La Bastide-de-Besplas

La Bastide-de-Besplas is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Besplasois or Besplasoises.

Geography
La Bastide-de-Besplas is an old Bastide in the Massif de Plantaurel some 50 km south by south-west of Toulouse and 20 km west by north-west of Pamiers. Both the northern and southern borders of the commune are the departmental border with Haute-Garonne. Access to the commune is by the D628 from Montesquieu-Volvestre in the north-west which passes through the centre of the commune and the village and continues south-east to Daumazan-sur-Arize. The D326 branches off the D628 in the commune and goes north to join the D408 north of the commune. The commune is mostly farmland interspersed with some forest.

The Arize river flows through the centre of the commune and the village flowing from south-east to north-west where it continues to join the Garonne at Carbonne. The TaiVades stream rises in the north of the commune and flows north-west forming part of the northern border before joining the Arize on the commune border. The Ruisseau de Bergou forms the south-eastern border as it flows south-west to join the Arize. The Ruisseau d'Argain forms the southern border of the commune as it flows east to join the Arize in Daumazan-sur-Arize commune.

History
La Bastide-de-Besplas appears as la Bafude de Besplas on the 1750 Cassini Map and as la Bailute on the 1790 version.

Administration
List of Successive Mayors

Demography
In 2017 the commune had 380 inhabitants.

Religious heritage
The Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-pont (1663) is registered as an historical monument.

The Chapel contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
 * A Commemorative plaque (1728)
 * A Ceiling Mural (18th century)
 * A Statue: Christ on the Cross (16th century)
 * A Retable (17th century)

The Parish Church also contains many items that are registered as historical oobjects:
 * A Painting: The beheading of Saint John the Baptist (17th century)
 * A Bronze Bell (1410)
 * A Statue: Saint Louis (18th century)
 * A Statue: Virgin and child (17th century)
 * A Statue: Saint John the Baptist (18th century)
 * A Chalice (19th century)
 * An Offering Cross (19th century)
 * A Chalice (19th century)
 * A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (18th century)

Notable people linked to the commune

 * Louis Astre, French trade unionist, born in the commune, where his parents were teachers, and spent his early years there.
 * Henri Cuq, French Politician
 * Abbot Casy Rivière