Jewish cemeteries in Carpentras, Jewish burial site in Carpentras, France

The Jewish cemetery in Carpentras is a burial ground containing more than 760 gravestones, most dating from the late 18th century. The site is enclosed by high walls and shaded by tall pine trees, creating a protected space.

In 1343 the Bishop of Carpentras, Hugues, granted the town's Jews the right to found a burial ground outside the city in exchange for a fee. The site dates from the mid-14th century and covers 2 hectares northeast of the centre. Thirty-three boundary markers, 2 metres high, delimited it. In 1843 a subscription funded main paths, a mortuary, a funeral chapel, a genizah and the enclosing wall.

The cemetery lies in the Font-rousse district, near the Carpentras aqueduct, at the crossing of the roads to Caromb and Bédoin. Its Hebrew name recalls the four holy communities of the Comtat Venaissin, and the site is still maintained through a subscription launched by the Fondation du patrimoine in 2009, which raised 6,000 euros.

The cemetery is protected as a registered historic monument with restricted access. Visitors should contact local authorities in advance to arrange a visit or join a guided tour.

Within the cemetery stands a ceremonial hall that houses a Geniza, a special storage space for worn religious texts according to Jewish tradition. This rare feature shows how the community respectfully handled its sacred writings.