for example:

• the (human) pig-squealing contest,
• the sausage-eating contest,
• the best pig disguise contest,
• piglet racing.

In the evening, dinner was served and, to end the day with a flourish, musical entertainment was provided by a celebrity. After a run of 36 years, the last festival was held in 2011 and at the time of writing it remains a unique feature of the town's recent past.

This has now closed

Night markets

Each year, on July 13 and August 13, night markets with fireworks, disco, and dancing are held from 7 pm onwards on the town square.

Antique fair

At the end of July, an antique fair is organised where one can buy, sell or simply admire curios, pieces of furniture and artefacts.

Local fair

Around the first Sunday of August, the local fair takes place over five days with various activities for children and adults.

See also

• Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Homepage of Trie-sur-Baïse