Country France Intercommunality Pays d'Aix Area 54.31 km² Local time Saturday 7:31 PM | Department Bouches-du-Rhône Time zone CET (UTC+1) Population 1,034 (2012) Arrondissement Aix-en-Provence | |
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Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Canton Aix-en-Provence-Nord-Est Weather 7°C, Wind N at 10 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
Vauvenargues is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is close to Aix-en-Provence and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire.
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Map of Vauvenargues, France
Chateau of Vauvenargues
The chateau in Vauvenargues stands on the site of a Roman fort which eventually was incorporated in a medieval fortress controlled by the Counts of Provence and later the Archbishops of Aix. For 250 years until the French revolution it was the seat of the de Clapiers family, who rebuilt the chateau in its present form and on whom Louis XV bestowed the title Marquis of Vauvernagues. For 150 years after that it was occupied by the d'Isoard family. In the mid-twentieth century its connection with French nobility lapsed. It was eventually bought in 1958 by Pablo Picasso, who was resident until 1962. Picasso and his wife Jacqueline are buried in the forecourt of the chateau, which is still the private property of the Picasso family.