Cavaillon

Commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

(2020–2026) Gérard Daudet^[1]Area45.96 km² (17.75 sq mi)Population25,923 • Density560/km² (1,500/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation49–200 m (161–656 ft)
(avg. 75 m or 246 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Cavaillon (French pronunciation: [kavajɔ̃]; Occitan: Cavalhon) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.^[3] It is situated in the Durance Valley, at the foot of the Luberon mountains.

History

Cavaillon was already a city in the Gallo-Roman period, and has several minor relics from that era, including a 1st century triumphal arch.^[4] Other minor relics of the Roman period have been found to the south of the town, on the site of the ancient Cabellio.^[5] It was the seat of the bishops of Cavaillon from the 4th century^[6] until the French Revolution.^[5] Saint Veran was bishop here in the 6th century,^{[citation needed]} and the 12th-century cathedral is dedicated to him. In the Middle Ages Cavaillon was part of the Comtat Venaissin.^[5]

Geography

Cavaillon is part of the Regional and Natural Park of Luberon (parc naturel régional du Luberon) in the French Department of Vaucluse.

The Calavon, a tributary of the Durance locally called Coulon, flows westward through the middle of the commune.

The Durance forms the commune's south-western border.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 5,193 —     1800 5,192 −0.00% 1806 5,750 +1.72% 1821 6,360 +0.67% 1831 6,911 +0.83% 1836 7,041 +0.37% 1841 7,195 +0.43% 1846 7,428 +0.64% 1851 7,405 −0.06% 1856 7,431 +0.07% 1861 7,779 +0.92% 1866 8,034 +0.65% 1872 8,034 +0.00% 1876 8,454 +1.28% 1881 8,591 +0.32% 1886 9,144 +1.26% 1891 9,077 −0.15% 1896 9,405 +0.71%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 9,850 +0.93% 1906 9,952 +0.21% 1911 9,416 −1.10% 1921 8,991 −0.46% 1926 10,451 +3.06% 1931 11,743 +2.36% 1936 12,522 +1.29% 1946 13,804 +0.98% 1954 14,831 +0.90% 1962 17,058 +1.76% 1968 18,544 +1.40% 1975 21,259 +1.97% 1982 20,615 −0.44% 1990 23,102 +1.43% 1999 24,563 +0.68% 2009 24,723 +0.06% 2014 26,201 +1.17% 2020 25,832 −0.24%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Source: EHESS[7] and INSEE (1968-2020)[8]

Economy

Cavaillon is famous for its melons, as well as other early fruits and vegetables.^[5]

Famous people

• Saint César de Bus
• Christophe Bioules, professional freestyle BMX rider
• Elzear Blaze, officer in Napoleon's army, author of hunting books
• Luc Bulot, French palaeontologist
• Pierre Salinger, press secretary to U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator from California, Paris bureau chief for ABC News

Sights

• the 11th-13th century Cavaillon Cathedral^[6]
• Colline Saint-Jacques, with chapel
• Roman triumphal arch^[4]

Twin towns

• Cavaillon has been twinned with Weinheim, Germany, since 1958 and Langhirano, Italy, since 2001.

See also

• Communes of the Vaucluse department
• Antoine Sartorio
• Ancient Diocese of Cavaillon

References

External links

• Town council website
• Tourism office website
• Melon of Cavaillon (in French)