![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84.gif)
Last modified: 2020-01-26 by ivan sache
Keywords: vaucluse |
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Flag of Vaucluse - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 14 May 2019
See also:
Code: 84
Region:
Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
Traditional provinces: Comtat
Venaissin, Provence
Bordering departments:
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence,
Hautes-Alpes,
Ardèche,
Bouches-du-Rhône,
Drôme, Gard
Area: 3,520 km2 (including the canton of
Valréas, enclaved in the department of
Drôme)
Population (2017): 559,479 inhabitants
Préfecture: Avignon
Sous-préfectures: Apt, Carpentras
Subdivisions: 3 arrondissements, 17 cantons, 151 municipalities.
The department is named after Vallis Closa, the "closed valley" from which emerges the Fontaine de Vaucluse, the source of river Sorgue. The site is known by hydrologists worldwide as the model of "Vaucluse spring".
Ivan Sache, 15 November 2009
The department of Vaucluse was created as the (then) 87th French department by
Decree of 25 June 1793. It incorporates the following former entities:
- Comtat d'Avignon, incorporated to France on 14 September 1791 and allocated on 28 March 1792 to the department of Bouches-du-Rhône as the district of Avignon;
- Comtat Venaissin, incorporated to France on 14 September 1791 and allocated on 28 March 1792 to the department of Drôme as the district of Carpentrads;
- Principality of Orange, incorporated to France in 1713 and allocated in 1790 to the department of Bouches-du-Rhône;
- Viguerie (a former administrative division of Provence) of Apt, allocated in 1790 to the department of Bouches-du-Rhône;
- County of Sault, allocated in 1790 to the department of Basses-Alpes.
In 1800, the canton of Suze-la-Rousse was incorporated to the department of Drôme, recreating the former Papal Enclave of Valréas (Valréas, Grillon, Richerenches and Visan), which forms an exclave of Vaucluse enclaved in Drôme.
Ivan Sache, 15 November 2009
The flag of Vaucluse (photo, photo, photo), based on the modernized logo adopted in 2011 by the General Council, is yellow with a blue canton, a white stylized "V" on both parts, and the words “Département de Vaucluse†in blue on the yellow field.
Olivier Touzeau, 14 May 2019
![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84-cg.gif)
Flag of the former General Council of Vaucluse - Image by Olivier Touzeu, 14 May 2019
The flag of the former General Council of Vaucluse (photo, photo), adopted around 2006 with the modified logo of the Genral Council, had a yellow stripe at hoist, a light blue field with the stylized â€Vâ€, and the words “Conseil général de Vaucluse†in white beneath.
Olivier Touzeau, 14 May 2019
Former flag of the General Council
![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84-c1.gif)
Former flag of the General Council of Vaucluse - Image by Ivan Sache, 1 December 2004
The former flag of the General Council of Vaucluse was white with the former logo
of the General Council.
The logo is made of a blue square charged with a "fuzzy" white "V". A dark yellow vertical stripe is placed along the left side of the square, from which it is
separated by a white fimbriation. "Conseil général de
Vaucluse" is written in blue beneath the square.
Ivan Sache, 1 December 2004
![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84-cf.gif)
Ceremonial flag of Vaucluse - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 14 May 2019
The department's ceremonial flag (photo, photo, photo), kept since at least 2011 in the office of the President of the Council, is a flag of Provence with the coat of arms of the department in the center.
A coat of arms was assigned to Vaucluse by Jacques Meurgey de Tupigny & Robert Louis in "-Marques symboliques des départements français, as "Gules two keys or in saltire tied by a ribbon azure". The department, formed in great part by the former Comtat Venaissin incorporated to France in 1791, is represented by the arms once used by the Comtat, residence of the Holy See: St. Peter's two keys.
Arms reflecting more accurately the origin of Vaucluse were adopted on 4
June 1971 by the General Council, as "Quarterly, 1. Gules a key or and a
key argent in saltire, 2. Azure a fleur-de-lis or in chief a label
gules, 3. Azure a branch of orange tree slipped and leaved vert fructed
of three oranges or a chief or a bugle horn azure garnished and stringed
gules, 4. Gules three keys or in fess."
The quarters represent Comtat Venaissin, Provence (Viguerie of Apt and
County of Sault), the Principality of Orange, and Comtat d'Avignon,
respectively.
The greater arms of the department are surmounted by Mt. Ventoux, the
emblematic "Giant of Provence", and supported dexter by Rhodanus, a man
symbolizing river Rhône, and sinister by Sorgia, a woman representing
river Sorgue. The two rivers pour water that form a "V", for "Vaucluse",
beneath the shield.
[Grand Armorial du Comtat Venaissin]
Olivier Touzeau & Ivan Sache, 18 May 2019
