Vauvenargues, Bouches-du-Rhône

Vauvenargues is a commune with 1027 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in Provence Bouches -du -Rhône. It became famous place to be the site of the artist Pablo Picasso in the years 1958 to 1973.

Geography

Vauvenargues is located in the Provencal Alps in the valley of the brook Infernet between the mountain ranges of Montagne Sainte- Victoire in the south and the Montagne Ubacs in the north. With about 15 km west town of Aix -en- Provence Vauvenargues is the Infernet and the resulting dammed lake Lac du Bimont connected via a municipality in the area following highway. In addition, exist only two road links to neighboring communities that lead through the mountain passes Col du Sambuc north and Col des Portes eastwards.

History

The first mention of the place is occupied for the 13th century, when the feudal Vauvenargues passed the Counts of Provence to the Archbishop of Aix -en- Provence. Even then there was a precursor of the Castle Vauvenargues, which gained its outer form was created by the construction of the two towers in the 14th century and alteration of the exterior walls in the 17th century. After the bishops of Aix family Clapiers, who comes from the moralist Luc de Clapiers, fief and Castle took over until the French Revolution.

Pablo Picasso bought the castle in 1958, lived there until 1960 and used it until his death in 1973 as a studio. His grave is located in the park of still counting the property of the Picasso family, not yet publicly accessible castle. For " Picasso 2009 " it was under restrictive conditions - 85 visitors per day - open to the public.

Policy

For Mayor of Vauvenargues was for the period 2008-2014 Philippe Charrin (independent) selects which the continuously active since 1962, Christian de Barbarin ( also independent) replaced that was not taken up for reasons of age to vote.