Carpentras - Definition and Overview

Carpentras is a commune in the département of Vaucluse in the south of France. It is 230 m above sea level. Population: 27,249.

History

Carpentras was a commercial site used by Greek merchants in ancient times, and retains an impressive Roman triumphal arch and a city gate, the Porte d'Orange.

Carpentras has been an important center of French Judaism, and is home to the oldest synagogue in France (1367), which still holds services.

Miscellaneous

Its traditional confectionery is the berlingot, a small hard candy with thin white stripes, originally made from the syrup left over from conservation of fruits.

Carpentras was the birthplace of:

• Carpentras (also known as Elzéar Genet) (c.1470-1548), prominent early Renaissance composer
• Alexis-Vincent-Charles Berbiguier de Terre-Neuve du Thym, (1765-1851), author and demonologist
• Édouard Daladier (1884-1970) politician and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War

External links

• Description and tourism (http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse/carpentr/carpentr.htm)
• Official website (http://www.ville-carpentras.fr/) (in French)