The former capital of Soule, Mauléon is the face of the inland Basque country. Its medieval castle overlooks the village. The Haute-Ville was once a crossroads for meetings, fairs and trade. Today, the market is held here every Tuesday. Mauléon is considered the capital of espadrille. It is said that in the early 12th century, the King of Aragon's foot soldiers wore espadrilles, but to this day, no one can pinpoint the birth of this craft. From the 18th century onwards, espadrilles were manufactured in the Basque country by hemp and linen craftsmen, but it was in the 19th century that the shoe became very popular, when a family from Soulet began selling espadrilles in large quantities. After the 1914-18 war, a new rubber-soled sandal was launched by Mauléonnais Joseph Bidegain to make them more resistant, and espadrilles began to sell like hotcakes. In the 1980s, a major blow to Soulet production came with the appearance of Chinese espadrilles. Maulé's craftsmen and industrialists had to use their imagination, and the classic espadrille of yesteryear took on new colors, becoming essentially a shoe for relaxation and leisure. Today, the espadrille is a veritable fashion accessory, and while Mauléon is still the espadrille capital of France, the number of industrial workers has seriously declined... but the know-how has remained intact.

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