Lescar

Lescar (French pronunciation: [lɛskaʁ] ^ⓘ; Occitan: Lescar) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.^[3]

CountryFrance

Area

¹

27 km² (10 sq mi)

Population

(2023)^[2]

9,455

Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)

Quick facts Country, Region ...

Lescar
Commune
Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location of Lescar
Lescar Show map of France Lescar Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 43°20′01″N 0°26′05″W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement	Pau
Canton	Lescar, Gave et Terres du Pont-Long
Intercommunality	CA Pau Béarn Pyrénées
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Valérie Revel[1]
Area 1	27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[2]	9,455
• Density	350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	64335 /64230
Elevation	142–203 m (466–666 ft) (avg. 154 m or 505 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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Lescar is the site of the Roman city known variously as Benearnum, Beneharnum or Civitas Benarnensium, the location providing the name for the later region of Béarn.^[4]

In 841, Benearnum was razed by the Vikings and Morlaàs became the Béarnaise capital. However, from the twelfth century a new city grew up at Lescar. Lescar Cathedral was built during this period, and was the seat of the Diocese of Lescar until 1801.^[5] The remains of the last monarchs of all Navarre Queen Catherine I (†1517) and King John III (†1516) lie at the cathedral.

Today, Lescar is primarily a suburb of the nearby town of Pau. The commune of Lescar has joined together with 30 neighbouring communes to establish the Communauté d'agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées which provides a framework within which local tasks are carried out together.