Gordes
Encyclopedia
Gordes is a commune
in the Vaucluse
département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
region
in southeastern France.
The residents are known as Gordiens. The nearest big city is Avignon
, smaller are Cavaillon
, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
and Apt
.
. It is from this last road, below the Bel-Air rock, that you can observe the most famous and photographed point of view of the village.
Gordes is located 38 kilometres est from Avignon
and its TGV station, 75 kilometres from the Marseille Provence international airport and 87 kilometres from Marseille. The closest "gares SNCF" (normal train station) are located in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Cavaillon.
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.
of the area with 4 804 hectares. The north is made by the south of the monts de Vaucluse. It is in this area that you will find, with 635 meters, the highest point of the commune, next to « la Pouraque » and « les Trois Termes ». The south of the commune is made by valley of the Calavon also called the "Luberon Valley" and few hills of the area. it is at south that you will find the lowest hight of the commune, at 111 meters, in the area called « plan de l'Alba ».
the village itself is located on the center of the commune, on a giant calcareous rock from the monts de Vaucluse, dominating the valley.
Thus, there is at north, on the monts de Vaucluse
, soils dating mainly of Upper Jurassic with urgonian limestone and calcareous clay. There are also, in very low amounts and really localized over the Senanque Abbey, soils dating from the Eocene / Oligocene composed of limestones, sands and clay.
Geology at the south of the village is more complex with the plain in Gordes (southeast) composed of soil dating from the Quaternary (fluvial deposits, colluvium and scree) and soils of Late Jurassic (calcareous clay and blue marl). the hills area of "les garrigues" (at south of the village) is composed of soil dating from the Cretaceous – Paleocene (calcareous sandstone, calcareous lacustrine clay, colorful, white and ocher sands and some ferruginous) and from the Miocene (molasses limestone, sand and marl). Finally, the soil of the territory down to the plain of Calavon with some slightly higher ground dating from the Miocene and one lower from the Quaternary.
.
In summer, high temperature associated with a reduced amount of rain makes a drought almost one or two month a year according to the "Gaussen index" (temperatures in Celsius degrees twice higher than rains in millimeters).
"Vordense". Vordense was pronounced Gordenses, then Gordae/Gordone, and finally Gòrda then translated into French "Gordes".
abbey known as Saint-Chaffret was founded by monks of the Abbey of Saint-Chaffre in Monastier-en-Velay on the site of an ancient cella (roman temple) destroyed during the Arab
invasions.
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 to become a "nobile castrum", the only one known among the many castles nearby.
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
.
After the death of King René of Provence, the territory of Provence was incorporated in 1481 into the kingdom of France as a "province royale française" (French royal province). An insurrection broke out in the former states of Agoult-Simiane and County of Forcalquier. Gordes is distinguished by a strong opposition to French centralism but will pay heavily his claims of independence. A year later, with the wedding of his son, Jacques Raybaud de Simiane takes the title of "Baron de Gordes".
.
The 21 of august 1944, almost a week after the beginning of the Operation Dragoon
on the Provençal coast, a german patrol is attacked by the resistance. The day after, the 22 of august, the village is subject to violent reprisals. The german have forced the inhabitants to enter their home, shooting those we are late or that are not cooperating, and start to shoot from the rock on the other side with a canon and will destroy a dozen houses. On the other side of the village, the rest of the troops did put fire on chariot, wood pieces and houses, blocking potential followers. More than twenty houses had finally been destroyed. The resistance, trying to catch them, will destroy an other part of the village, including the notarial house with all the archive. All these destructions were worth in the municipality the sad privilege to appear among three " stricken cities " of the Vaucluse department. At the end, thirteen persons were killed or executed in Gordes during the Second World War, twenty inhabitants fell under the enemy bullets and five of them were taken out of the country (in extermination camps).
or Jean Deyrolle who discover the village in 1947 and will drag there many of its artist friends like Serge Poliakoff
, Vasarely
, Dewasne, etc.
In the immediate vicinity of Gordes is the Romanesque
Sénanque Abbey
(a Cistercian abbey) and the "village of bories", which consists entirely of "bories" (also spelled "boris", borris" and "borries"), ovoid ancient houses made only of stone.
Located in the valley at southwest, the "les Imberts" hamlet is the biggest and even owns its own church built between 1785 and 1792. Besides this church, there are some elements and façades of the eighteenth century. It is in this hamlet that are the two football stadiums of Gordes, one for official matches and one for training, also the nursery, one of the school and after having several simultaneous small businesses (bakery, grocery, etc..) it remains in 2011 only a garage / gas station.
"Les Gros" and "les Martins" are both former hamlets close enough to each other, between les Imberts and the commune of les Beaumettes.
In the plain south-east of the village, you find the hamlets of "les Sauvestres", "les Pourquiers", "les Marres" and "les Cortasses", with buildings whose origins date back sometimes to hundreds years.
.
The main sights on the commune are the village it self, the castle, the Saint-Firmain Palace cellars, the Sénanque Abbey
and the Village des Bories
. On the surrounding, you can find many other tourist locations like Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
, Roussillon or L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
, the Luberon
area, Avignon
or the Mont Ventoux
.
Gordes also has two centers of relaxation, numerous pools and ponds and miles of hiking trails.
Gordes also attracts artisans and traders in the real estate business like agents, architects, builders, landscapers, decorators, masons. By the way, the oldest real estate agency of the north Luberon area still in activity is located in Gordes, between the castle and the church, and the total number of real estate agents on the Gordes area is over ten.
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.
The closest university is in Avignon, but the one of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille is also used by the local.
, Marc Chagall
, Philippe Ragueneau
, Victor Vasarely
, Victor Spahn, Walter Salles
, Willy Ronis
, etc.) and politicians (including François Mitterrand
).
The castle, stone houses, stone paved streets, views, etc. of Gordes have been an important source of inspiration for paintings or photography. for example, the Provençal Nude by Willy Ronis was made in the "fontaine basse" area of Gordes in 1949.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Vaucluse
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in southeastern France.
The residents are known as Gordiens. The nearest big city is Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, smaller are Cavaillon
Cavaillon
Cavaillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The Calavon, a tributary of the Durance locally called Coulon, flows westward through the middle of the commune....
, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a town and commune on the Sorgue river southeastern France. Politically, the commune is in the arrondissement of Avignon within the département of Vaucluse and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.The small town is famous for its many antique shops and hosts antique...
and Apt
APT
- As an acronym :*Arbitrage Pricing Theory*Asia-Pacific Telecommunity*Advanced Persistent Threat*Advanced Passenger Train- Places :* Apt, Vaucluse, a commune of the Vaucluse département of France...
.
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".Access
the main access to the village of Gordes is the departmental road D2 then the departmental road D15, coming from CavaillonCavaillon
Cavaillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The Calavon, a tributary of the Durance locally called Coulon, flows westward through the middle of the commune....
. It is from this last road, below the Bel-Air rock, that you can observe the most famous and photographed point of view of the village.
Gordes is located 38 kilometres est from Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and its TGV station, 75 kilometres from the Marseille Provence international airport and 87 kilometres from Marseille. The closest "gares SNCF" (normal train station) are located in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Cavaillon.
Neighbouring communes
Neighbouring villages are : VenasqueVenasque
Venasque is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.The area has many tourist attractions, such as the nearby Mount Vaucluse, a park with several tennis courts, and many open areas. The town of Venasque stands on a hill, surrounded on...
and Murs
Murs, Vaucluse
Murs is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-References:*...
to the north, Joucas
Joucas
Joucas is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Démography:-Places to see:image:Joucas - église.JPG|Joucas churchimage:Joucas - autel église.JPG|inside the church...
and Roussillon to the east, Goult
Goult
Goult is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The commune lies in the parc naturel régional du Luberon.The Calavon flows westward through the southern part of the commune....
, Saint-Pantaléon, Beaumettes
Beaumettes
Beaumettes is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The village lies on the right bank of the Calavon, which forms all of the commune's southern border.-References:*...
and Oppède
Oppède
Oppède is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.- History :It is in fact two villages: Oppède-le-Vieux , built against the Petit Luberon and dating back to the 12th century, and Oppède-les-Poulivets , today known as "le village", down...
to the south and Cabrières-d'Avignon
Cabrières-d'Avignon
Cabrières-d'Avignon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-History:The Château and the village were the scene of the massacre in 1644 of about 700 Vaudois, or Waldensians—a reformist group declared heretical by the Catholic church....
and Saumane-de-Vaucluse
Saumane-de-Vaucluse
Saumane-de-Vaucluse is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-References:*...
to the west.
Topography
Located between two geographic area, Gordes is one of the biggest communesCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of the area with 4 804 hectares. The north is made by the south of the monts de Vaucluse. It is in this area that you will find, with 635 meters, the highest point of the commune, next to « la Pouraque » and « les Trois Termes ». The south of the commune is made by valley of the Calavon also called the "Luberon Valley" and few hills of the area. it is at south that you will find the lowest hight of the commune, at 111 meters, in the area called « plan de l'Alba ».
the village itself is located on the center of the commune, on a giant calcareous rock from the monts de Vaucluse, dominating the valley.
Geology
With a wide variation of the land, geology of the commune is divided into several distinct zones.Thus, there is at north, on the monts de Vaucluse
Monts de Vaucluse
The Vaucluse Mountains are a mountain range of the French Prealps located in the departement of Vaucluse, between the Luberon Massif and Mont Ventoux.The highest peak is Signal de Saint-Pierre, which reaches the height of ....
, soils dating mainly of Upper Jurassic with urgonian limestone and calcareous clay. There are also, in very low amounts and really localized over the Senanque Abbey, soils dating from the Eocene / Oligocene composed of limestones, sands and clay.
Geology at the south of the village is more complex with the plain in Gordes (southeast) composed of soil dating from the Quaternary (fluvial deposits, colluvium and scree) and soils of Late Jurassic (calcareous clay and blue marl). the hills area of "les garrigues" (at south of the village) is composed of soil dating from the Cretaceous – Paleocene (calcareous sandstone, calcareous lacustrine clay, colorful, white and ocher sands and some ferruginous) and from the Miocene (molasses limestone, sand and marl). Finally, the soil of the territory down to the plain of Calavon with some slightly higher ground dating from the Miocene and one lower from the Quaternary.
Climate
Gordes has a Mediterranean climate characterised by relatively dry summers and cool, damp winters. The city is often subject to windy weather; the strongest wind is the mistralMistral (wind)
The mistral is a strong, cold and usually dry regional wind in France, coming from the north or northwest, which accelerates when it passes through the valleys of the Rhone and the Durance Rivers to the coast of the Mediterranean around the Camargue region. It affects the northeast of the plain...
.
In summer, high temperature associated with a reduced amount of rain makes a drought almost one or two month a year according to the "Gaussen index" (temperatures in Celsius degrees twice higher than rains in millimeters).
History
The name "Gordes" derives from the Celtic wordCeltic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
"Vordense". Vordense was pronounced Gordenses, then Gordae/Gordone, and finally Gòrda then translated into French "Gordes".
Early history
Occupation by the Roman empire. The area is full of evidence of their occupation especially the Roman road passing through Apt and Carpentras and crossing the valley. Gallo-Roman rests were found in "Bouisses" district (skeletons, amphorae, columns) or Gallo-Roman substructures in the hamlet of "les Gros".Middle Ages and Renaissance
In the 8th century, a BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey known as Saint-Chaffret was founded by monks of the Abbey of Saint-Chaffre in Monastier-en-Velay on the site of an ancient cella (roman temple) destroyed during the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
invasions.
In 1031, a castle was built and the Latin word "castrum"
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
was added to what thus became "Castrum Gordone". The castle was re-enforced in 1123 to become a "nobile castrum", the only one known among the many castles nearby.
In 1148 the Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near the village of Gordes in the département of the Vaucluse in Provence, France.-First foundation:...
was established under the patronage of Alfant, Bishop of Cavaillon, and Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death...
, Count of Provence, by Cistercian monks who came from Mazan Abbey
Mazan Abbey
Mazan Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in the village of Mazan-l'Abbaye in the département of the Ardèche in the region of Rhône-Alpes, France....
in the Ardèche
Ardèche
Ardèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
.
After the death of King René of Provence, the territory of Provence was incorporated in 1481 into the kingdom of France as a "province royale française" (French royal province). An insurrection broke out in the former states of Agoult-Simiane and County of Forcalquier. Gordes is distinguished by a strong opposition to French centralism but will pay heavily his claims of independence. A year later, with the wedding of his son, Jacques Raybaud de Simiane takes the title of "Baron de Gordes".
Post XVIIIth century
During World War II , Gordes was an active resistance village and was later awarded a medal, the Croix de guerre 1939–1945Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II.-Recipients:...
.
The 21 of august 1944, almost a week after the beginning of the Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
on the Provençal coast, a german patrol is attacked by the resistance. The day after, the 22 of august, the village is subject to violent reprisals. The german have forced the inhabitants to enter their home, shooting those we are late or that are not cooperating, and start to shoot from the rock on the other side with a canon and will destroy a dozen houses. On the other side of the village, the rest of the troops did put fire on chariot, wood pieces and houses, blocking potential followers. More than twenty houses had finally been destroyed. The resistance, trying to catch them, will destroy an other part of the village, including the notarial house with all the archive. All these destructions were worth in the municipality the sad privilege to appear among three " stricken cities " of the Vaucluse department. At the end, thirteen persons were killed or executed in Gordes during the Second World War, twenty inhabitants fell under the enemy bullets and five of them were taken out of the country (in extermination camps).
After World War II
After a period of reconstruction, the village starts to attract artists like Marc ChagallMarc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
or Jean Deyrolle who discover the village in 1947 and will drag there many of its artist friends like Serge Poliakoff
Serge Poliakoff
Serge Poliakoff was a Russian-born French modernist painter belonging to the 'New' Ecole de Paris .- Biography :...
, Vasarely
Victor Vasarely
Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian French artist whose work is generally seen aligned with Op-art.His work entitled Zebra, created by Vasarely in the 1930s, is considered by some to be one of the earliest examples of Op-art...
, Dewasne, etc.
Armory
The primary ones are reported in 1696 in the Armorial Général de France and coming from the Gordes-Simiane family.Other historical language names
in classical norm of provencal, in Mistralian normAdministration
The commune of Gordes has numerous infrastructures of public utility like the "gendarmerie", the fire brigade, the post office, a taxe office, a library, etc.Fiscality
| Tax | Communal part | Intercomunal part | Part for the department | Part for region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing tax | 6.56 % | 0.00 %} | 7.55 % | 0.00 % |
| Property tax on builded properties | 9.83 % | 0.00 % | 10.20 % | 2.36 % |
| Property tax on non-builded properties | 38.51 % | 0.00 % | 28.96 % | 8.85 % |
| Business Tax | 00.00 % | 19.99 % | 13.00 % | 3.84 % |
Land use
| Type of ground occupation | Percentage | Size (in hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban zones | 9,19% | 451,34 |
| Agricultural zones | 34,43% | 1 690,74 |
| Natural Zones | 56,38% | 2 768,14 |
| Total | 100% | 4 910,22 |
Sights
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
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near the village of Gordes in the département of the Vaucluse in Provence, France.-First foundation:...
(a Cistercian abbey) and the "village of bories", which consists entirely of "bories" (also spelled "boris", borris" and "borries"), ovoid ancient houses made only of stone.
General rules
All the new 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, except for some locations on the border of the commune not made already. Some streets inside the village are paved with stones and called "calade".The hamlets
Around the village there are many ancient hamlets. Their names are mostly coming from the family names occupying the places (Gros, Imbert, Martin, Cortasse, etc.) or from the activity performed their (les bouillons, les bouilladoires).Located in the valley at southwest, the "les Imberts" hamlet is the biggest and even owns its own church built between 1785 and 1792. Besides this church, there are some elements and façades of the eighteenth century. It is in this hamlet that are the two football stadiums of Gordes, one for official matches and one for training, also the nursery, one of the school and after having several simultaneous small businesses (bakery, grocery, etc..) it remains in 2011 only a garage / gas station.
"Les Gros" and "les Martins" are both former hamlets close enough to each other, between les Imberts and the commune of les Beaumettes.
In the plain south-east of the village, you find the hamlets of "les Sauvestres", "les Pourquiers", "les Marres" and "les Cortasses", with buildings whose origins date back sometimes to hundreds years.
Agriculture
As many villages in the Vaucluse department, the agricultural part in the local economy is important. If historically almond trees were the more implanted in the area and even if they are still present, nowadays, olive tree have largely replaced them, with an important production of olive oil. You can also find vineyards, with the production of table grapes or wine in AOC VentouxCôtes du Ventoux AOC
Ventoux AOC is a wine-growing AOC in the southeastern region of the Rhône wine region of France, where the wines are produced in 51 communes of the Vaucluse département along the lower slopes of the Ventoux mountain and at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains...
.
Tourism
Many paying sights to see, hotels, bed and breakfast, seasonal rentals, restaurants, etc. even direct sell for the local agricultural producers, the tourism has the major part in the local economy of Gordes.The main sights on the commune are the village it self, the castle, the Saint-Firmain Palace cellars, the Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey
Sénanque Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near the village of Gordes in the département of the Vaucluse in Provence, France.-First foundation:...
and the Village des Bories
Village des Bories
Under the touristic name of “Village des Bories” there exists, 1.5 km West of the Provençal village of Gordes, in the Vaucluse département, an outlying hamlet consisting of 20 or so dry stone huts that have been the exhibits of an open air museum for over three decades.-Location :These huts,which...
. On the surrounding, you can find many other tourist locations like Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Heraldry:...
, Roussillon or L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a town and commune on the Sorgue river southeastern France. Politically, the commune is in the arrondissement of Avignon within the département of Vaucluse and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.The small town is famous for its many antique shops and hosts antique...
, the Luberon
Luberon
The Luberon or Luberon Massif , also called Lubéron, has a maximum altitude of 1,256 m and an area of about 600 km²...
area, Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
or the Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...
.
Gordes also has two centers of relaxation, numerous pools and ponds and miles of hiking trails.
Commercial activity and handcraft
Commercial activity is also important in the Gordes economy with various shops including several shops dedicated to tourists, selling souvenir and regional products (figurines, textiles, olive oil, honey, etc.). Moreover, a Provencal market is held every Tuesday morning around the castle.Gordes also attracts artisans and traders in the real estate business like agents, architects, builders, landscapers, decorators, masons. By the way, the oldest real estate agency of the north Luberon area still in activity is located in Gordes, between the castle and the church, and the total number of real estate agents on the Gordes area is over ten.
Everyday life
Education
You can find on the commune Primary School, Nursery School and Day Care.The closest university is in Avignon, but the one of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille is also used by the local.
Health
You find in the village doctors, a pharmacy, a dentist and even an hospital but exclusively used for old people.Sport
The commune is equipped with various sport equipment like 2 football/soccer fields, walking and cycling trail, pétanque spaces, etc.Personalities
Gordes is also known for artists who have lived or worked there: (André LhoteAndré Lhote
André Lhote was a French sculptor and painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscapes and still life. He was also very active and influential as a teacher and writer on art....
, Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
, Philippe Ragueneau
Philippe Ragueneau
Philippe Ragueneau was a French journalist and writer. He was born in Orléans and died in Gordes...
, Victor Vasarely
Victor Vasarely
Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian French artist whose work is generally seen aligned with Op-art.His work entitled Zebra, created by Vasarely in the 1930s, is considered by some to be one of the earliest examples of Op-art...
, Victor Spahn, Walter Salles
Walter Salles
Walter Moreira Salles, Jr. is a Brazilian filmmaker and film producer of international prominence.-Life and career:Salles was born in Rio de Janeiro. He is the son of Elizinha Goncalves and Walter Moreira Salles, a Brazilian banker and ambassador, and the brother of João Moreira Salles, also a...
, Willy Ronis
Willy Ronis
Willy Ronis was a French photographer, the best-known of whose work shows life in post-war Paris and Provence.-Early life:...
, etc.) and politicians (including François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
).
Fine arts and festival
The village of Gordes has a few art galleries and festivals. The biggest festival of Gordes is a music festival, but there is also a wine festival.The castle, stone houses, stone paved streets, views, etc. of Gordes have been an important source of inspiration for paintings or photography. for example, the Provençal Nude by Willy Ronis was made in the "fontaine basse" area of Gordes in 1949.
Literature
You find Gordes in books like :- La vénus de Gordes, Ernest Daudet (1875)
- Sa Majesté l'argent III, La Comtesse De Gordes, Xavier de Montépin, (1878)
- All the books about the adventure of the Chat Moune, Philippe RagueneauPhilippe RagueneauPhilippe Ragueneau was a French journalist and writer. He was born in Orléans and died in Gordes...
(from 1981 to 1990) - Les trois Joyaux de Gordes, Marc de Smedt (1988)
- a year in Provence, Peter MaylePeter MaylePeter Mayle is a British author famous for his series of books detailing life in Provence, France. He spent fifteen years in the advertising industry before leaving the business in 1975 to write educational books, including a series on sex education for children and young people...
(1993)
Film and television
Gordes has served as the setting for several moves or series like :- One Deadly Summer, Jean BeckerJean BeckerJean Becker is a French film director, screenwriter and actor. He is son of the director Jacques Becker.-Director & screenplay:* Un nommé La Rocca * Échappement libre...
(1983) ; - Mistral's Daughter, Kevin ConnorKevin ConnorKevin Connor may refer to:*Kevin Connor , film and TV director*Kevin Connor , Australian...
(1984) ; - A Year in ProvenceA Year in ProvenceA Year in Provence is a 1989 bestselling autobiographical novel by Peter Mayle about his first year in Provence, and the local events and customs. It was adapted into a television miniseries starring John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan. Reviewers praised its honest style, wit and its refreshing humor...
, David TuckerDavid Tucker-Life:He graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Donald Hall.He is an assistant managing editor of the Metro section of The Star-Ledger of Newark.He married and had a daughter, Calisa...
(1993) - Gazon maudit, Josiane BalaskoJosiane BalaskoJosiane Balasko is a French actress, writer and director.She was born Josiane Balašković in Paris. One of Balasko's most recognized roles among English speakers is as a lesbian in 1995's Gazon maudit...
(1995) ; - 18 ans après, Coline SerreauColine SerreauColine Serreau is a French actress, film director and writer.-Early life and education:She was born in Paris, France.In Paris, Serreau studied literature, music and theatre as well as the circus.-Career:...
(2003); - A Good YearA Good YearA Good Year is a 2006 British romantic comedy film, set in London and Provence. It was directed by Ridley Scott, with an international cast including Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, Abbie Cornish and Albert Finney...
, Ridley ScottRidley ScottSir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
(2006); - Mr. Bean's Holiday, Steve BendelackSteve BendelackSteve Bendelack is a British film and television director, who has worked primarily on a range of highly-acclaimed comedy programmes.Originally an assistant to Peter Fluck and Roger Law on satirical TV puppet show Spitting Image, Bendelack went on to direct the show in later years...
(2006).