Banca (; ) is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. It is part of the former province of Lower Navarre. Banca is part of Pays Quint (Kintoa in Basque or Quinto Real in Spanish), an area of pasture area which belongs to Spain but is cultivated by French farmers. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bankars. Geography Banca is located in the Aldudes valley on the banks of the Nive des Aldudes some 15 km south-west of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The western and eastern borders of the commune are the national frontier between France and Spain. Access to the commune is by the D948 road from Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry in the north which passes through the commune and the village and continues south-west to Aldudes. There are no crossing points in the commune to Spain. The commune is mainly rugged alpine pastures. Hydrography The Nive des Aldudes flows from Aldudes in the south-west, gathering tributaries such as the Antchignoko Erreka, the Ruisseau d'Hayra, the Latcharrako Erreka, and the Belechiko Erreka on the northern border, and continues north-east to join the Nive south of Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa. The Ruisseau d'Hayra rises in the south of the commune and flows north gathering tributaries such as the Lehaltzarteko Erreka, the Caminarteko Erreka, and the Legarzuko Erreka to join the Nive des Aldudes near the village. Places and Hamlets Achistoy Agnesto Amosta Antcharteko Borda Antcheigno Antcholako Etchola Antonénéa Apialépoa Ardaza Argaray Argaray (wood) Arrabit Array Artéko Borda Asundreykoborda Atchaurra Ausquiénéa Barberaénéa Barnetchia Basoritz Beguibelcha Behostemetaka Berginanto Berhain (pass) Betripeillonénéa Betrizina Bichar Bidabéheréa Bihurrieta Bordacharréa Bustanénéa Cardinalia Carminatéko Borda Chabukody Lépoa Champagne Chanchoénéa Changala Chaochako Kaskoa Chasperro Chinta Chiriatéguia Chuhy Churritcheguy Cocagaïchto Colomio Curutcheko Kaskoa Curutchetako Borda Dartépé Dominé Ehuntzaroy (pass, 971m) Elhorrieta (pass, 831m) Elichaldia Erdizako Borda Erreguéréa Errekaénéa Erremerreka Errolako Ithurria Esculeguy Etcheberria Eyhérazaïna Eyhérazaïnako Borda> Fagaldénéa Galant Gathuly Béhéréa Gathulyko Ithurria Gnafarénéa Gnimigno Golko Golomio Ithurria Goroldi Gorria Gosnaisto Guichonaenea Guildeizar Guzmuztiko Borda Halzéta Harguintoa Harrigaitzeko Kaskoa Harrigorri Harzia Hauzay Hayra Hayra (forest) Hayra Sar Hortz Zorrotz (rocks) Ilharragorria Ilharragorrikomalda Indiano Iramebako Borda Iramehaca Irausta Ithurrialde Béhéréa Ithurrialde Garaya Jaureguibeheréa Joanes Ederra Jokutako Lépoa Katchaenéa Labaquia Lechéa Legarzuko Borda Legaza (mill) Lehaltzarte Lekayoénéa Lepeder Lepobelcha Lezetako Lépoa Lindus Manechénéa Maneixhandy Marieyhéra Maristola Ithurria Maritcho Marmaroa Martinbelchénéa Matchin Ithurria Meharroztegui (pass, 738m) Mehatzé (pass, 1133m) Menta Minchendo Mizpira (pass, 832m) Mizparachar (pass, 1139m) Moroinborda Mutikoénéa Musquet Ohakoa Olapideko Etchola Olhaberrieta