The is a ''
Département '' in the southeast of
France .
The Vaucluse was created on
8 December 1793 out of parts of the ''départements'' of
Bouches-du-Rhône ,
Drôme , and Basses-Alpes (later renamed
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence ).
The Vaucluse is bordered by the
Rhône to the west and the River
Durance to the south. Mountains occupy a significant proportion of the eastern half of the ''département'', with
Mont Ventoux (1,912 m), also known as "the Giant of Provence", dominating the landscape. Other important mountain ranges include the
Dentelles De Montmirail , the
Monts De Vaucluse , and the
Luberon . Fruit and vegetables are cultivated in great quantities in the lower-lying parts of the ''département'', on one of the most fertile plains in southern France.
Important urban centres include
Avignon ,
Orange ,
Carpentras ,
Cavaillon , and
Apt .
- Urban population: 416,301 (83%)
- Rural population: 83,384 (17%)
- Vaucluse Website of the Conseil Général (governing body of the département)
- Provence-Hideaways - sights and flavours of the Provence.
