Gordes

French commune
nomcommune = Gordes
région=Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
département=Vaucluse
arrondissement=Apt
canton=Gordes (chief town)
insee=84050
cp=84220
maire=Maurice Chabert
mandat=1995-2008
intercomm="none"
longitude=5.20083
latitude=43.91194
alt mini=111 m
alt moy=373 m
alt maxi=635 m
hectares=4,804
km²=48.04
sans=2,092
date-sans=1999
dens=43
date-dens=1999

Gordes ( _oc. Gòrda in classical norm, _oc. "Gordo" in Mistralian norm) is a mountain village and small adminitrative district in the Luberon area in the Vaucluse "département" in Provence, France. Population: 2,100 ("Gordiens"). It covers an area of 48.04 km², ranging in altitude from 115 m to 635 m above sea level. The nearest city is Avignon.

Geography

The territory of Gordes occupies some of "Les Monts de Vaucluse", a group of mountains and hills, part in the valley of the Calavon (a local river) also called the "Luberon Valley".

Neighbouring Villages

Neighbouring villages are : Venasque and Murs to the north, Joucas and Roussillon to the east, Goult, Saint-Pantaléon, Beaumettes and Oppède to the south and Cabrières-d'Avignon and Saumane-de-Vaucluse to the west.

Postal Code

Gordes' postal code is 84220, which is shared by Goult, Murs, Roussillon, Cabrières d'Avignon, Les Beaumettes, and Saint Pantaléon.

History

The name "Gordes" derives from the Celtic word "Vordense". Vordense was pronounced "Gordenses", then "Gordae/Gordone", and finally "Gordes" ["GORDES notes d'histoire" by Jean-Louis Morand page 9.]

Occupation by the Roman empire. ["GORDES notes d'histoire" by Jean-Louis Morand page 17 to 24 / "L'époque romaine".]

In 1031, a castle was built and the Latin word "castrum" was added to what thus became "Castrum Gordone". The castle was re-enforced in 1123. ["GORDES notes d'histoire" by Jean-Louis Morand page 249 to 253 "Le château de Gordes" then page 205 to 216 / "Généalogie des familles".]

In 1148 the Sénanque Abbey was established under the patronage of Alfant, Bishop of Cavaillon, and Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, Count of Provence, by Cistercian monks who came from Mazan Abbey in the Ardèche.

In the eighth century, a Benedictine abbey known as Saint-Chaffret was built on the site of an ancient "cella" (roman temple) destroyed during the Arab invasions ["GORDES notes d'histoire" by Jean-Louis Morand page 39 to 53 "Histoire de Saint Chaffret"] .

After the death of King René of Provence, the territory of Provence was added in 1481 to the French kingdom as a "province royale française" (French royal province).

During World War Two, Gordes was an active resistance village and was later awarded a medal, the Croix de guerre 1939-1945

Architecture

Located in the middle of the village, the castle, which was partially rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1525, is a major tourist attraction.

In the immediate vicinity of Gordes is the Romanesque Sénanque Abbey (a Cistercian abbey still inhabited by monks) and the "village of bories", which consists entirely of "bories" (also spelled "boris", borris" and "borries"), ovoid ancient houses made only of stone.

All the buildings in Gordes are made of stone and use terracotta roof tiles. No fences are allowed, only stone walls. All electrical and telephone cables have been put underground. The street are paved with stones.

Everyday life

Once a week, on Tuesday morning, is market day. Merchants from the area set up booths and sell their wares: food, clothing, instruments, Provençale dishes, decorations, handicrafts. The village has two bakeries and a variety of shops.

Gordes is also known for artists who have lived or worked there: (André Lhote, Marc Chagall, Philippe Ragueneau, Victor Vasarely, Victor Spahn, Walter Salles, Willy Ronis, etc.) and politics (including François Mitterrand).

Nearby tourist attractions

The closest sights are the Sénanque Abbey and the Village des Bories.

Gordes is near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. To its north is Mont Ventoux.

ee also

* Victor Vasarely

Bibliography

* "GORDES notes d'histoire" is a reference book in French for the history of the village written by Jean-Louis Morand and edited by the town of Gordes.

ources, references