Valréas

Valréas

A view over the roofs, to the south of the village of Valréas

Coat of arms
Valréas

Coordinates: 44°23′06″N 4°59′28″E / 44.385°N 4.9911°E / 44.385; 4.9911Coordinates: 44°23′06″N 4°59′28″E / 44.385°N 4.9911°E / 44.385; 4.9911
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Vaucluse
Arrondissement Avignon
Canton Valréas
Intercommunality L'Enclave des Papes
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Guy Morin
Area1 57.97 km2 (22.38 sq mi)
Population (2007)2 9,771
 • Density 170/km2 (440/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 84138 / 84600
Elevation 158–530 m (518–1,739 ft)
(avg. 276 m or 906 ft)
Website http://www.valreas.net

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Valréas is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

History

The area around the town of Valréas is known as L'Enclave des Papes. It is an enclave of Vaucluse, surrounded by the department of the Drôme. The foundation of the Enclave began in 1317 when Pope John XXII bought Valreas for the papacy of Avignon. The story goes that following a visit to Valreas, feeling unwell he was offered some wine from the area. Liking it he decided to purchase the town to ensure his wine supply. Over the next 150 years or so his successors added to the Enclave by the addition of the small towns of Visan, Richerenches and Grillon. The boundaries were defined by tall stone markers carrying the coat of Arms of the Popes. The present day boundaries are still delimited by some of these stones, one of which is outside the entrance to the Valreas Tourist office. When the departments of France were created after the Revolution the people of the Enclave requested to remain as part of the department of Vaucluse (see Comtat Venaissin). Hence the "Enclave des Papes".

Twin towns

Valréas is twinned with:

See also

References

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