Aurel (Vaucluse)

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Aurel
Aurèu
Aurel's coat of arms
Aurel (France)
Aurel
region Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
Department Vaucluse
Arrondissement Carpentras
Canton Pernes-les-Fontaines
Community association Ventoux Sud
Coordinates 44 ° 8 ′  N , 5 ° 26 ′  E Coordinates: 44 ° 8 ′  N , 5 ° 26 ′  E
height 615-1,600 m
surface 28.9 km 2
Residents 206 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 7 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 84390
INSEE code 84005

Aurel and the Mont Ventoux

Aurel ( Occitan : Aurèu ) is a place and a community with 206 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the Vaucluse department in the southern French region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur .

geography

The place Aurel is located in the northeast of the Vaucluse department, near the border with the Drôme department at an altitude of approx. 800 m above sea level. d. M. Surrounding communities are Saint-Trinit , Sault , Brantes and Savoillan in Vaucluse, as well as Reilhanette , Montbrun-les-Bains and Ferrassières in Drôme. The nearest major cities are Apt in the south ( 28 km ) and Carpentras in the west ( 32 km ).

The community is located on the Plateau d'Albion east of the 1912 m high Mont Ventoux at an altitude between 615 and 1600 meters. To the southwest of the community center is the source of the Nesque .

Population development

year 1800 1851 1901 1954 1999 2013
Residents 564 672 427 157 156 195

In a survey of the year 1699 195 fireplaces and 762 inhabitants were counted for Aurel. The continuous decline in population is mainly due to the increasing mechanization of agriculture and the resulting loss of jobs.

economy

The inhabitants of the remote place lived for centuries as a self-sufficiency from agriculture (agriculture and livestock); a little wine was also grown. The town still has the right to market its grapes through the Mediterranée and Vaucluse appellations , but viticulture was given up at the end of the 20th century. Traditionally there are some smaller lavender fields . Today, however, tourism plays a far more important role in the municipality's economic life.

history

Various grottos suggest that the area around the site was used by prehistoric hunters and gatherers as a temporary residence. The present place was founded in the 11th century by the Johanniter , who built a hospice here. Aurel is first mentioned in 1178 as Castrum Aurelii ; The castle and town belonged to the Counts of Soult, but the Abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon also owned land here in the form of a priory . In the 14th century, the place was surrounded by a city wall, remains of which are still preserved. During the Huguenot Wars (1562-1598), Aurel was conquered by the Baron de Vins, who allied himself with the Count of Sault. In the years 1630/32 a plague epidemic struck the place.

Attractions

  • The Church of St. Aurèle is dedicated to Bishop Aurelius of Carthage , who died around 430 . It has two aisles and only the southern part can be assigned to the Romanesque style period; the north nave and its bell tower are much later (17th or 18th century).
  • The privately owned former hospice also dates from the 12th century; however, it was later rebuilt several times.
  • Remnants of the city walls from the 14th century form the back wall of several private houses.
  • A small uncovered washing area ( lavoir ) was built in the 19th century.
  • On the outskirts there is a manor with a late medieval round tower .
outside
  • There are a few rural stone huts ( bories ) in the vicinity of the village .
Saint-Aurèl church
City walls from the 14th century.
Manor with a round tower
Borie at Aurel's

Personalities

tourism

The 29 km long long-distance hiking trail GR 91C runs through the municipality . The D942 road is part of the Routes de la Lavande tourist route .

literature

  • Stefan Brandenburg, Ines Mache: Provence. The complete guide for individual travel and discovery in Provence, the Camargue and Marseille . 6th updated edition. Reise Know-How Verlag Rump, Bielefeld 2008, ISBN 978-3-8317-1665-4 , p. 208 .

Web links

Commons : Aurel  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Aurel, website of the town hall
  2. ↑ Aurel, History
  3. ^ Aurel, Church
  4. ↑ Route de la Lavande in the French Lexicon. Retrieved December 16, 2011 .