Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur | Area 30,335 Mayor Francis Adolphe (PS) | |
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Map of Carpentras
Carpentras ([kaʁpɑ̃tʁa]; Provençal Occitan: Carpentràs in classical norm or Carpentras in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Contents
- Map of Carpentras
- Matzoh making room at carpentras synagogue oldest in france
- Les plus beaux marches de france carpentras la quotidienne la suite
- History
- Climate
- Traditions
- Personalities
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
It stands on the banks of the Auzon. As capital of the Comtat Venaissin, it was frequently the residence of the Avignon popes; the Papal States retained possession of the Venaissin until the French Revolution. Nowadays, Carpentras is a commercial center for Comtat Venaissin and is famous for the black truffle markets held from winter to early spring.
Matzoh making room at carpentras synagogue oldest in france
Les plus beaux marches de france carpentras la quotidienne la suite
History
Carpentras was a commercial site used by Greek merchants in ancient times, and known to Romans at first as Carpentoracte Meminorum, mentioned by Pliny, then renamed Forum Neronis ("Forum of Nero"); the city retains an impressive Roman triumphal arch, that has been enclosed by the bishops' palace, rebuilt in 1640, now a law court, and a machicolated city gate, the Porte d'Orange.
For the history of the bishopric of Carpentras, see Ancient Diocese of Carpentras.
At the beginning of the Avignon Papacy, Pope Clement V took up residence, along with the Roman Curia, in Carpentras in 1313. It was his successor Pope John XXII who settled definitively at Avignon.
Joseph-Dominique d'Inguimbert, Bishop of Carpentras from 1735 to 1754, established a great scholarly library which Jean-François Delmas, the current chief librarian, has called "the oldest of our municipal libraries"; known as the Bibliothèque Inguimbertine and now holding around 140,000 books, it is known to bibliophiles all over France and is scheduled to move into roomier quarters in the former Hôtel-Dieu in 2013.
Carpentras has been an important centre of French Judaism, and is home to the oldest synagogue in France (1367), which still holds services. In May 1990, the Jewish cemetery was desecrated (see French and European Nationalist Party).
Climate
In the Köppen climate classification, Carpentras has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), with cold winters and hot summers. The rainiest seasons are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), where heavy downpours may happen.
Traditions
Carpentras is famous for the Truffle market that takes place every Friday morning during the winter months.
Its traditional confectionery is the berlingot, a small hard candy with thin white stripes, originally made from the syrup left over from conservation of fruits.
Personalities
Carpentras was the birthplace of:
Twin towns — Sister cities
Carpentras is twinned with: