Provençal
Provençal may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Provence, a region of France
** Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the southeast of France
** ''Provençal'', meaning the whole Occitan language
* Provenca ...
: ''Leberon'' or ''Leberoun'' ) is a
massif
A massif () is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central). In mountaineering literature, ''massif'' is frequently used to denote the main mass of an ...
in central
Provence
Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which stretches from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the France–Italy border, Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterrane ...
in
Southern France
Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as , is a geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', Atlas e ...
, part of the
French Prealps
The French Prealps ( ); are a group of subalpine mountain ranges of medium elevation located immediately west of the French Alps. They roughly stretch from Lake Geneva southwest to the rivers Isère and Drôme; east to a line running from Chamo ...
. It has a maximum
elevation
The elevation of a geographic location (geography), ''location'' is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational equipotenti ...
of and an area of about . It is composed of three
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have aris ...
s (from west to east): Lesser Luberon (''Petit Luberon''), Greater Luberon (''Grand Luberon'') and Eastern Luberon (''Luberon oriental''). The valleys north and south of them contain a number of towns and villages as well as agricultural land; the northern part is marked by the
Calavon
The Calavon (; also called ''le Coulon'') is an long river in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse '' départements'', southeastern France. Its drainage basin is .Durance
The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .acute accent
The acute accent (), ,
is a diacritic used in many modern written languages with alphabets based on the Latin alphabet, Latin, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic, and Greek alphabet, Greek scripts. For the most commonly encountered uses of the accen ...
on top of the "e"); some dictionaries justify that the two spellings are interchangeable. The total number of inhabitants varies greatly between winter and summer, due to a massive influx of tourists during the warm season. It is a favourite destination for French high society and British and American visitors because of the pleasant and picturesque towns and villages, comfortable way of life, agricultural wealth, historical and cultural associations, as well as hiking trails.
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish writer of novels, plays, short stories, and poems. Writing in both English and French, his literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal, and Tragicomedy, tra ...
notably lived in Cave Bonelly, a vineyard near to
Roussillon
Roussillon ( , , ; , ; ) was a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and French Cerdagne, part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the region of ' ...
, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
In the last two decades the Luberon has become known in the English-speaking world especially through a series of books by British author
Peter Mayle
Peter Mayle ( "mail"; 14 June 1939 – 18 January 2018) was a British businessman turned author who moved to France in the 1980s. He wrote a series of bestselling memoirs of his life there, beginning with '' A Year in Provence'' (1989).
Early l ...
chronicling his life as an
expatriate
An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country.
The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
settled in the Luberon village of
Ménerbes
Ménerbes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main settlement in t ...
. These are titled ''
A Year in Provence
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''.
It is similar in shape to the Ancient ...
'', ''Toujours Provence'' and ''Encore Provence''. Another of Mayle's books, a novel set in the Luberon, was made into a film called ''
A Good Year
''A Good Year'' is a 2006 romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. The film stars Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, Abbie Cornish, Tom Hollander, Freddie Highmore and Albert Finney. The film is ba ...
'' (2006) directed by
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...
, starring
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor and film director. Russell Crowe filmography, His work on screen has earned him List of awards and nominations received by Russell Crowe, various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Gold ...
and filmed in the region.
Flora and fauna
Luberon is particularly rich in biological diversity. There are known to be around 1,500 species of plants, accounting for 30% of the flora and fauna in France, 17,000 species and sub-species of insects with almost 2,300 species of Lepidoptera, or nearly 40% of species living in France, 341 species and subspecies of vertebrate wildlife, 135 species of birds and 21 species of bats or 70% of species present in France. Among the 1,500 different species of plants, there are 700 species and sub-species of higher plants and 200 species of lichens. Rich
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
deposits are also preserved here, documenting for example ancient species related to
songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...
s, as well as an ancestral
pelican
Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...
.
Image:Snake (Elaphe scalaris) by JM Rosier.JPG,
Ladder snake
The ladder snake (''Zamenis scalaris'') is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southwestern Europe.
Distribution
The geographic range of the ladder snake includes Portugal, Spain, southern France a ...
Image:Habichtsadler.jpg,
Bonelli's eagle
Bonelli's eagle (''Aquila fasciata'') is a large bird of prey. The common name of the bird commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector Franco Andrea Bonelli. Bonelli is credited with gathering the type specimen, most likely from an expl ...
Image:Circaetus gallicus 01.JPG,
Short-toed snake eagle
The short-toed snake eagle (''Circaetus gallicus''), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus n ...
, the largest bird of prey of the Luberon
Image:Dectique à front blanc.jpg, Southern Wartbiter
Nuclear facilities
The ''
Force de frappe
The ''Force de dissuasion'' (), known as the ''Force de frappe'' ('Strike Force') prior to 1961,Gunston, Bill. Bombers of the West. New York: Charles Scribner's and Sons; 1973. p104 is the French nuclear deterrence force. The ''Force de dissua ...
'' or French strategic nuclear arsenal used to be located on the Plateau d'Albion before being dismantled in the late 1980s. Now, the underground site where the missile controls were located is a public multidisciplinary laboratory of the
University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...
Ansouis
Ansouis (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
* Apt, small town near the eastern end of the Luberon valley
*
La Bastide-des-Jourdans
La Bastide-des-Jourdans (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
See also
* Côtes du Luberon AOC
*Communes of the Vaucluse department
The following is a list of the 151 ...
*
La Bastidonne
La Bastidonne (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
See also
* Côtes du Luberon AOC
*Communes of the Vaucluse department
*Luberon
The Luberon ( or ; Provençal dialect ...
*
Beaumettes
Beaumettes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Geography
The village lies on the right bank of the Calavon, which forms all of the commune's southern border.
See also
* ...
*
Beaumont-de-Pertuis
Beaumont-de-Pertuis (, literally ''Beaumont of Pertuis''; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Beaumont de Pertuis is a small village situated in the Parc Naturel du Luberon ...
*
Bonnieux
Bonnieux (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,206. In the plain below the vil ...
*
Buoux
Buoux (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Located on the north side of the Luberon, the town is known for the high cliffs that surround it, making it a popular venue for ...
*
Cabrières-d'Aigues
Cabrières-d'Aigues (; Provençal dialect, Provençal: ''Cabrièras d'Egues'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in southeastern France.
...
*
Cadenet
Cadenet () is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Geography
Cadenet is a village located on the southern slopes of the Luberon Massif, overlooking the valley of the Durance. It ...
*
Caseneuve
Caseneuve (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Geography
The river Calavon forms the commune's south-western border.
See also
*Communes of the Vaucluse department
*Luber ...
*
Cavaillon
Cavaillon (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.
, small town at the western entrance to the Luberon valley
* Cheval-Blanc
*
Cucuron
Cucuron () is a village (Communes of France, commune) in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department, of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region, in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Cucuronnais''.
Located on ...
Gordes
Gordes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The residents are known as ''Gordiens.'' The nearest big city is Avignon; smaller cities nearby include Cavaillon, L'Isle-s ...
*
Goult
Goult (; Occitan: ''Gòud'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2021, it had a population of 1,080. The village is perched on a hill with a solitary road to the peak. Near ...
*
Grambois
Grambois (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Grambois is a renovated, perched medieval village and quite close to the Luberon mountains. This small town was used for the ...
*
Joucas
Joucas (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The town is located on the perimeter of the Parc naturel régional du Luberon.
Geography
Located between two of the "most beau ...
*
Lacoste
Lacoste S.A. (; ) is a French designer sports fashion company, founded in 1933 by tennis player René Lacoste, and entrepreneur André Gillier. It sells clothing, footwear, sportswear, eyewear, leather goods, perfume, towels and watches. The ...
*
Lagarde-d'Apt
Lagarde-d'Apt (, literally ''Lagarde of Apt''; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
It is a local centre for lavender distilling for the perfume trade, containing two laven ...
Lioux
Lioux (''Liuç'' in Occitan) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Vaucluse department
*Luberon
The Luberon ( or ; Provençal dialect, Provençal: ...
*
Lourmarin
Lourmarin (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Lourmarinois''.
Geography
Lourmarin is located in the French region of Provence, at the foot o ...
Ménerbes
Ménerbes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main settlement in t ...
*
Mérindol
Mérindol (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
The village, located south of the Luberon massif, has some prominence in the plain of the Durance river which demarcates t ...
*
Mirabeau
Mirabeau may refer to:
People
* Victor de Riqueti, marquis de Mirabeau (1715–1789), French physiocrat
* Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (1749–1791), renowned orator, a figure in the French Revolution and son of Victor
* André Bon ...
*
Murs
Murs may refer to:
People
* Marc Athanase Parfait Œillet des Murs (1804-1878), French ornithologist
* Olly Murs (born 1984), English singer-songwriter
* Murs (rapper) (born 1978), American rapper
Places
* Murs, Indre, France
* Murs, Vaucluse, Fr ...
*
Oppède
Oppède (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in southeastern France. ''Oppidum'' is the Latin word for 'fortified town'.
History
It ...
*
Pertuis
Pertuis (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in Vaucluse, a Departments of France, department in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, south of the Luberon. Pertuis has existed since at least 981, and a castle was first b ...
Roussillon
Roussillon ( , , ; , ; ) was a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and French Cerdagne, part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the region of ' ...
Saignon
Saignon (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France.
The nearest town is Apt, to the northwest.
There is a bakery/cafe, two restaurants, and a general store. The school has abo ...
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt (, "St Saturnin near Apt"; Provençal Occitan: ''Sant Savornin d'Ate'', before 1987: ''Saint-Saturnin d'Apt'')Sannes
*
Taillades
Taillades (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in southeastern France.
It is east of Cavaillon, and south east of Avignon.
Situated ...
*
La Tour-d'Aigues
La Tour-d'Aigues (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Southeastern France.
Geography
The town is located at the south of the Grand Luberon, away from Pertuis. It is the capital town of the Pa ...
*
Vaugines
Vaugines (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
It lies on the southern slopes of the Luberon Massif.
Vaugines has preserved its Provençal style, with its peaceful decor ...
La Brillanne
La Brillanne (; ) is a commune in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in southeastern France.
Population
Its inhabitants are referred to as ''Brillannais'' in French.
See also
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
Th ...
Forcalquier
Forcalquier (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Forcalquier is located between the Lure Mountain( fr) and Luberon mountain ranges, about south of Sisteron and west of the Durance river. Dur ...
*
Limans
Limans is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence d ...
*
Lurs
The Lurs, Lors or Luris () are an Iranian people living in western and southern Iran. The four Luri branches are the Bakhtiari, Mamasani, Kohgiluyeh and Lur proper, who are principally linked by the Luri language.
Lorestan province is name ...
*
Manosque
Manosque (; Provençal Occitan: ''Manòsca'' in classical norm or ''Manosco'' in Mistralian norm) is the largest town and commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. However, it is not the ''préfecture'' (capital ...
Montjustin
Montjustin () is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
Personalities
* Henri Cartier-Bresson was buried in the cemetery of Montjustin.
See also
* Luberon
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Pr ...
*
Niozelles
Niozelles (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Prov ...
*
Oppedette
Oppedette is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Geography
The commune is traversed by the river Calavon.
Population
See also
* Luberon
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The f ...
Pierrevert
Pierrevert (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Luberon
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alpes-de ...
*
Reillanne
Reillanne (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
It is due north of Toulon and west of Nice.
History
The earliest record of a city on this site is the Roman town of Alaunia in 909. That city was a ...
*
Revest-des-Brousses
Revest-des-Brousses is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Luberon
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alp ...
*
Saint-Maime
Saint-Maime (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It is located in the Luberon national park and is home to the 12th century chapel Chapelle Sainte-Agathe.
Geography
The village is located on a ...
Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire
Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It was the death place of 18th-century botanist Jean-Paul de Rome d'Ardène and Taos Amrouche, the French-speaking Algerian writer ...
*
Sainte-Tulle
Sainte-Tulle (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Luberon
* Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
The following is a list of th ...
*
Vachères
Vachères (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Luberon
The Luberon ( or ; Provençal dialect, Provençal: ''Leberon'' or '' ...
*
Villemus
Villemus is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
* Luberon
The Luberon ( or ; Provençal dialect, Provençal: ''Leberon'' o ...
Volx
Volx (; ) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Population
See also
* Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
* Luberon
The Luberon ( or ; Provençal dialect, Provenç ...
Golden triangle of Luberon
*
Bonnieux
Bonnieux (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,206. In the plain below the vil ...
, village on the border between the Little and Big Luberon
*
Gordes
Gordes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The residents are known as ''Gordiens.'' The nearest big city is Avignon; smaller cities nearby include Cavaillon, L'Isle-s ...
, facing the Luberon, this village is considered the top of the Golden Triangle (the base being made by the Little Luberon mountains)
*
Goult
Goult (; Occitan: ''Gòud'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2021, it had a population of 1,080. The village is perched on a hill with a solitary road to the peak. Near ...
, perched on a hill in the middle of the valley of the Luberon
*
Lacoste
Lacoste S.A. (; ) is a French designer sports fashion company, founded in 1933 by tennis player René Lacoste, and entrepreneur André Gillier. It sells clothing, footwear, sportswear, eyewear, leather goods, perfume, towels and watches. The ...
and the ancient castle of the uncle of "le Marquis de Sade"
*
Ménerbes
Ménerbes (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main settlement in t ...
*
Oppède
Oppède (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in southeastern France. ''Oppidum'' is the Latin word for 'fortified town'.
History
It ...
with its historic section perched on the hillside Oppède-le-Vieux
*
Roussillon
Roussillon ( , , ; , ; ) was a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and French Cerdagne, part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the region of ' ...
, like Goult, perched on a hill within the Luberon valley
Southern Luberon
*
Lourmarin
Lourmarin (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Lourmarinois''.
Geography
Lourmarin is located in the French region of Provence, at the foot o ...
, village on the border between Little and Big Luberon
*
Cucuron
Cucuron () is a village (Communes of France, commune) in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department, of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region, in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Cucuronnais''.
Located on ...
*
Pavillon de Galon
The Pavillon de Galon was built at the end of the 18th century as a hunting lodge.
References
Further reading
*Mayle, Peter. ''A Year in Provence''. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
*Mayle, Peter. ''Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France''. New York: Knopf, 1999.
*Mayle, Peter. ''Toujours Provence''. New York: Knopf, 1991.