Carpentras

History

Classical antiquity

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 a 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.

Ancient Diocese of Carpentras

For the history of the bishopric of Carpentras, see Ancient Diocese of Carpentras.

Middle Ages

At the beginning of the Avignon Papacy, Pope Clement V took up residence, along with the Roman Curia, in Carpentras in 1313. His successor, Pope John XXII, settled definitively at Avignon.

The Hôtel de Ville and the Hôtel-Dieu

The original north-facing section of the Hôtel de Ville on Rue des Halles was completed in around 1740.

The Hôtel-Dieu on Place Aristide Briand was commissioned by Joseph-Dominique d'Inguimbert for use as a hospital and was built between 1750 and 1760. It now accommodates the Bibliothèque Inguimbertine which Jean-François Delmas, the chief librarian, has called "the oldest of our municipal libraries".

French Revolution and return to France

Until 1791, Carpentras was part of the Papal States, not of the Kingdom of France.

Like most communities across France, Carpentras played a role in the 1789-1799 French Revolution, particularly during the rule of the French Directory. After the 'Anti-Royalist' September 4, 1797 Coup of 18 Fructidor, on October 22, 1797, counter-revolutionaries attacked the Hôtel de Ville.

Jewish community

Main article: Papal Jews

Into the 20th and 21st centuries, Carpentras has been an important centre of French Judaism and is home to the oldest synagogue in France, which opened in 1367. The Jewish cemetery was desecrated by members of the French and European Nationalist Party in May 1990, causing a public uproar and a demonstration in Paris that was attended by 200,000 people, including then-president François Mitterrand.

Population

| graph-pos = bottom |1793 |9900 |1800 |8489 |1806 |9674 |1821 |9099 |1831 |9817 |1836 |9224 |1841 |9776 |1846 |10198 |1851 |10711 |1856 |10891 |1861 |10918 |1866 |10848 |1872 |10524 |1876 |10479 |1881 |9699 |1886 |9685 |1891 |9778 |1896 |10797 |1901 |10443 |1906 |10721 |1911 |11390 |1921 |11191 |1926 |11805 |1931 |12632 |1936 |13732 |1946 |14222 |1954 |15076 |1962 |18199 |1968 |21388 |1975 |24251 |1982 |24838 |1990 |24212 |1999 |26090 |2007 |28526 |2012 |28520 |2017 |28309

Geography

Carpentras stands on the banks of the river Auzon, a tributary of the Sorgue. It is 23 km southwest of Mont Ventoux, and 23 km northeast of Avignon. Carpentras station has rail connections to Sorgues and Avignon.

Climate

In the Köppen climate classification, Carpentras has a borderline humid subtropical (Cfa), and hot-summer mediterranean climate (Csa) with cool winters and hot summers. The rainiest seasons are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), where heavy downpours may happen.

|Jan record high C = 21.0 |Feb record high C = 23.1 |Mar record high C = 28.1 |Apr record high C = 30.8 |May record high C = 35.4 |Jun record high C = 44.3 |Jul record high C = 41.6 |Aug record high C = 42.2 |Sep record high C = 36.0 |Oct record high C = 31.2 |Nov record high C = 24.9 |Dec record high C = 21.5 |year record high C = 44.3 |Jan record low C = -15.4 |Feb record low C = -12.5 |Mar record low C = -11.8 |Apr record low C = -2.9 |May record low C = 0.1 |Jun record low C = 4.4 |Jul record low C = 7.6 |Aug record low C = 6.7 |Sep record low C = 2.2 |Oct record low C = -3.1 |Nov record low C = -9.0 |Dec record low C = -12.0 |year record low C = -15.4 |access-date=14 December 2024}}}}

Economy

• Roux Graineterie of Carpentras

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 (chronologically):

• Carpentras (also known as Elzéar Genet) (c.1470–1548), prominent early Renaissance composer
• Hercule Audiffret (1603–1659), orator and Superior General of the Congrégation des Doctrinaires
• Louis Archimbaud (1705–1789), composer and organist of Carpentras Cathedral
• Joseph Duplessis (1725–1802), portraitist
• Jean-Pierre-Xavier Bidauld (1743–1813), painter
• Jean-Joseph-Xavier Bidauld (1758–1846), painter
• Alexis-Vincent-Charles Berbiguier de Terre-Neuve du Thym, (1765–1851), author and demonologist
• Victor Olivier de Puymanel (1768–1799), French Navy volunteer, and adventurer in Vietnam
• François-Vincent Raspail (1794–1878), chemist, physiologist, and socialist
• Jean-Joseph Bonaventure Laurens (1801–1890), painter, lithographer, musician
• Édouard Daladier (1884–1970), politician and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War
• Daniel Lazard (1941–), computer scientist
• Bruno Boscherie (1950–), fencer, Olympic Gold medalist
• Christophe Maé (1975–), musician and composer
• Éric Salignon (1982–), racing driver
• Thomas Mangani (1987–), professional footballer
• Raphaël Cacérès (1987–), professional footballer

International relations

Carpentras is twinned with:

• SUI Vevey, Switzerland
• GER Seesen, Germany
• USA Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA
• ITA Camaiore, Italy

References

References

1. (2 December 2020). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires".
2. Lesaint, M.-A.. (1871). "Traité complet de la prononciation française dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle". Mauke.
3. (28 June 2019). "France records all-time highest temperature of 45.9C".
4. Gibson, J. C. L.. (30 October 1975). "Textbook of Syrian Semitic Inscriptions: II. Aramaic Inscriptions: Including Inscriptions in the Dialect of Zenjirli". OUP Oxford.
5. {{Base Mérimée. IA84000621
6. (1944). "Civil Affairs Handbook: France". Headquarters, Army Service Forces.
7. "L'institution l'Inguimbertine - Library-museum Inguimbertine Carpentras".
8. Liabastres, Joseph. (1891). "Histoire de Carpentras". Léon Barrier.
9. "Imprimer :: Le procès de quatre profanateurs néo-nazis après six ans de fausses pistes - l'Humanite".
10. {{Cassini-Ehess. 6973. Carpentras
11. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-84031#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
12. "Météo et climat : Carpentras (France) - Quand partir à Carpentras ?".
13. [http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/provence/black_truffles/ Truffle Market]
14. "Association Suisse des Communes et Régions d'Europe". L'Association suisse pour le Conseil des Communes et Régions d'Europe (ASCCRE).