Cavaillon (; ) 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.

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.

The Hôtel de Ville was completed in 1753.

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

Economy

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

Famous people

• Saint César de Bus

• Castil-Blaze, French musicologist, Music critic and Composer

• Luc Bulot, French palaeontologist

• Pierre Salinger, press secretary to U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator from California, Paris bureau chief for ABC News

Sights

• the 11th-13th century Cavaillon Cathedral

• Colline Saint-Jacques, with chapel

• Roman triumphal arch

• the 15th-18th century synagogue, housing the Jewish Museum

Twin towns

• Cavaillon has been twinned with Weinheim, Germany, since 1958 and Langhirano, Italy, since 2001.

Climate

See also

• Communes of the Vaucluse department

• Antoine Sartorio

• Ancient Diocese of Cavaillon

References

External links

• Town council website

• Tourism office website

• Melon of Cavaillon