Cavaillon

For the town in Haiti, see Cavaellon.

Cavaillon
Commune
A view of Cavaillon A view of Cavaillon
Coat of arms
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Vaucluse
Arrondissement	Apt
Canton	Cavaillon
Intercommunality	CA Luberon Monts de Vaucluse
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Gérard Daudet
Area1	45.96 km2 (17.75 sq mi)
Population (Jan. 2018)2
INSEE/Postal code	84035 / 84300
Elevation	49–200 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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Cavaillon (French pronunciation: ​[kavajɔ̃]; Provençal: Cavalhon) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. It is situated in the Durance Valley, at the foot of the Luberon mountains. In 2019, it had a population of 26,236.

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. Other minor relics of the Roman period have been found to the south of the town, on the site of the ancient Cabellio. It was the seat of the bishops of Cavaillon from the 4th century until the French Revolution. Saint Veran was bishop here in the 6th century, and the 12th-century cathedral is dedicated to him. In the Middle Ages Cavaillon was part of the Comtat Venaissin.

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% 2007 25,596 +0.52% 2012 25,289 −0.24% 2017 26,641 +1.05%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Economy

Cavaillon is famous for its Kiwi melons, as well as other early fruits and vegetables.

Famous people

• saint César de Bus
• Christophe Bioules (Professional Freestyle BMX rider)

Sights

• the 11th-13th century Cavaillon Cathedral
• Colline Saint-Jacques with chapel
• Roman triumphal arch

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

External links

• Town council website
• Tourism office website
• Melon of Cavaillon