Azet is located some 55 km south by south-east of Tarbes and 20 km west of Bagnères-de-Luchon. Access to the commune is by road D225 from Estensan in the west to the village. The public square of the village is 1,172 metres above sea level at the intersection of the Aure and Louron valleys with the Col de Val Louron-Azet to the south-east. The commune is very rugged and inaccessible with extensive forests in the south.[3]
The Ruisseau de Lustau flows north from the Lustou Lake in the south of the commune, gathering many tributaries including the Ruisseau de Sarrouyes which flows from lakes in the south-east of the commune, and becoming the Mousquere before passing the village and continuing north to join the Neste d'Aure north of Vielle-Aure.[3]
Climate
Azet has a mountain climate with high temperatures in summer.
The probable etymology of the name is Adet, adou, ados, âne, asou, then Azet meaning a place marking the end of the terrain which could only be crossed by donkey or horse.
History
Azet in winter
There is little evidence to trace the origin of the village except the church, which dates from the fourth quarter of the 12th century[4] In 1887 the village had two primary schools. Village resources were mainly pastoralism with livestock farming of sheep, cows, horses, and donkeys as well as crops such as wheat, rye, meslin, barley, buckwheat, beans, peas, potatoes, turnips, flax sprouts, and hay.
From the 1880s the population decreased due to the waves of typhoid fever during 1886-1887 and the rural exodus of young people.
Heraldry
Arms of Azet
These arms do not respect the rule of tincture and are therefore faulty.
Blazon: Azure, a fir proper between two donkeys Sable facing fess point all on a terrace in base Vert, in chief a crosslet Argent.
The Pyrenean House of Pastoralism is an educational and tourist centre on pastoralism in the mountains. The museum traces the history and development of pastoralism in France and worldwide.
Religious heritage
The Church
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.[4][11] The Church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.[4][11]
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