La Barben

Geography

La Barben is located about 18 km northwest of Aix-en-Provence and 5 km east of Salon-de-Provence. Access to the commune is by the D572 road from Salon-de-Provence, which passes through the centre of the commune and continues east to Saint-Cannat. The D17 from Pélissanne to Éguilles forms the southwestern border of the commune. The D67E from Lambesc to Coudoux forms the southeastern border of the commune. The D22A comes from Pelissane and passes through the village, continuing as the D22 to join the D572 in the centre of the commune next to the zoo.

The commune is served by routes 9 and 14 of the Libébus network.

The Touloubre river flows through the centre of the commune from the east and continues west to join the Mediterranean Sea south of Saint-Chamas. The Vallat de Boulery forms the northern border of the commune as it flows west to join the Touloubre at the village. The Canal de Marseille comes from the south and passes through the centre of the commune continuing north-east.

Climate

Weather Data for La Barben

Neighbouring communes and villages

Source:

History

Middle Ages

The death of Queen Joanna I of Naples created a succession crisis for the County of Provence with the cities of the Union of Aix (1382-1387) supporting Charles III of Naples against Louis I, Duke of Anjou. The King of France, Charles VI, intervened and sent the Seneschal of Beaucaire, Enguerrand d'Eudin, who conquered La Barben in the summer of 1383. When Louis I died and his widow, Marie of Blois, Duchess of Anjou, arrived in Provence to defend the rights of her son, Louis II of Naples, she claimed that the seneschal gave her the city which she refused on the instruction of the King of France.

Heraldry

Blazon:

Party per pale, first Gules, an arched bridge Vert masoned in Sable; second Or, a chevron Azure between three leopard's heads of Sable erased affrontant tongued in Gules.

N.B. These arms do not respect the Rule of tincture and are therefore faulty.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Barbenais or Barbenaises in French.

|1793 |316 |1800 |496 |1806 |383 |1821 |385 |1831 |330 |1836 |304 |1841 |325 |1846 |359 |1851 |348 |1856 |324 |1861 |316 |1866 |329 |1872 |294 |1876 |310 |1881 |306 |1886 |311 |1891 |275 |1896 |269 |1901 |283 |1906 |282 |1911 |231 |1921 |212 |1926 |192 |1931 |192 |1936 |196 |1946 |207 |1954 |224 |1962 |259 |1968 |315 |1975 |350 |1982 |420 |1990 |500 |1999 |555 |2007 |704 |2012 |724 |2017 |845

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:

• A Laundry at La Blancherie (18th century)
• A Chateau Garden on the D22 (17th century)
• A Bridge over the Canal de Marseille on RN572 (19th century)
• A MontjoieA Stone or pile of stones used to mark a migratory trail, a pilgrimage route, the limit of a territory, or to commemorate a battle at La Baou
• The fortified Chateau de la Barben (11th century)
• A Farmhouse at La Baou (18th century)
• The Clos Farmhouse at Sufferchoix (15th century)
• A Farmhouse at Val d'Estable (18th century)

;Other sites of interest

• The La Barben Zoo

;Zoo Picture Gallery File:2 Girafes à la Barben.jpg|Giraffes File:Panthère à la Barben.JPG|Panther File:Zoo de la Barben 20130424 36.jpg|Rhinoceros File:Zoo de la Barben 20100605 005.jpg|Wallaby File:Zoo de la Barben 20130424 06.jpg|Elephant File:Zoo de la Barben 20100605 046.jpg|Capybara File:Zoo de la Barben 20130424 09.jpg|Camel File:Zoo de la Barben 20130424 14.jpg|Bison File:Zoo de la Barben 20100605 039.jpg|Hippopotamus File:Zoo de la Barben 20130424 30.jpg|Lion

Religious heritage

The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

• The Parish Church of Saint-Sauveur The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • 2 Chairs (19th century)
  • A Statue: Virgin and child (18th century)
  • A framed Painting: the Transfiguration (1632)
  • A Painting: Saint Jerome (17th century)
• The Benedictine Church of Saint-Sauveur (11th century)
• The Benedictine Convent of Saint-Victor-de-Danes at Le Mounestier (12th century)
• A Monumental Cross at Val d'Estable (17th century)
• A Monumental Cross at La Beaumé de Matelas (19th century)

Notable people linked to the commune

• Count Auguste de Forbin (1777-1841), painter, pupil of Jacques-Louis David, Director of the Louvre Museum.

References

Notes

References

1. (13 September 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. [http://www.zoolabarben.com/ Official website for the zoo]
3. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/La+Barben,+France/@43.6189165,5.2123379,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x12c9f9ae2909cc59:0x1ad8229c9a6ea8e8 Google Maps]
4. [http://www.libebus.com/index.php/libebus/se-deplacer/communes-desservies/la-barben La Barben on the Libébus website] {{in lang. fr
5. Data from the Station at Salon-de-Provence, sources:[http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1656-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-salon-de-provence Salon-de-Provence]
6. Geneviève Xhayet, [http://provence-historique.mmsh.univ-aix.fr/n/1990/Pages/PH-1990-40-162_03.aspx Supporters and adversaries of Louis d'Anjou during the war of the Union of Aix] {{webarchive. link. (2015-07-23 , ''Historical Provence'', Fédération historique de Provence, Vol. 40, No. 162, "Autour de la guerre de l'Union d'Aix", 1990, p. 407 and 413 (note 61). {{in lang). fr
7. fr
8. [https://www.habitants.fr/bouches-du-rhone-13 Le nom des habitants du 13 - Bouches-du-Rhône], habitants.fr
9. {{Cassini-Ehess. 2618. La Barben
10. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-13009#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
11. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000215. IA13000215 Laundry {{in lang. fr
12. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13001029. IA13001029 Chateau Garden {{in lang. fr
13. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000211. IA13000211 Bridge over the Canal de Marseille {{in lang. fr
14. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000441. IA13000441 Montjoie {{in lang. fr
15. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. PA00081199. PA00081199 {{Mérimée. IA13000219. IA13000219 Chateau de la Barben {{in lang. fr
16. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000217. IA13000217 Farmhouse at La Baou {{in lang. fr
17. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000214. IA13000214 Clos Farmhouse at Sufferchoix {{in lang. fr
18. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000213. IA13000213 Farmhouse at Val d'Estable {{in lang. fr
19. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. PA00125709. PA00125709 Parish Church of Saint-Sauveur {{in lang. fr
20. Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy. PM13001966. PM13001966 2 Chairs {{in lang. fr
21. Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy. PM13001965. PM13001965 Statue: Virgin and child {{in lang. fr
22. Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy. PM13001356. PM13001356 Framed Painting: the Transfiguration {{in lang. fr
23. Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy. PM13001355. PM13001355 Painting: Saint Jerome {{in lang. fr
24. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000218. IA13000218 Benedictine Church of Saint-Sauveur {{in lang. fr
25. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000216. IA13000216 Benedictine Convent of Saint-Victor-de-Danes at Le Mounestier {{in lang. fr
26. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000212. IA13000212 Monumental Cross at Val d'Estable {{in lang. fr
27. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA13000210. IA13000210 Monumental Cross at La Beaumé de Matelas {{in lang. fr