Carpentras

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For the Renaissance composer of the same name, see Carpentras (composer).

Administration
Commune of Carpentras
Location
Longitude	5° 02' 56" E
Latitude	44° 03' 21" N
Country	France
Région	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Département	Vaucluse
Arrondissement	Carpentras
Canton	Chief town of 2 cantons
Mayor	Jean-Claude Andrieu (2001-2008)
Statistics
Altitude	56 m–212 m (avg. 95 m)
Land area¹	37.92 km²
Population² (1999)	26,090
- Density (1999)	688/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	84031/ 84200
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).
Image:Flag of France.svg

Carpentras (Provençal Occitan: Carpentràs in classical norm or Carpentras in Mistralian norm) is a city and commune in the département of Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région of France. It stands on the banks of the Auzon, a tributary of the Ardèche River. As capital of the Comtat Venaissin, it was frequently the residence of the Avignon popes; the Papal States retained possession of the Venaissin until the French Revolution.

1 History
2 Miscellaneous
- 2.1 Births
3 Twin towns
4 External links

[edit] History

Carpentras was a commercial site used by Greek merchants in ancient times, and known to Romans at first as Carpentoracte Meminorum, mentioned by Pliny, then renamed Forum Neronis ("Forum of Nero"); the city retains an impressive Roman triumphal arch, that has been enclosed by the bishops' palace, rebuilt in 1640, now a law court, and a machiolated city gate, the Porte d'Orange. It was the seat of a bishop and its Church of St Siffrein, Gothic with some Romanesque remains, was formerly a cathedral.

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

In May of 1990, there was a desecration of the Jewish cemetery.

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Its traditional confectionery is the berlingot, a small hard candy with thin white stripes, originally made from the syrup left over from conservation of fruits.