Mauléon

Mauléon may refer to several communes in France. The most prominent is Mauléon-Licharre, often simply called Mauléon, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It lies in the historic Basque country of Soule, within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The area is rural, with an economy traditionally based on agriculture and small-scale industry.

Historically, Mauléon-Licharre served as the capital of the sovereign province of Soule during the Middle Ages and was the seat of the Lords of Soule. A notable landmark is the Château Fort de Mauléon, a medieval fortress that dominates the town’s skyline and preserves remnants of fortifications and displays related to the region’s history.

Administratively, Mauléon-Licharre is part of the Basque cultural area and shares heritage with Basque language and traditions. The commune remains a small community with a few thousand inhabitants, maintaining local markets, festivals, and opportunities for visitors to explore history, nature, and Basque culture.

The name Mauléon also refers to another, smaller commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. In both cases, Mauléon denotes rural localities with rich historical associations rather than large urban centers.

See also: List of communes in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.