Bouc-Bel-Air

Bouc -Bel-Air is a commune with 13,761 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Bouches -du -Rhône in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

Geography

Bouc -Bel-Air is located thirteen kilometers south of Aix -en- Provence. The municipality is part of the Communauté d' agglomération du Pays d' Aix.

Etymology

After the Revolution, the town was first called Bouc. Between 1814 and 1831 it was called Alberta. Then she called again Bouc, In 1907, the name of the additive Bel -Air.

History

6000 years ago, first colonists were settled in the vicinity of the present-day village. In 600 BC, settled here the Salluvier, they had here an important oppidum. The community was strategically important because it was the passage from Marseilles to Val d' Arc. 124 BC, the city was, however, burned down by the Romans. In the next centuries were only a few houses along trade routes. In the early eighth century, the village was in an area where often held battles between the Arabs and the Franks. From this period dates the first castle in the town. 1589 is the place the scene of the Huguenot wars. On September 3, 1589 defense of the castle succeeded. In 1700, about 700 people live in the village. It flourished, particularly through trade and crafts. 1767 was the place into the hands of Jean -Baptiste d' Albertas. In 1754 the construction of the magnificent gardens, which are now named after Alberta began. The noble family but was sold in the course of the revolution from the site. Later Adolphe Thiers, who later became President of France studied in Bouc. From 1850 it attracted the rural population to the cities. The population fell from 1,300 in 1850 to 800 inhabitants in 1900. In 1907, the place got the name Bouc -Bel-Air (formerly Bouc ) to eliminate any confusion with the port of Port-de -Bouc. Until the 1950s, the place was only connected on field paths to the other places. From 1960, the place was transformed completely: The population grew from around 2000 to over 13,000 in 2007, the farms disappeared.

Culture and sights

  • Parish Church of Saint André
  • Chapel of Notre Dame de l' Espérance from the 12th century
  • Albertas Gardens from the 18th century

Economy and infrastructure

In Bouc -Bel-Air is a motorway junction, there, the A517 to the A51. This highway connects the city with Marseille and Aix -en- Provence.

Demographics

Pictures of Bouc-Bel-Air

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