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Vaucluse

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Vaucluse
Vauclusa (Occitan)
Department
From top down, left to right: prefecture building and Palais des Papes in Avignon, Gordes (considered one of the most beautiful villages of France), Sénanque Abbey, Sorgue River and Nesque River
Flag of Vaucluse
Flag
Coat of arms of Vaucluse
Coat of arms
Location of Vaucluse in France
Location of Vaucluse in France
Coordinates: 44°00′N 05°10′E / 44.000°N 5.167°E / 44.000; 5.167
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
PrefectureAvignon
SubprefecturesApt
Carpentras
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilDominique Santoni (LR)
Area
1
 • Total
3,567 km2 (1,377 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total
572,056
 • Rank47th
 • Density160.4/km2 (415.4/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Department number84
Arrondissements3
Cantons17
Communes151
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi)

Vaucluse (French: [voklyz]; Provençal: Vauclusa (Classical norm) or Vau-Cluso (Mistralian norm)) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 572,056 as of 2023.[2] The department's prefecture is Avignon.

It is named after a spring, the Fontaine de Vaucluse, one of the largest karst springs in the world. The name Vaucluse itself derives from the Latin Vallis Clausa ("closed valley") as the valley ends in a cliff face from which the spring emanates.

History

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The department of Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme and Basses-Alpes.[3] The western part, the former Comtat Venaissin, had been part of the Papal States until 1791.

The then vastly rural department was, like the city of Lyon to the north, a hotbed of the French Resistance in World War II.

Geography

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The white and red summit communications tower on Mont Ventoux rising above a rocky peak under a clear blue sky
Summit tower on Mont Ventoux in Vaucluse

Vaucluse is bordered by the Rhône to the west (which marks the departmental border with Gard and regional border with Occitania) and the Durance to the south (which marks the border with Bouches-du-Rhône). To the north Vaucluse borders the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Mountains occupy a significant proportion of the eastern half of the department, with Mont Ventoux (1,912 m), also known as the "Giant of Provence",[4] dominating the landscape. Other important mountain ranges include the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Monts de Vaucluse and the Luberon.

Fruit and vegetables are cultivated in great quantities in the lower-lying parts of the department, on one of the most fertile plains in Southern France. The Vaucluse department has a rather large exclave within the Drôme department to the north, the canton of Valréas (Enclave des Papes).

Vaucluse is also known for its karst, including the karst spring Fontaine de Vaucluse after which "Vauclusian Risings" are named.

The Fontaine de Vaucluse is the source of the Sorgue. It is characterised by an upward movement of water from the depth of over 315 metres (1,033 ft).

Principal towns

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The most populous commune is Avignon, the prefecture. As of 2023, there are eight communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants:[5]

Commune Population (2023)
Avignon 92,188
Carpentras 31,619
Orange 29,706
Cavaillon 25,636
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 20,244
Pertuis 19,548
Sorgues 19,006
Le Pontet 18,386

Demographics

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Population development since 1801:

Politics

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Departmental council

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Departmental Council of Vaucluse
Composition after the 2021 election

Following the 2021 departmental election, Dominique Santoni of The Republicans (LR) was elected President of the Departmental Council of Vaucluse. She succeeded Maurice Chabert, who had held the office since 2015.

The Departmental Council of Vaucluse has 34 seats (two per canton). The French Communist Party (PCF) has 1 seat, The Ecologists (LE) have 2, the Socialist Party (PS) has 5, the miscellaneous left (DVG) has 4, the miscellaneous right (DVD) has 1, the Radical Party (PR) has 1, The Republicans (LR) have 10, the National Rally (RN) has 6, the League of the South (LS) has 2, while 2 members are registered as miscellaneous (DIV).

Representation in Paris

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National Assembly

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Vaucluse is represented as follows in the National Assembly:

ConstituencyMember[6]Party
Vaucluse's 1st Raphaël Arnault LFI
Vaucluse's 2nd Bénédicte Auzanot RN
Vaucluse's 3rd Hervé de Lépinau RN
Vaucluse's 4th Marie-France Lorho RN
Vaucluse's 5th Catherine Rimbert RN

Senate

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Vaucluse is represented as follows in the Senate:

Senator[7]PartySince
Jean-Baptiste Blanc LR 2020
Alain Milon LR 2004
Lucien Stanzione PS 2020

Transport

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Air

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Avignon–Provence Airport is the only airport in Vaucluse. However, there are no scheduled flights to and from the airport. Other nearby airports such as Marseille Provence Airport, Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport are also used by air travellers from the department.

Rail

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Vaucluse is served by Avignon TGV station on the LGV Méditerranée.

Tourism

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
  3. 1 2 "Historique de Vaucluse". Le SPLAF.
  4. ↑ "Mont Ventoux : tout ce qu'il faut savoir !". www.ventouxprovence.fr (in French).
  5. ↑ Populations de référence 2023: 84 Vaucluse, INSEE.
  6. ↑ Assemblée nationale. "Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français". Assemblée nationale (in French).
  7. ↑ Sénat. "Liste par département" (in French).
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