Vaucluse, Department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Vaucluse is a department in southeastern France that stretches between the Rhône valley and alpine foothills. The territory is dominated by Mont Ventoux and includes vineyards, orchards, and river valleys that shape its relief.
The department was created in June 1793 by merging territories from three neighboring administrative units, with Avignon chosen as capital. During the Revolution, papal holdings in the area were seized and incorporated into French territory.
The name comes from Fontaine de Vaucluse, a karst spring that ranks among Europe's most powerful. Visitors find villages built from ochre stone clinging to hillsides, surrounded by lavender fields that shape the local landscape.
Travelers can reach the area easily from larger French cities and choose between plains, low mountains, and valleys. Hiking trails and cycling routes connect most towns, though summer heat can be intense.
The department contains an isolated administrative enclave called Enclave des Papes, entirely surrounded by Drôme territory. This geographic oddity stems from medieval papal boundaries and remains in place today.
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