Vaucluse

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.

• Name — Vaucluse • Native Name — Vauclusa • Type — Department • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — France • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur • Seat Type — Prefecture • Seat — Avignon • Parts Type — Subprefectures • Parts Style — para • P1 — Apt Carpentras • Leader Party — LR • Leader Title — President of the Departmental Council • Leader Name — Dominique Santoni • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 3567 • Population Rank — 47th • Population Density Km2 — auto • Custom Label Sec1 — Department number • Custom Data Sec1 — 84 • Custom Label Sec2 — Arrondissements • Custom Data Sec2 — 3 • Custom Label1 Sec2 — Cantons • Custom Data1 Sec2 — 17 • Custom Label2 Sec2 — Communes • Custom Data2 Sec2 — 151 • Time Zone1 — CET • Utc Offset1 — +1 • Time Zone1 Dst — CEST • Utc Offset1 Dst — +2 • Footnotes — area French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than

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.

• Illustration — 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", 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. • Illustration — 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 m.

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

Population development since 1801:

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).

Vaucluse is represented as follows in the National Assembly: • Constituency — Member — Party • La France Insoumise — Vaucluse's 1st — Raphaël Arnault — LFI • National Rally — Vaucluse's 2nd — Bénédicte Auzanot — RN • National Rally — Vaucluse's 3rd — Hervé de Lépinau — RN • National Rally — Vaucluse's 4th — Marie-France Lorho — RN • National Rally — Vaucluse's 5th — Catherine Rimbert — RN

Vaucluse is represented as follows in the Senate: • Senator — Party — Since • Jean-Baptiste Blanc — LR — 2020 • Alain Milon — LR — 2004 • Lucien Stanzione — PS — 2020

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.

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

• Illustration — Pont Saint-Bénezet in Avignon • Illustration — Brantes • Illustration — Triumphal Arch of Orange • Illustration — Dentelles de Montmirail • Illustration — Château de Lourmarin • Illustration — Roussillon