Bagnères-de-Bigorre (French pronunciation: [baɲɛʁ də biɡɔʁ] ⓘ, literally Bagnères of Bigorre; Gascon: Banhèras de Bigòrra [baˈɲɛɾɔz ðe βiˈɣɔrɔ]) is a commune and subprefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées Department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France.

The town was known in antiquity as Vicus Aquensis[4] (Latin for "watery neighborhood") and in the Middle Ages as Aquae Convenarum[5][6] ("Waters of the Comminges").

Its present name similarly means "Baths" (Occitan: Banhèras) of Bigorre, the area of southwestern France once inhabited by the Bigorri and now forming most of the department of Hautes-Pyrénées.

[7] Gules, 3 towers Argent, the middle elevated, enclosed by a surrounding wall the same, all masoned, embattled, windowed, and ported of Sable.

[8] Bagneres-de-Bigorre is relatively untouched by the west by south-west disturbances which blow out before the high border mountain range.

This barrier effect is felt up to the foothills so that springs, autumns, and winters are cool and rainy while summers are often hot and particularly stormy.

Bigorre was conquered by the Roman general Julius Caesar in 56 BCE and incorporated into the province of Gallia Aquitania.

[6] The area had recovered by 1171, when Centule III, count of Bigorre, granted "Aquae Convenarum" a liberal charter.

Mills were erected on widened canals fed by the Adour; in addition to grinding wheat, they were used to stamp cauldrons, forge scythes, and tanning hides.

In 1551, King Henry III of Navarre reformed the town's government, replacing its six consuls indirectly elected by a general assembly of the locals with a larger council of 40.

[6] The area's natural springs again rose to national prominence under Jeanne d'Albret,[4] who became queen of Navarre and countess of Bigorre upon her father Henry's death in 1555.

[12] Already badly disposed towards Catherine de' Medici, queen regent of France, Jeanne converted to Calvinism on Christmas Day, 1560.

As the people of Bagnères remained largely Catholic, following the onset of the French Wars of Religion after the Massacre of Vassy, arrests for heresy began in 1562.

While the Count of Montgomery was recovering Béarn from Catherine's allies in 1569, he went on to demand large ransoms from her other towns, including Bagnères.

The outbreak ended following a religious procession prompted by the "Lighting of the Liloye", a Marian apparition at the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Médous.

[6] During the French Revolution, "moderate suspects" took refuge in the city from 1789 to 1793, ready to flee to Spain if the situation worsened.

[12] The town's population had declined to around 7000 at the onset of the First World War,[12] which resulted in the expansion of industry in Bagnères, particularly in the field of railway rolling stock.

In June 1944, during the Second World War, a punitive expedition of a company of SS murdered 32 in the town and hundreds more in the valley in retaliation against the actions of the resistance in the region.

[6] List of Successive Mayors[13] Bagnères-de-Bigorre has twinning associations with:[14] The Community of communes of Haute-Bigorre (CCHB) was created in December 1994 to support joint development projects.

Today there are many SMEs and SMIs specializing in electrical equipment, mechanical, and aerospace industries located in the commune.

[12] The town has three museums: The city has several cultural centers: Many cultural events are organized: The town has an orchestra called the Harmony Bagnéraise and a choir called La chorale des chanteurs montagnards (Chorus of Mountain Singers) which is the oldest secular choir in France and Europe [ref.