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. 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.
Contents
History
The department of Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme and Basses-Alpes. 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
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", 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.
Principal towns
The most populous commune is Avignon, the prefecture. As of 2023, there are eight communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants:
Demographics
Population development since 1801:
Politics
Departmental council
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
Vaucluse is represented as follows in the National Assembly:
Vaucluse is represented as follows in the Senate:
Transport
Air
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
Vaucluse is served by Avignon TGV station on the LGV Méditerranée.