his 1863 dictionary noted that the commune had a Lay Abbey, vassal of the Viscounts of Soule. In 1790 Barcus was the capital of a Canton dependent on the District of Mauleon Licharre and made up of the communes of Barcus, L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise, and Roquiague. Barcus appears as Barcux on the 1750 Cassini Map and the same on the 1790 version. Administration List of Successive Mayors Inter-communality The commune is part of five inter-communal structures: the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque; the AEP association of Pays de Soule; the sanitation association of Pays de Soule; the Energy association of Pyrénées-Atlantiques; the inter-communal association to support Basque culture. Demography The Journal'' by Pierre Casalivetery, Notary at Mauléon, during 1460-1481 counted 26 fires at Barcus and 210 for the years 1540–1548, indicating a rapidly growing population. In 2017 the commune had 642 inhabitants. Economy Economic activity is mainly oriented towards agriculture (mixed farming and sheep farming). The commune is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) zone designation of Ossau-iraty. Culture and heritage Civil heritage The Lamiñen ziloa ("Cave of laminak" in Basque). Laminak are small lutins in Basque mythology. A treasure trove of Celtiberian currency (400-100 BC.) was discovered in 1879. Composed of 1,750 silver coins from different cities of Navarre and Aragon, the reason for their presence in Barcus remains controversial. A gaztelu zahar stands at 440 metres above sea level in the Haitzhandia locality. Religious heritage The Parish Church of the Ascension (Middle Ages) is registered as an historical monument. It was largely rebuilt in the 19th century and restored in the 20th century. It contains a Bronze Bell (1689) that is registered as an historical object. Cultural events In 2009 Barcus organised a Pastoral, a Soule traditional show mixing theatre, dancing and singing. There is a Pastoral throughout winter until April on Sundays in other villages of Soule. Notable people linked to the communeLéon Urthuburu, vice-consul for France in Guayaquil, Ecuador, originally from Barcus, he bequeathed Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands to the commune in 1860. Despite his efforts Barcus never took possession.Pierre Topet, alias "Etxahun", born in Barcus (1786-1862), a Basque poet.Jean Touan, born in 1817 at Barcus, was the founder of the Café Tortoni in Buenos Aires. The café was bequeathed to Célestin Curutchet in 1872, another native of Barcus.André Chilo''', French rugby player, born on 5 July 1898 at Bordeaux and died on 3 November