Laàs
{{Infobox French commune
|commune status = Commune
|image = Laas-mairie--001.jpg
|caption = The town hall of Laàs
|arrondissement = Oloron-Sainte-Marie
|canton = Orthez et Terres des Gaves et du Sel
|INSEE = 64287
|postal code = 64390
|mayor = Jacques Pedehontaa{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}
|term = 2020–2026
|coordinates = {{coord|43.3825|-0.85|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 142
|elevation min m = 63
|elevation max m = 235
|area km2 = 6.46
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|intercommunality=|image coat of arms=Blason ville fr Laàs (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).svg}}
Laàs ({{IPA|fr|las}}; {{langx|oc|Lars}}) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
Neighbouring villages include Orriule to the north, Andrein to the north-west, Narp to the east, Barraute-Camu to the west, and Montfort to the south.
The town is notable for its self-declared secession from France as the Principality of Laàs en Béarn.
Principality of Laàs
The Principality of Laàs en Béarn is an initiative of the mayor of Laàs, Jacques Pédehontaà. He first proposed the idea in August 2011 to protest against the administrative reforms of the French government.[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/un-village-bearnais-veut-devenir-une-principaute-24-08-2011-1577574.php "Un village béarnais veut devenir une principauté", Le Parisien Libéré, 21 August 2011, online].
As of May 2014, the principality is registered as a non-profit association in the Prefecture of Pau.[http://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/2014/05/03/et-si-la-petite-commune-de-laas-devenait-une-principaute,1192232.php "Et si la petite commune de Laàs devenait une principauté ?", La République des Pyrénées, 3 May 2014, online]. In August 2014, it presented three animation projects, including a Hollywood Walk of Fame-like boulevard.[http://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/2014/08/19/mariages-princiers-et-hollywood-des-transhumances,1206511.php "Mariages princiers et Hollywood des Transhumances en principauté de Laàs", La République des Pyrénées, 19 August 2014, online].
The Principality officially declared its independence on 1 January 2015.{{Cite web|title = France: The principality of Laàs en Béarn {{!}} All media content {{!}} DW.COM {{!}} 29.10.2014|url = http://www.dw.com/en/france-the-principality-of-la%25C3%25A0s-en-b%25C3%25A9arn/av-18029122|website = DW.COM|access-date = 2016-01-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160923130213/http://www.dw.com/en/france-the-principality-of-la%C3%A0s-en-b%C3%A9arn/av-18029122|archive-date = 2016-09-23|url-status = dead}}File:Flag of the Principality of Laàs.svg
See also
External links
- [http://www.principaute-laas.com/wp/ Official website of the Principality of Laàs]
- [https://www.facebook.com/PrincipauteDeLaasEnBearn/ Facebook page of the Principality of Laàs]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Pyrénées-Atlantiques communes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laas}}
Category:Communes of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Category:Secessionist towns and cities
{{PyrénéesAtlantiques-geo-stub}}