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Origin and history

The Israelite cemetery of Bidache, created in the second half of the seventeenth century, is a historical monument linked to the establishment of a so-called "Portuguese" Jewish community in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The lords of Gramont, the rulers of Bidache, authorized the establishment of this cemetery as early as 1665, marking their support for this population. The enclosure, bounded by a wall of fence today ruined and a door of entrance in full-angle arch, houses about 100 tombstones whose inscriptions, sober, are limited to the names, first names and dates of death of the deceased.

Used until the second half of the 18th century, this cemetery reflects the ephemeral but marked history of the Jewish community of Bidache, scattered at that time. The burials, dated between the 3rd quarter of the 17th century and the 4th quarter of the 18th century, offer a rare testimony of funeral practices and the life of this minority in France under the Ancien Régime. The site, inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1995, includes the enclosure wall, the door, as well as the ground and basement, thus preserving a unique cultural and religious heritage.

The protection of the cemetery extends to its soil and basement, highlighting the archaeological and memorial importance of the place. Owned by a cultural association, it remains accessible although its state of conservation varies. Lapidary inscriptions, lacking biographical details, illustrate the discretion imposed or chosen by this community, while being a valuable source for historians. The location, along departmental road 653, and the cartographic accuracy considered "very satisfactory" (note 8/10) facilitate its identification in the Bidachian landscape.

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