Ainharp () is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ainharbars. or Ainharbear. Geography Location Ainharp is located some 50 km west by southwest of Pau, 15 km southeast of Saint-Palais, and 10 km north-west of Mauleon-Licharre. It is part of the former province of Soule. Access The commune can be accessed by road D242 from Lohitzun-Oyhercq in the west passing through the village and continuing southeast to Mauleon-Licharre. The D344 road also goes to the north from the village through the commune then east to Espes-Undurein. The commune terrain is undulating of mixed farmland and forest. Hydrography Located in the drainage basin of the Adour, the commune is the source of numerous streams including the Lagardoye which forms part of the south-eastern border, the Quihilleri which forms much of the western border, and the Lafaure which forms much of the northern border. Localities and hamlets Agueberria Agueberriborda Aisaguerpia Aranco Armagnague Arranchiaga Barrechia Bente Bidartia Bidegainia Bolondo Bordagaya Bordalecu Cabanna Cacoa Carricaburu Carricabuya Carricart Chorho Elhorria Elhorriberry Erreguenia Estecachoury Etchebarnia Etchebestemborda Etchecopar Garay Habiague Intsauspia Jaigüberria Larria Leiciagueçahar Lohitzun Mercapidia Oyhemburia Oyhenart Palasiona Pekeix Sallaberria Urruty Uthuriet Toponymy The commune name in Basque is Ainharbe. Jean-Baptiste Orpustan proposed two etymological interpretations: a meaning of "low heather" from ilharr meaning "heather" and -be (from behere meaning "low") or "height of the low rocks" from gain meaning "high" and har meaning "rock" that indicates the high position of the village on the left bank of the Saison. The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune. Sources: Raymond: Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy Origins: Notaries: Notaries of Labastide-Villefranche Ohix:Contracts retained by Ohix, Notary of Soule Insinuations: Insinuations of the Diocese of Oloron Reformation: Reformation of Béarn History Paul Raymond noted on page 4 of his 1863 dictionary that the commune was a former priory in the diocese of Oloron and that there was a hospital for pilgrims. Administration List of Successive Mayors of Ainharp Mayors from 1929 Inter-communality Ainharp is a member of seven intercommunal structures: the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque the association to support Basque culture the intercommunal association of the Valley the intercommunal association for the construction and operation of the