Carpentras

Carpentras is part of the historical and cultural entity of the Comtat Venaissin and in the French administrative department of Vaucluse. It is best seen during the weekly market that fills the old town on Friday mornings.



History
In 1155, Raymond V of Toulouse, Marquis of Provence, sent his chancellor Raous Raymond I, Bishop of Carpentras, to confirm the privileges of market held in Carpentras. In the Middle Ages, the market was held every Friday in the cemetery of Saint-Siffrein. There were then 200 stallholders. At the beginning of the Avignon Papacy, the bishop Bérenger Forneri tried unsuccessfully to ban the cemetery market. Pope Clement V established his curia in Carpentras in 1313. When he died in 1314, his successor gave preference to Avignon. However, as capital of Vaison in Vaucluse in 1320, the city profitted from Pontifical munificence: ruled by its bishops, it was extended and surrounded by walls which were interrupted only by the Gate of Orange (Porte d'Orange). The market was expanded in 1385 on the site of the Fusterie, which is called Place des Pénitents Noirs.

The city of Carpentras has hosted Jews since at least 1276, according to tax rolls from that time. Expelled from France by Philipple le Bel, the Jews took refuge in the Papal lands where they were safe and enjoyed freedom of worship. Along with Avignon, Cavaillon and L'Isle sur la Sorgue, Carpentras was home to a large Jewish community in a neighborhood that did not become a ghetto until the end of the sixteenth century.

In 1790, the people of Carpentras attempted to establish a small independent state, which would have accepted the reforms of the revolutionary French Constituent Assembly but with the Pope as constitutional monarch. However, this did not last long: by 1791, Carpentras was once again part of France.

Emblem of the city
The Holy Mors or Holy Nail is known as a relic of Christ and is preserved in the Cathedral of Saint-Siffrein. This object dates from the 6th century AD. The "Saint Mors" of Constantine is a forged nail, supposedly of the Passion of Christ. This relic was kept in the treasury of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople until the looting of the city by the troops of the 4th Crusade (1202-1204). It then disappeared until 1226, when it was first seen on the seal of the Bishop of Carpentras Isnard, and subsequently became the emblem of the city in 1260. The relic today on display in the Chapel of the Holy Nail in the Cathedral.

By plane
The nearest international airports are those of Avignon (25 km) and Marseille (120 km).

By car
It is accessed from Avignon in the south-west by the D942 (fast track) Pernes-les-Fontaines south on the D938, Apt - Venasque and southeast by the D4, Mazan east by the D942, feet (south) of the Mont Ventoux by the D974 or D938 northeast, north Aubignan by D7 and Sarrians northwest by the D950 Bypass Carpentras, planned for decades, finally saw its construction begin, the part between the road and the roads Sarrians-Caromb/Bédoin have been completed. A second section between the health center (Route d'Avignon) and Market station has been operational since 2012. The central part, between Avignon Road Sarrians Road is open to traffic since summer 2013.

By bus
Several bus lines depart from Carpentras, to large areas of Vaucluse via the TransVaucluse network from the bus station area Terradou: The city and the metropolitan area are also served by the Trans'Cove network, which manages the city line.
 * 5.1 : Carpentras - Avignon, via Monteux and Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue,
 * 10 : Carpentras - Orange, via Sarrians and Jonquières,
 * 11 : Carpentras - Vaison-la-Romaine, via Malaucène,
 * 12.1 : Carpentras - Sault,
 * 12.2 : Carpentras - Méthamis,
 * 13.1 : Carpentras - Cavaillon, via L'Isle sur la Sorgue.

Get around
A bus network in Carpentras connects to the neighbouring villages : bus network. A free parking shuttle is available, Friday for access to the weekly market on Friday. The car park in question is also free : free shuttle.

See
To visit some places, as Hôtel-Dieu, Château du Martinet, or Graineterie Roux, it is best to contact the tourist office, which will inform you, and will record you in the frames of tours by guides around €5 per person and place). Some other places will be seen with free access.



Eat
Local specialty foods are Berlingot de Carpentras and strawberries.

Finding a dinner:

Drink
All area is speciales in wines production. You find three appellations: AOC Ventoux (between Carpentras and Mont Ventoux), Côtes-du-Rhône (Rhône valley area), Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (north of Carpentras, near Dentelles de Montmirail).

Go next

 * Avignon
 * Mont Ventoux
 * Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
 * L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
 * Orange
 * Vaison-la-Romaine